The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-31


capabilities ofthose plans, could they have
been carried on to full perfection, Through
long years of crampiog poverty and dis
heartening neglect the University has steadt,
" increased in influence and favor, ana
stands to-day 10 Der majesty without supe-
rior, and with hardly peer, in the Un'tea
States. It is alike the pride and honor OF
Virginia, and every VirgipiaD, whether ne
be an aIumnus or not, feels that he mas part
and parcel of its glory.
Respecting the vote that will be taken next
Thursday upon the bill allowing the Uni.
yersity regular stipend, the chief cause OF
fear arises from the blind jealousy and petty
mcauness Of some OF the colleges. Several
OF these throughout the State. observing that
the University, whilst supporting itself with
the meagre assistance OF the small approprla-
ton given her by each Legislature has been
steadily growing in fame and splendor, have
aspired to be her rivals, and TO further tnelr
schemes have protested to believe that Inc
moral training at the University Is dehcienf,
and that what little moral training can be got
there is Of sectarian or dencmnatlonai
| order. They have therefore, on various
occasions, made arrogant demands LOT pro-
portionate shares of the public patronage.
These reports have been in the last lew days
refuted through your columns by the Rev.
S. A. Steel, an eminent divine, VINO, naVipS
been for several years the chaplain (and
most acceptable one) at the University, has
bad ample means of Judging. OF both
charges. Such opposition on the part OF
the friends Of these colleges displays
as little common sense as it does lack OF
statesmaply broadncss. The bill referred to
| fixes the minimum age at which student
NAV enter the University, and will thereby
| have the effect OF keeping at the colleges
many who would otherwise enter the Uni
yersity a wear or tHo earlier. The enemies
| of the bill will hardly be so illogical and
selfish as TO Object that tic gratnitous tuition
| provided for by the bill will draw quite as
! many away from the colleges: for excellence
and cheapness combined is the perfection Of
education. The colleges flourish as the Uni.
versity advances. They are the fountains
utilized and kept clear by the aqueduct into
which their streams pour. To the high ed.
ucatonal standard Of the University is due
more than 10 any other cause the success Of
the colleges. Their faculties are composed
in part Of University men, and the general
tone Of education throughout the Stale
has advanced under the charge of the
hundreds OF University graduates who, as
teachers, are raising the standard Of schools
to q height hardly less than that Of the ia.
nous foundation schools Of England. To
the influence of these schools is due the fact
that the demand for college education is so
great now that the attendance at the colleges
is far larger than before the war.
In respect OF the argument of "retrench-
ment" / can only express the hope that the
Legislature will draw the line between sui
cidal stinginess and economical investment.
The State possesses in the University of Viz
ginia some half a million of dollars worth
Of property, which cannot be kept in repair
for less than half the allowance hitherto
given. Every landagent or householder
will coroborate the assertion that so elaborate
and extensive property cannot be kept frem
rctrograding in value at less expense than
s. 800 year, The contemplated addition of
SO 900 will not increase the tax more than a
cent and half head throughout the State.
If there are other objections to the scheme
proposed they will no doubt be brought for
ward next Thursday, and can be etlectualy
disposed Of then. But it must be evident to
every man who considers the subject that
the University, instead of being costly and
I'm warrantabIc incubus upon the Treasury
of the State, has always, even in pecuniary
view, been a most remuneratiye investment.
L
men from other States, bringing with them
not less than $780, 900 year. This is caught
I'd by the great arteries OF trade and circu-
lated throughout the State. These young
men, returning to their distant homes, carry
with them not more certainly the literary
lore gathered in the classic halls of their Alma
Mater than the liberal ideas Of government
held sacred in Virginia; and during our four
years. war many loyal son of the University
| returned at the head OF = battalion or regi-
ment to record in letters OF blood his fidelity
! to his Alma -Iater and bis allegiance to her
; prin 2iples
Every true.hearted 7irsinian owns with
pride that the University is one of the chief
gories Of the State, and if we would have
| It's spendor remain unimpaired we must
keep her chairs filled with men of ability
and reputation. This cannot be done
without increasing and assuring the
emoluments OF the prolessorships. / cam
not do more here (and l surely
cannot do less than mention my admiration
of the conduct of the learned gentlemen who
have since the war labored so faithfully and
efficiently on less than half Of what their
| talents would have demanded at the North.
| That we cannot expect 20 retain them on
such miserable pittances has just been ex.
empitied in the resignation Of Professor
Basil l.. Gildersleeve, the Person of Virginia,
who has been called.to the Johns Hopkins, in
Baltimore. on double his former salary.
Ny limited space has prevented me from
| touching on any but q few of the superficial
arguments in favor Of the appropriation, but
it is to be hoped that the General Assembly
will on next Thursday verify the eulogy pro.
nounced on them when they assembled by
an accomplished Vrgiuian, Of being the
strongest body that has met in the State for
twenty years." and will pass by q handsome
majority measure so fraught with impor-
tauce to the glory and prosperity of the
State, and so anXlously desired by every true
FIRGINIAE.
rive shall have to close this discussion, but
without prejudice to the claims Of the Uni.
YerSity. The case will be fully argued in
| the General ASsembly1