The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-11-18
I he Appropriation 10 Bethany Coli
legc.e


MouNDsvILLE, W. Va, Is, 1873.
Editors lntelIIgenecr:
| see from o telegram in your paper oil
to day that the Bethany College bill has
passed both houses Of tho Legislature, and
has therefore become law. NOw, in
common with all 10 this community with
whom have talked on the subject,
| wish 10 raise my voice against II. l
will acknowledge that this opposition
comes too late TO do any good in prevent
ing tho law from going into effect,
but by agitating the subject l hoped
10 be able to show, at least 10
the thinking portion portion OF our
people, what their legislatorsare do
Ing with their money. Had | suspected
that there was tho least shadow oil q
chance for the bill to become law, !, In
common with many others, would long
ago have raised my. feeble voice against
itspssSage. It seems 10 me that l see In
this very act the beginning Of the over
throw Of our free school system OF educa-
ton. lam not an alarmist, but knowing
what | do concerning many OF the most
ardent advocates oil the measure-that
they are opposed TO our present system Of
free schools-I feel that there ls q just
cause for alarm. Our Normal Schools,
Il they are sustained as they should
be, will do everything necessary in
tho way Of free education, other
than that our public schools are
doing or will do il properly managed.
This will cripple these schools to some
extent, and as they are an integral part
Of our school system, the system itself
will be more or less injured, And as oil
other countries have proved to certainty
that Normal Schools are tho right arm
Of Il public system OF instruction when
properly conducted, many States Of oui
own country having demonstrated the
same, l think 1t behooves US as intelligent
citizens Of our young, growing and pros,
porous State 10 cherish these schools and
DO all we can for their advancement
We also claim that II Is unwise and i'm
prolific 10 give TO any one q higher edu-
cation at public expense unless TO tit the
recipients Tor special duties, as Is the case
NuA ANVl kGuOOl1t
But these objections are light compared
with others that might be urged. i es-
lsblshes a precedent never established
before in giving to q sectarian College
public money 10 be used in the education
u lie students. | know It Is claimed thai
Bethany College Is not o sectarian insti-
tuition, and Tor proof for this It Is claimed
that they already do educate all ministers
i'eG Of tuition. Granted that they do this
and Il only proves TO mo that 1t is
&Ctarian institution, for any institu
Ton may, for popularity, educate
lhe ministers of other churches free
And It would be labor well spen'
Nat the end OF the course Of study they
aad made proselytes Of them. II they
have not done this they OF least have then
Oound to them in way that they wonlc
lol be over jealous theologians in the doc
i'ines Of their own church. But l do MOI
condemn Bethany College for this, on tht
contrary think II noble and generous II
her, only wish TO show that It is NJ
proof that she Ia not SectariSn Iustitu-
lion. We then have the broad question
P4SSSulcu-l1 IL AIAht w dOuhO puOlll
money 10 o Sectarian institution Havt
the Catholics q right to a division OF tn
school taxP PROFESSIONALLY they hav
!! Bethany College, or tho Disciple
Church rather, have q right to part c
The State fund. Tho Catholics only as
The tax that they themselves pay, and /
what they alone arc interested. Tn
Disciples Church get a part oil all on
money. Tax payers In this fair? lam
Trend Of this church though not mem
Der, but do saythat II Is an outrage, an
have heard intelligent members Of tha
Church express themselves as do, an
lnese members too were graduates Of th
very college that now receives this dons
uon' care not what church would re
celve this donation, It 10 unjust, an
strikes at the very spirit Of our religion
freedom, and Independence US a Stat
write this not In q feeling {
bitterness TO any; as am In no wise peI
Sonally interested In any school that hi
Will ipjute; but ! am Interested In II