New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-02
AFFAIRS IN VIRGINI1.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION IN VIRGINIA COLLEGES
AN ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL STANDARD
SENTIMENT ON TIE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL-THE
SPRINGS-CANAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO-POLITICAL.
fFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT TRIBUSE.l
RICHMOND, Va, Aug. 29.-PrOf. Venable's
address before the late National Educational Con-
venton has called attention the method OF instruction
long pursued the University Of Virginia and adopted
by best colleges of the State Virginia Is becoming
the educational center OF the South The last report OF
our Superintendent of Education showed by carefully
prepared statistics that in Virginia there more
young men in the colleges in proportion to white
population than there were in the colleges OF any
civilized country the world If the estimate had in
cluded the colleges for girls the aerng dsproporton
would have been greater. In the University. and
generally the colleges the standard of scholarship IS
high and diploma means actual proficiency. happen
70 know that the examination papers OF the School OF
Mathematics in Richmond College sent to the Pro-
fessor of Mathematics In a renowned and venerable
college North, and he expressed his surprise at
the extent and thOrOuGhness of the course, quite
superior to what obtained IN his own institution. Our
public school system, necessarily experimental aud
tentative, is gradually securing efficiency and popular
favor In the cities and towns and In neighborhoods
where the population is sufficiently dense the common
schools are admirable and patronzed by all classes.
and obstacles. to establish and make successful our
public schools look with painful apprehensions to the
probable passage Of the Civil Rights bill and its en-
forced admxure of in those schools In the event
OF the passage OF the bill the Legislature will promptly
abolish the whole system The South, In the matter OF
public education, has acted with magnanimity and
sefsacrcing liberaity that demanded encouragement
rather than repression. Voluntarily and cheefuly
heavy taxes have levied and collected for the edu
cation OF their recently emancpated slaves. out OF
every 500 OF the school tax full sos are paid by
the white race and 1t poor return for patriotic
generosity that this civilizing agency should be sud
denly stopped 1t is also hard that an oficious and
arbitrary political majority should punish the unoffend
ing negroes their special friends by withdrawing such
a munincent and beneficial gratuity.
The corn crop promises a generous yield The tobacco
crop will be short. Wheat and oats were comparative
failure Virginia needs improved tllage, rotation Of
crops subdivision Of landed Estates and steadier farm
labor interested In the results OF the farming Our
people are living the hope OF the connection by canal
of the waters Of the Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River
Federal appropriation and superintendent must COM
plete this grand enterprise. The Resolutions OF 989
strict construction and States Rights. have been
thoroughly repudated In the last fifteen years, that
there is opposition to such Governmental action
as will finish National highway important TO the
commerce. agriculture and manufactures Of the West,
the South, and NewYork city Engineers acting under
United States authority and pay, are now making e6
detrimental surveys 10 dctrrm Inc tue praclctDty OF
construction, and especially the length OF the tunnel
through the Allegheny Mountains.
Among and at the base OF the mountains In this state
mineral springs, varying In the temporal
ture and medicinal properties OF the waters. In old
Virginia can count twenty-five different springs,
at different localities which offer accommodations TO
health and pleasure seekers. They are mainly on or
near Chesapeake and OHIO, and the Atlantic and
Mississippi Railroads. Among the most popular and at
tracye the Old Sweet and White sulphur OF
West Virginia. The former is model OF neatness and
ceanness. The appoin tments are admirable The baths
for both delicious. The White sulphur Is the
most noted and fashionable watering place In the South
with accommodations for over 1000 people,. An aged
lady visitor says that she came to the place on a
bridal trip in 1915 Visitors from all parts OF the Union
meet here in pleasant sociabiity Newly York, Boston,
Philadelphia Baltimore, Richmond Charleston. New
Orleans Cincinnati, and Chicago seem ObiyOus OF the
late unpleasantness" As there Is but one hotel,
one dningroom, one ballroom. one general
parlor the guests, who not invalids. neces-
sarily brought into friendly intercourse. Hence
the White has been long noted for its
social advantages. The place is wellkept well
managed and notceably free from disgusting exhibit
tons OF wickedness. In other days the White
noted for the assembling OF politicians who cOncocted
not schemes for party success. This has not
brought together the sachems
The third term" has no per Sc advocates The South
calmly awaits the rotations OF the political Wheel
pared to act with who promise relief from carpet
bag viainies and threatened social degradation. Nom
inaons for Congress have been made In most OF the
Districts Dissatisfaction exists In some and especially
In the metropolitan on account OF the manner In
which the thing was DONE" Party machinery is valu-
able when 1t cOnduces valuable ends. II, however is
only a means, and when 1t becomes AN instrument OF
yenalty and corruption good men should REBEL That
was noble dec aratiOn OF Macaulay: IL Is not
sary TO my happiness that should sit In Parliament
Parliament out of it, the CONSCIOUSNESS OF having
done what is right"