The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-03-02
The University Annuity.

e'o i'"S9'oVo VI te pil Increasing Cnc annuity CT
the University Of Virginia to 1000. Here
tofore it mas been $4,000. One OF the condi.
tiens of the bill Just enacted into law is, that
the institution shall receive free OF tuition fees
III academic departments all Virginia students
over eighteen years CT age who are graduates
OF virginia. colleges. or may satisfy the faculty
upon examination that they are sufficiently asl-
vaEced to enter the University.
1t should be remembered that she great mass
of the people. who will have to pay this anuui-
ty, are those WHO viii never receive one cents
advantage from 1t. They cannot afford to
send thcis children to college, preparatory to
University course. for the reeson that the sur
plus OF their earnings will hot justify it, Those
who will be benefited, arc those whose in
comes would enable them to pay all the ex-
penSes attending collegiate education, and the
additional taN-barden the appropriation will
impose will fall upon that class of persons who
do no aspire to classical requirements. They
have different views OF usefulness in hfe-pre
fer the practical education that is acquired in
our common school system and everyday bust
ness association.
The passage OF the bill in question is the
more inoppoitune and oppressive, when we
consider that our present school system, where
all may attend and receive the advantages, is
inadequate, for want OF means, in the rural
districts. Ii the farmers and mechanics OF
Virginia, who will lave to pay the bulk of this
annuity, desire to increase their taxes for edu-
cational purposes. they would prefer to enlarge
the usefulness OF the common schools by ex
tending the time of the sessions. In this way
they would receive the benet1. for the addition
al taxes drawn from them.
We REGARD the action of the Legislature as
peculiarly unfortunate at this time, when every
dollar that cal be raised should be appropria-
ted to meet the obligations OF the State already
contracted, and imperatively demanding at
tention. There is no justice or fair dealing
with the great mass of the people in fastening
upon them burden to benefit q cilss who are
able to pay their own way, if it is their desire
that their sons shall be prepared for the pro-
fessons, or the higher avenues of literary life.
Indeed, it is injustice that will naturally re-
volt the instincts and consciousness of those
who will the more directly feel it, for its ten
dency is to foster and encourage a pcdantic
exclusiveness and seif-consdered superiority,
where, in many instances, there is all alb
sence Of that robust manhood that carvcs
out for itse;f the path of usefulness and dis
ftinction, whether in the professions Or other
honorable calings. We have too much of the
simpering affectation and disgusting pretense
which come from college ''cramming,'' and
are afflicted too severely with the miserable
abortions of manhood, who can lay no higher
claim to merit than the mere fact that they
have gone through collegiate course. The
nausea IS too msu6erable for the masses of
the people to be forced to pay for it. We have
the common school system supported out OF the
common revenue for the common benefit, In
this, all participate-the benefits are equali-
zed- no eSclrIsiyeness-no pampered and pre-.
tentIols superiority, by reason OF exclusive
advantages-but a common level, whence all
can start in the race of life and determine the
| result By the genuine worth that lies within.
The thirty thousand dollars appropriated to
the University would educate at least three
thousand children Of the State-siye them all
OF life. Ii other advantages are desired. let
those who aspire to them pay for them, and
not impose an expense upon the great mass of
the people from which they in no form receive
compensation.
We do not wish 20 be considered as urging OBJ
jections to collegiate education. We only wish
to present protest against the policy of tax
ng the great mass OF the people, for the bene-
fit Of d favored few. The tuition and acadc n
c fees are but a small portion OF the expenses
attending a course at college. The persons
who can avail of this gratuity, are generally
amply abe TO pay for it, and it is wrong
in principle and wrong i'll policy, to
their sons to college pay for those who
are able. Washington and Lee University,
Roanoke College, the Bap list College at Rich
mond, and Randolph Macon College. ask no
such aims. They depend upon their own
merit, their own energy, and present their
curriculum for all who desire to acquire CLASH
cal knowledge and are able and willing to pay
for it. They do not seek to impose upon the
tax-ridden people of Virginia, aolens rolens,
any expense that they are not willing to vol
unfairly assume. 1t should be so with the
University of Virginia, as well as the Military
Institute, where another $40, 900 annuity tor
six years is asked.
The people Of Virginia-the industry and
substance OF the Commonwealth-ar tired of
this kind of abuse OF power--this Hsido,s
method at oppression. The free feature OF the
University bill is nothing but '.snarc and a
dellsion.' 1t is specious deception that
will m;seafl no one, for it is merely promise
to the ear to be broken to the hope No Door
mans Child will ever receive particle Of bell
eft from it, Willie the common schools of the
rural district arc compelled to laneuisf in
weakness for the very want OF the money now
being sarantsered by this Conservative Leels-
latrirc.
1t is time the people Of Virginia were AVA
keniErg to sense of the wrongs that arc Being
piled upon them. They have before them the
gloomy picture of deficit in the revenue of
the State, exclusive of interest except what
may be paid in coupons, of 1851 900 on the LIST
OF December next. They have the assurance
that to meet the obligations they have already
assumed, through the funding job, enacted by
this same party, their taxes will have to be in
creased to at least one dollar i'm the one hu,