The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-26
STATE UNIVERSITY.

An Il'-tempered Raking or Presi
dent P-SdIe'o", sur Correspou
dent. asd the Legislature.
Editors OF tn Register.
1 notice, with much regret, in a re-
cent copy OF your excellent paper, a
letter from Charleston, evidently written
for no other purpose than to ipjure tn.
fair fame OF our State University.
Permit me to say a word in reply.
As friend OF education it has been
my pleasure to watch the progress oi
that important State enterprise from
the very outset. Consider ug the circnm'
stances it's success has been wonderin
and | simply point TO the gentleman q
own faithful auot.uon from the annual
catalogues for evidence, so tar as -num
gers are concerned He tails 10 stale
that there are thirteen in the present
graduating class. Certainly no one
acquainted with the history OF similar
institutions can fail to acknowledge that
few have surpassed il in vigorous
growth.
A great mum Der OF students however,
especially in the graduating class. does
not always indicate prosperity; on the
contrary, it stamps an institution with
superficial character.
There are numerous schools called
colleges, OF brie' exisrence, that rival
Harvard and Yale in the multitude Of
sludents; is it 10 be pre-umed tor a
moment. that thew equal them IN SUBJ
stantial education ?
West Virginia University is. believe.
just completing it, sixth year. From
the beginning it has struggled resolurely
and successfully against almost unpre,
cedented d firulties
Enemies, acrustrd by no noble prin
cipIe, have ss,ailed 1t openly and se-
cretly.
1t has suffered from lack Of appre-
citation OF Its wants by those who pro-
ies.ed to be its frie'd aud from the
wilul ignorance OF those who claimed
to be ils enemies.
Others, tear, connected with kim
drrd institutions OF learning, have so far
forgotten their calling a. TO De uniriend
ly 10 the common interest. Those inn
medistely concerned in the college, have
been compelled each year, against their
will, and assuredly from no personal
motives, to plead at the bar OF the Leg
islsture for bare pittsnce to keep the
breath of lite in an enterprise which
ought to commend itself to the gener-
ous support OF every representative OF
The people, without a word OF argu-
| ment.
Narrow minded statesmen, with false
views o. economy. have talked flippant-
y o. possible extravaganza and mis-
management. With idess no higher
IN point OF education, than the cou mon
-chool at the cross roads, many can SEE
10 reason. why one man should not un-
dertake the eutIre work OF instruction
at salary oi $40 per month and board
himself. Cons, quently, Sl2' 0 year,
the pay OF lowest class clefkship un-
der the Government, seems enormous
Notwithstanding these and many other
obstacles, the University has gone
steadily forward. do rg honest aud
substantial work; commerding itsel'
TO all, even it, enemies, who woult
take the trouble to visit It's halls and
examine for themselves. AL that IL
required 10 place It IN the front raGk o.
American colleges il the reasonable
patronage OF the people OF the Srs'e, for
whose benefit it Was Established, and
IN whose special Interest it has been
CT nducttd.
Should tenn mporsrv failure arise, it
will be caused by just such thrusrs n
the dark ss appeared in your paper
recenly-work'ng uppn the pr'Judicrs
OF the uneulightrued-to the well in
ormei such weapons have no pOrnt.
1t is high time that our Legislature
Ii ted itself above petty parrz 'n-hip
aud based its action on matters Concern
ing the State University, At least, upon
something more substantial tnan per-
sousl spleen aud jeal,u-y.
l. mismanagement be really suspect.
ed, let the case be properly Investigate d
without d,lsy, a. d not permit the most
precious Inrere-ts OF the State 10 be
dwarfed bv mere besyesv evidence.
FRIEND OF THE UNIVERSITY.