The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-05-12
THE SKUNK QUESTION.
Es1zrKdge and hss 'sCIaSsical
Normal school EducatiOn.'

CorToNwooD, Chase Co., KS,
April 18th, 1876.
EDIToRs NEWS: l have just rea d |
the Hon. c. v. Eskridge's, very
able article in the last News, in ia
vor of the Emporia Normal School,
q classical education" and in de. |
Tense of his course in the Legisla-
ture. l confess it is the ablest arti-
Gle on that side of the question, and
in favor of a classical Normal
School education" that have yet
read. How any one can oppose
changing your Normal" to "Uni-
versity" is now more than can
immagine, saying nothing about
moving the capital to Emporia, or
voting $4,000 to a Centennial
fraud" (S25,00O for buildings, and
the show, and $4,000 to publish
another edition of the Agricultural
reports for the centennial.) Eskridge
denounced the Corcordia school as
fraud, as he also did the Lsaven-
worth Normal, in private CONVEX
sation, and his article Is complete
vindication of his votes for the ap-
preparation to each.
In facts, his article is almost as
good as his speech the night before
adjournment OF the Legislature,
when he vented his disappointed
spleen against the member from
Chase" Pc rhaps he may still rec
ollect the rebuke from the Speaker,
and how that rebuke was greeted
with roaring cheers. Eskridge's
exhibition of his classical normal
school education" on the floor of
the House, last winter, did much to
defeat his Normal School appropri-
ntion. In fact, had it been possible
to have coaxed him to have gone
home so we could have been rid OF
his influence, and his registering
reputation, we could, and would
have appropriated $1,000 to $4,000
for the Emporia Normal School.
But with his influence and ''cIassic
al normal school education" it was
impossible.
l confess that l cannot and will
not attempt to answer his argu-
ments in the last NEWS, in favor OF
a classical education" / presume
his exhibition of manhood in that
article, and his arguments, are the
best tribute to his pet, the Normal
School, that could be written. Its
barely possible he may have learned
1t in Mrs. Pomeroy's class in the
Gdesd languages" or he may have
been one of that portion of the
class that did not graduate at all,
and who the next day found them
selves without .,"diplomss." Its
barely possible, he may have been
put down from Greenwood" SO as
to make 3 sho wing that the stu
dents were not all from Lyon coun-
ty, but at the city election swore
that his home was in Emporia.
wonder whether that produce
ton was submitted to the board OF
Regents, the President and faculty
before it was published, and wheth.
er it is the joint production of the
talent and public decency of the
Institution?
AS to the charges of Eskridge
against me personally, do not fee
called upon to admit or deny them
when made by any responsible par.
ty, may feel called upon to notice
them, but not before.
| i once heard the questson asked
at SABBATH school, "whY the angel
Gabriel dare not accuse the Devi
with soiling accusations ?" 1t was
finally decided that it was not OF
account of any fear of the Devil
but because such argument would
be beneath an angel. Now am no
angel yet, cannot meet Mr.. Es
kridge's arguments sin Kind" no
from fear, not because the disposition
is not strong; for l know that "fron
the abundance of the heart, Gas il
his case) the mouth speaketh," but
cannot do 1t because it's beneath
my ideas of manhood because it,
the argument of the brute, coward
and paltroon, and not that of a man
j. Now, T.. v. Eskridge went int
the legislature prominent candi
date for Speaker, he went seekins
that popularity that would sent
him to Congress. At one time turf
, of the hand would have elected hin
Speaker. He was regarded the Her
cules of the Southwest. We all de
lighted to do him homage. Whel
Charley Aidrich wrote of him ''tha
man may smile and smile and b.
. a william STILL" the House felt out
ragged, and Aldrich came near re
turning to Smith county in dis
5 grace but before the Legislature
} adjourned Aldrich was regarded a
. q prophet, or at least a man VIII,
knew the language of "smiles" ant
there was none SO low as to d.
homage to the representative of TIN
1 Normal; that smile constantly re
3 minds one of "smile and smile ant
t be william STILL" 1t lie safe to sa,
that he left the legislature withou
q friend. The member from Chas
went to the legislature without
7 party, without influence, and Re
publican papers told the member
constantly that the member from
Chase was not Republican, but
'fdisorganizer," and must be KEEP
, down, but at the close Of the ses
8 sion, when by overwork he wa
: Frustrated on bed of sickness. an,
his reputation stabbed in tn
House by the representative of tn
3 Normal School," and when tn
3 Speaker administered that meritei
, and scathing rebuke of his coars
, ottack, and the House witnesse,
1 his total discontinue, and defeat
D both the Speaker and the membe
from Chase, were cheered by tn
House and lobby, men all arouni
Eskridge rising to their feet, ant
D the echoes of three cheers reverber
a Gted through that hall as it had new
er done before.
The "Normal School representa-
lives" seat was vacant in a minute
8 and he was seen no more.
q But the next day nearly ever,
member of both houses, including
the Lieu. Governor and Speaker
called st the sick-bed of the mem
6 Der from Chase, and offered word