The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-08-09
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Saturday Morning, August 9. 1873.
tn. Univer.i,y Question.

"Oarolinian," which appeared in our CO.
lumns Wednesday morning, deserves
some notice at our hands. not from any
merit, but from the unjustifable innuen-
does which it contained. The writer, in
alluding to articles which we hnve put
forth uponthe condition and prosperity
Of the University, calls for reply to the
question which we raised. whether ''any
thing can be done to revive" it? He
may rest assured that We shall keep the
implied promise in mind, and in due
time present the remedy and give the
:Ar!y which, he says. tho friends OF
education expect at our hands. We
think that We know what we are about.
The subject interests US deeply, and we
have hitherto forborno its frank dis
cussion only from sense of tenderness
and delicacy to friends. who are con-
nacted with or interested in the institu-
tion, and whose merit and worth we
know, and would not be understood as
calling in question. A sense OF duty
has at last impelled usto the task, the
difficulty OF which lies mainly in making
just discrimination between good and
scholarly men, on the one hnnd, and the
unfortunate condition of things on the
other, which largely impairs their USE
fulness, and which they are powerless
to correct. But we have other matters
to discuss as we'll as the University, and
must be permitted to take our time and
consult our space. It is our purpose,
which We have only executed in part, to
indicate certain defects in the existing
system, as conourring with other blight
ing influences. in producing the melnn-
'choly marasmus of the University.
These defects and influences it is neces-
sary to expose plainly and fully, before
asking their removal, or making any
positive suggestions as to steps neces-
sRry to be taken to make the institution
once more respectable and cficiensas a
school for gentlemen and scholarsa
The diagnosis must preccde the pre-.
scription. If "Carolinian" be worthy
of that name in intelligence and candor,
he must know and feel that, whatever
structures we may be compelled to write,
whatever exposures of the actual life
less condition Of the University we
may make en- passan!, land we have as
yet but touched upon them are but the
application of the knife or the cautery
to the diseased parts to prevent further
decay and modification.
There are evils OF organization, de-
fects in system aud practice, miserable
bungling in nearly everything connected
with the University, which We insond to
lay bare. But in doing it, we shall spare
vested interests and personal feelings,
and take care not to run counter to
those prepossessions which. like the fail
ings dessribed by q poet. "lean to vir-
tues side In the corps of professors,
there are enlightened educators and wor.
thy gentlemen. Our business is not
with them, except to commend the per.
severance. faithfulness, ability and con.
scientiousness with which they discharge
the duties Of their several positions.
They have long sustained the credit and
name OF the University, AMI given grace
to it's decline. Upon them and the no.
BILE library, which, however. is not up
to the march of modern thought and
discovery, we would rely to give strength
to its revival on proper basis. That
basis is the object of our search. "Caro,
linian" speaks of "unpatriotic opposi-
tion to our home institution" Does he
really suppose that citizens Of the COM
monwealth, parents vino wish their sons
to take their places and sustain their
names when they are gone, deliberately
pass by the chief educational institution
of the State from any such motive?
Destitute os they are, can they be sup
posed to enjoy the additional expense OF
sending their sons to Virginia or to the
North? Would not the facilities and
advantages which tho home institution
Offers, the associations which, we would
suppose, it would crafty, added to con-
slderations of economy, prevail upon
them to sustain it by their countenance,
their good word, and by trusting their