The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-02-25
The West Eir2inin IniYeIsiIy.

Editors Of the Register:
GENTLEMEN Your courtesy in pub
lishing, from the State University, the
reply to your article of the 18th instant
is appreciated. With thanks for the
same, let me say its object was more to
disabu your readers of the very erro'
neous impressions which said article
was likely to have upon their minds
than to vindicate the claims of the Uni
versity for aid from the State. In the
absence of all valid charges against the
Institution it would be doubtful CON-
pliment TO the honor and intelligence OF
the Legislature to attempt such vindi-
cation.
That amid the distractions and suffer
iugs of our people it has, with such very
inadequate resources, made so good a
beginning, has already attracted go
many of the best youth of our State,
and those adjoining, to its halls, and is
in all its departments attaining such
development, is certainly some reason
why the State should continue to foster
it still in its infancy. To do otherwise
would be acting the part Of very un-
natural mother indeed.
Furthermore, in accepting the Con-
gressional grant tho State bound itself
to provide an Institution supplied with
all the means and appliances required
in attaining an education for any of the
pursuits or professions of life. This has,
only in part, been done. 1t has also se-
lected Board of Professors which, you
will permit me to say, is second to none
other in the Western States. These
gentlemen, upon its invitation have sur
rendered other desirable situations and,
| in good faith, entered upon its service.
| 1t capnOt be thought thats either with
them, or with the national Government,
the State is disposed to play game OF
make believe"
Again, the duty of education is cer-
tainly second 10 none other in the State.
The mind of its youth is its most pro-
ductive capital, and no Othor invest
ment will yield such ample, immediate
and enduring returns as the education
| of that mind. l would not. for mo-
ment, Sbate the interest felt for the un-
fortunate, nor underrate the Importance
of Furnishing the lawless. But while
such large expenditures-amountipg in
each case TO several hundreds of thou
sands of dollars-are being made for
these ends, surely it is not the part OF
wisdom to ignore the modest claims OF
an Institution so directly subscribing the
very highest interests of the State, OF
the services of those men who are earn
estly toiling on behalf of these interests
Unless all history and philosophy are
false. had we more and better education
there would be fewer idiots aud con
yicts to care for.
The University building, one of the
finest and at the same time least expen'
siye any where to be found, is nearly
completed. Such was the evident and
urgent need of the accommodations
which it furnishes, that the Regents
after careful consideration, could only
say ale: the work be done" Not foI
effect, nor because l have any personal
interest in the matter, but because it IL
the simple truth, / must say that to re
fuse the relatively small amount due
the contractors and thus seriously to
embarrass, if not ruin, worthy and de-
serving men, would be one of the most
humiliating spectacles ever witnessed
or heard of-only paralleled by the
greater folly, which / still believe nc
body of men in West Virginia will evel
stand charged with, of, in effect, order
ing these contractors to shut the doors
of the University in the face of our stu
dents and compel them to go elsewhere
for those accommodations which the
State, in its abundant care for what il
deems more deserving objects, Judges
them unworthy TO receive.
Very Respectfully Yours,
ALIEN. MARTIN.