The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-08-22
Our Educational IntereSts.--TIe
University.

Rome lost her liberties by the introduce
tion of bribery and corruption. The camps
the tribunals were reached by money.
The Romans regarded it as shrewd, saying,
whoever said it ''that the man who first
ruined the Roman people was he who first
! gave them treats and gratuities."
Since the success of Federal arms and the
subjugation of the Southern States the
whole government National, State county,
municipal. corporations of every description
/ including the conduct ofschools and colleges
| all all have come under the influences of
money and bribery in some shape, and all
at the expense of our tax-ridden people.
We are not opposed to free schools or
! liberal endOwments for the promotion OF
learning. but the system of free schools as
practiced by the ruling radical party in this
State for the last two or three years, and the
reckless and extravagant expenditures of
the school fund and such special appropri-
ations as have been obtained from the Leg
islature, are alarming to the taxpayers and
those who have some reserved rights, yet
though long held in allegiance.
Our common school flu nd has been wasted
and but little good has resulted as yet to the
youth of the State from its use.
The Board of Trustees of the University,
deemed it a matter of sheer necessity, after
the surrender, to receive boys and prepare
them for the regular college course because
the primary. high schools and colleges had
been suspended for four or five years, and
they announced distinctly that it was only
a temporary expedient and would be dis
pehsed with at an early day. If we mistake
not this was published and the teachers
throughout the State were encouraged to
hope that the University would not become
rival, and take the boys under sixteen
years from them.
How is this now? Is the State Universi-
ty tending downwards and fast becoming a
preparatory school?
/ Let il tell its own story! The authorities
| there report 260 in all-it is here doubted
| that it had as many as 260-out of this num-
/ Der one hundred and twenty-thr ee (123)
are reported as being in the preparatory
/ department. How are the most of these
obtained? First by giving about $50 of
/ them their tuitiOn-$12,5 500. Plenty of
money on hand of course! Secondly, We
/ have the statement &c cdthed1 in the Ok
/ ford Falcon of July 18th that lie students
are to receive besides theirtuiJion 500 each
making 900 more. This we think is
the greatest bride or gratuity, or bid for
boys to leave their nome preparatory
schools to fill up the University, that was
ever offered under all the circumstances.
/ The object is TO give the rulers of that in
| stitution a little glory, we suppose. And
yet Instead of shame mantling the cheek,
/ for the great wrong done to the educators
/ OF the State and the rifiing of the public
Golfers to get numbers, they blow and brag
| and state doubtful facts, TO make the friends
/ of education in the State believe that under
/ the white mans rule the University never
| did so well before, but once, in all its glori-
| Gus life!
| We propose to ventilate the subject lit
/ tie farther and to bestow a few lines on the
labored article published IN the Falcon of
/ 18th July.
| We ask a candid consideration of the
points submitted. If we are mistaken in
our fears that the blighting- influences of
/ Radicalism have entered and are controlling
our noble University, justice shall be done
| to all parties if we can see it. We will
Nothing extenuate-
Or aught set down in MALICE
A TAXPAYER.
| August >, 1872.