Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-18
The University,

The University.
It amuses us no little to read the ed1to-
rails of men Iccturing the people of North
Carolina in regard to their daty towards
the University,~who know nothing OF the
people of the State, and never heard Of the
University either until their unexpected
elevation to the Editorial tripod through
means as unexpected to them, as 1t was IN
violation of natural and social laws. They
founder about through all the generalltles
of the usual newspaper witticisms and po-
iitical slang, and convey as little knowledge
of the subject as might be expected from
men who know nothing and care nothing
ofwhat they write, except SO far as it effects
their party relations. They pretend to
criticise and reflect upon the motives of
those who are connected to the institution
by every tie which can bind men to their
Alma INutcr, and who cherish for 1t not
Only the memory of pleasant association,
Dut gratitude for benefits conferred.
Is it, as alleged, prejudice which keeps
our young men away from Chapel Hill
and if 50, prejudice Of what Certainly
not Of the institution, or of the place, or
OF the citizens of Chapel Hill. Its past
history will sufficiently refute any such
charge Age, but of the Faculty. Is it
because of the politics Of the men who
compose it There are more students
from North Carolina at Cambridge, at
Hartford at Yale. ut Princeton, and at nu-
merous other places in the North, than
there are at Chapel Hill. Yes, leading
North Carolina Radicals, now high in the
confidence. r the f,ay Of the party, have
more sons at Princeton than the whole
number at Chapel Hill. Have we any as
sllranco OF, or do our people concern them
selves in regard to, the politics of the Fac
ulty Of these various colleges. Do the par
ents Of our young mon stop to inquire what
are the polit cal opinions of the President
of Yale, of Cambridge, of Princeton, or are
their inquiries directed to their qualifca-
tons.
When editors attempt to hide the in
competence of Pool, and Patrick, and
Brewer, and Martling, behind silly filings
ttt lIIO NAStOn any b1CJuNiiCS VA Jul PGO-
ple, they not only do the people injustice,
out destroy their own influence for good
in building up the University, and make
moro ridiculous the nincompoops whom
they have placed over that institution. It
would be we'll for them to consider wheth-
or their defence of such men as fit for the
charge of the University is not prompted
by political prejudice. 1t certainly could
not be induced by q truthful and correct
knowledge Of the facts. Being q Radical
can no more qualify the Rev. Solomon
Pool for the Presidency OF tho University
than it qualities Jaybird Jones for Judge
ship. Yet Jones doubtless goes through
the forms of his office entirely with as much
credit and ability as does Pool the form
er with as much satisfaction to the bar as
the latter would to parents if they would
only give him the opportunity.
Yes, Congress may reconstruct North
Carolina to suit its fendish purposes
Negroes may be placed in control of the
government. Ignoble interlopers may
revel in high places. Deweese may be sent
to Congress. Tourgee may sit on the
bench. Pool may be President of the
University. Jones and Sloan may preside
over railroads and handle millions of
money. Degradations may be heaped noun
tain high. Yea, Holden may be made per-
petual Governor, but thank God, the same
influences cannot reach and contaminate
the education of our sons. The fountains
OF learning can and will be kept pure from
the poison OF its destructive and dis
graceful reconstruction. The University
may and We trust will be again built up,
but it cannot be done by making partisan
sycophancy stepping-stone to the Presi-
dency or to a Professorship. 1t cannot be
done by denouncing the only people able
to support it as being disloyal and preju-
diced. Until all these evils are reformed
the young men will find that Davidson,
Trinity and Wake Forest will afford them
advantages moro conducive to their moral
and intellectual welfare.
The South and Cofton