The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-05-05
The Republican Party and the Uni
p ras yersity

: :
n g versity.
The State University is the inner bond of
the public school system, because to it the
public schools must look for teachers. 1t is
not for the interest of North Carolina to
look abroad for Its teachers Undoubtedly
it must have the best teachers, whether edu-
Gated abroad or at home. But why not edu-
cate them at home9 If man of genius
and culture comes to the State he should
have North Carolina welcome. FIVE know
such and can secure them as citizens let us
invite them to come. But this should be
the exception. To make it the rule. is dis
graceful. Besides, the teachers are not to
be had from abroad. Good teachers are
never abundant, and there is no hope of
supply for. us unless We educate them. Now
is it not folly which borders on insanity,
when great opportunity, which is also a
great necessity is rejected But the Re
publican party has now the opportunity of
actually creating the creators of public opin-
ion; of determining how, and by whom,
these young men shall be educated, who are
in turn to educate the future of the State.
To mould the men who mould public senti-
ment! What party can afford to throw
away an opportunity like this ?
The University promises to the Republi-
can party a speedy return for any invest
ment that shall be made in it. 1t is wise to
look even to the distant future. The youth
in the common schools and in the primary
schools will not be left out of the account
by wise party. Even their influence is
more speedily felt than one would anticipate.
The mother catches the sentiments of her
son, and the discussion at the family table
is full of contagion for good or evil. But
the young men who throng University are
not only forming opinions, but opinions for
life, and opinions that they will reduce to
practice speedily. The next election will be
affected by their ballots. If the Republican
party is wise it will secure these young men
by all the agencies in its power. No outlay
of money can be too great for this. A penny
wise policy here is ruinous to the men who
adopt it. Open the Treasury-scour the
State-invite in the young men. Aristo-
cratic families who have thought themselves
born, booted and spurred, to ride the rest of
mankind, by the grace of God, can educate
their children elsewhere, but the men whom
it will best pay to educate at the University
must, to some extent, be educated at pub
lie expense. Therefore, open the Treasury.
Of course, the University will give no in
struction in partisan politics. But as in a
Presbyterian school one is more likely to
become Presbyterian, so in great school
which shall have received great and last
ing benefit from dominant party, there
will be pleasant remembrances of that party
and natural interest in its success
Nor are the teachers alone to be consid-
cred. The lawyers, the physicians, the min
listers, the journalists, the men of learned
leisure, the men of active thought in all de-
partments- men who will give tone to
society and form to politics. may now be
educated into sympathy with national Re
| publican principles. Let not. the State
schools ever again become seminaries of Sc
cession.
To the tax payers of North Carolina tn,
Republican party must sooner or later givt
an account of its stewardship. If the Uni
versity buildings, erected at vast expense
the shade trees, the walls, the costly appa
| ratus are allowed to go to wreck-if tn
high reputation for scholarship which tn
University once had, and which, by attract
ing students from abroad lightened the ex
penses of the University be not restored-i
the vast resources of the State be undevel
oped because of the ignorance OF its publ
men-if its prisons be filled with the chi
dren ofignorance who are such from lack G
| proper instruction-if emigration is turne
aside from its doors to find homes in State
where popular ignorance is not the rule
if those sentiments which have throug
civil war robbed our treasury and pillage
our homes, and slain the flower of our youn
men be allowed again to utter themselve
| in the halls of our institutions of learning
the blame will lie with that party, whie
having the power to prevent these thing
failed to prevent them. Upon it win de
servedly fall the execrations of an indignan
commonwealth f s,i 9I 81