National Republican., 1875-07-13

EXt0lIed.
Dr. @. b. Purvis, one of the medical faculty Of
Howard University, gives his views Of the recent
changes in the management, in Q letter to the
New York Evening Post, as follows:
To the Editors Of the Epenfng Post:
from Mr. John NJ. Ian gston, late acting president
of this Institution, which letter, together with
permitted to 70 uncontradicted. cannot conceive
what led Mr.. Langston to write his letter. feel
sure that If he had taken time to reflect and not
allowed bis feelings to get the better of his judg
ment, he would not be found making the blunder
he has in publishing his recent statement as re-
feel mortified, and some even outraged, by his
unjust, uncalled-for and unreliable statement.
They worked for his success; they hoped he might
because he is not they are not willing to see the
Institution which has accomplished, and is still
gratify disappointed ambition and for revenge. If
the statements that have been set forth are true,
why is 1t he has not made them beforef Why,
with the facts he has set forth fresh In bis mind,
did he continue to exto the Institution, and solicit
funds for 1t up to within few days Of the annual
meeting Of the trusteesH Why wait until he was
defeated In
THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT
1 will answer, because his statements are not
facts, as will show.
i. He says: i have reached in my own mind,
and could not possibly do otherwise, the conclu.
sion that henceforth Howard University is, In Its
religious character, to be denomnatioual and Sec
tarian.n How he reaches this conclusion can
not see. No resolution declaring to what religious
denomination the institution should belong was
passed by the board Of trustees. No one ever
school is to be Congregational he attempts to sus
tain by stating that the aboard of trustees is CON-
posed largely Of ConRregationalists." What ex-
travagapceI The number of trustees Is twenty
eleven CongregatiOnalists and nine who are not.
The nine who are not reside in this city, and five
Of the eleven live in distant parts Of the country.
The rules governing the board make nine q
quorum for the transaction Of any business: this
shows that the Congregation alsts are not likely
TO control the board even If they were so disposed
But 10 show that they are not so disposed, will
state there are twenty instructors employed in
the Institution, and only six Of the number belong
to the Congregational Church. In the theologi.
cal department, out OF fOEr Instructors, there is
Only one Congregationalist; in the law depart
ment Mr. Langston is the Only one. ! cannot
conceive why the election Of Mr.. Whipple makes
the school any more UNCONVENTIONAL than when
Howard and LsnRston presided over IL, for they
both believe in the same Church. The election Of
Mr.. " nipple has no such tendency, and my friend
Mr.. Lapgstdn knOwsit
AS TO THE LoANINe OF MONEY
to the Congregational church Of this city, the facts
are these: In 1857, when the foundation of the
University was being laid, the trustees loaned 70
the First Congregational church some funds
which had come into their possession through
General Howard, at per cent. This loan was Sc
cured by trst mortgage worth three times the
in fact. It was Siit to the UniSeFsIty. As 10 he
money loaned to the Rev. Mr.. Rankin, If the facts
are as Mr.. Langston states them, that half Of the
tees were dealing with an honest man. The story
as to loaning money at per cent. and borrowing
at 10 is readily explained. The money loaned was
in 1867, and that borrowed was from the Freed
mems bank between the years 1870 and 1877, in all
seventy-fve thousand dollars at eight per cent:
the books Of the bank will verify this The only
money borrowed at 10 per cent. was ten thousand
from the German Savings bank and eleven thou
sand from the Institution for the Education Of
Colored Youth. This last loan was made by the
acting president, Mr.. Longston, who acted in q
double capacity, for while he represented the
University on the one hand, he also represented
the Institution for the Education Of Colored
Youth by being chairman and trustee OF the same,
and certainly he has not forgotten the fact that
fifteen hundred Of the money went TO pay him and
and hs associates in the law department for their
services, contrary TO q resolution passed by the
states the Institution has borrowed in all ninety
six thousand dollars to meet its expenses. ~
= Mr.. LANGsToN's FEES.
Perhaps nv friend, by taking time, may call
to mind the fact that since he has been coIsected
with the institution he has received more than q
sixth Of the entire amount for his services.
The management ofthe institution may posi-
bly, be subjected to criticism but not from its late
acting president. All Howard University owes
to-day is twenty. five thousand dollars. To meet
this il has large landed estate which eventually
VIII Se va ", Inc money tnat mas been bor-
at their recent meeting passed O resolution d.
recting their president to run the institution
his statement in justice 10 the coored people. He
certainly has o very strange idea Of justice when
he seeks to strike down an institution that is CAL
culated to do for the elevation of the coored
people than any other in the land. Howard Uni
versity was established upon principles
AS BROAD AS HUMANITY.
Men and women Of every race and every relig-
in every department are white and colored.
Many OF the students are white, and especially
is this so in the law and medical departments.
Some Of the most capable young white lawyers
and physicians Of this city are graduates of these
departments. Where in this broad land can we
witness another effort being made as here to dis.
arm the public Of their preludices against the COL
ored people, by showing that white and colored
teachers alike can give instruction to white and
colored boys and girls in the same school? 1t is
because this university recognizes the equality
q all men that have been identified with 1t for
the past six yearI.
Shall the work 30 we'll begun be stopped, and
the institution be destroy ed, because the ambition
gratifed? am sure the thinking people, those
who love Vet 70 see the GA cause Of human tights pro.
presidency was caused by the colored trustees, for
they frequently passed severe criticism upon him
meeting, 10 which he refers, enc of them urged
cne OF the white trustees to use his best en-
deaTors
To DEFEAT HIM.
As to the Congregational church, too much can.
not be said in its favor. With its leading men,
hers originated the idea of building this UnIver-
sity. 1t is the only orthodox church in this city
where q colored man can go and be treated in
common. There is no pew in the loft or under
the stairs for him there. Though am Unita-
riap. It is but Just that say this much for this
church.
AS TO the American Missionary Association, 1
have but say that while the assertion that It is
to control Howard University is q pure invention,
it has, nevertheless, done more towards the edu-
cation Of the freedmen than all the other organi-
cations combined.
believe Howard University will continue to
grow In spite Of those who look at It's needs, and
that the attempt TO destroy It by getting Demo-
cratic Congress to investigate it will prove to be
q miserable failure. Yet ask the friends of the
cause-those who love to see all men enjoy equal
rights-to rally around 1t and give It their sup
port. Situated as It is upon the most prominent
knoll within the city, with Its imposing buildings
TO be seen from every direction, 1t naturally at
tracts the eye Of the stranger and stlrs up the
enmity of those who hate to see the triumph of q
cause which has for Its object the placing Of all
men upon an equality.
CHARLES B. PUIvIs, M. D.,
Professor Of Medical Department, Howard Uni.
Versity, July s, 1875.
For the Babies.
WASHINGTON, JulyH