The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-15
The Appointment OF II President
For the West Virginia UniVer.

The Appointment OF u President
For the West Virginia UniVer.
Sity.
This long delayed appointment hns
been made at last, and the Rev. ]. Il.
Thompson, Of Morgantown, formerly Of
the Chapline Street NJ. f. Church Of this
city, is the person selected. 1t is needless
to say that the appointment ia a surprise
to most people. Until day or two be.
fore the selection it was not known here
that Mr.. Thompson's name would be be-
fore the Board OF Regents. The move.
ment for his appointment originated at
Morgantown, where, we arc told, he is
very popular, especially among the Uni
versity students. Itseems by dispatch
from that place, that there has been con.
siderable demonstrations OF rejoicing
over his appointment.
1t will he remembered that the Rev.
Alex. Martin, now President OF Asbury
University, Indiana, was formerly Presi-
dent Of the West Virginia University.
At the time he resigned his position he
was said TO have been forced ont of the
institution by the Board Of Regents on
account Of his religion and politcs-that
is, because the University had acquired
a denominNtional and partisan charac.
ter under his administration that
initiated against its prosperity.
1t was charged, however, against
the Board that his removal was
the result of an unfounded prejudice on
their part against the church and pOliti-
cal party with which he was connected, ,
arising mainly from the antagonism OF
both to the confederate sympathiea Of the
Regents. This at least was the view Of
the matter taken by the late NJ. Z. Con-
ference, which body passed resolutions
recommending several institutions Of
learning to the patronage OF their de-
nominational'friends, omitting to men,
ton as in former times the name OF the
University ns worthy OF public favor.
OF course the Board always denied that
their action towards DR.. Martin was in.
spirsd by any spirit Of prejudice against
his church or politics Whether their
denial was wholly true or not, they can
now point to the selection of Mr..
Thompson as thGir vindication, inasmuch
as he holds substantially The same views,
politically and religiously, that DR.. Mar.
tin held, and has been altogether as DEM
onstrative in maintaining them. On the
other side it will most likely be claimed
by some that the Board, alter long in
terregnum, discovered the mistake they
had made, and in order to allay the pre-.
indice they had excited. and.restore the
University to favor with a large body Of
religioniSts throughout the State, felt
compelled to take the back track and undo
their former action. ..eaf l-
This much by way OF preface to the
appointment of Mr., ThompsOn. As we
have said, his selection is surprise to
the public. One point made against him
is the same that the critics made against
VIM. Pitt when at the age of "a he was
chosen Premier Of Great Britain, viz:
his youth. Mr.. Pitts reply was that
youth was defect that every
passing day would remedy, and that
the enthusiasm OF youth WAS preferable
to the imbecility OF age. In the present
condition Of the University it is hard to
tell just what qualities in President it
most needs. 1t certainly needs more pat.
ronage from the public, Whether this
patronage could be better secured by the
presence Of well known educator ut the
post of President, or by an energetic per-
'oNal canvass among the people by per-
'na''ve speaker, is point that we shall
not undertake to decide. The University
''not supposed to be defective in educa-
tors. Its professors are no doubt compe-
tent to properly instruct all who place
themselves under their charge. 1t does
need, however, a stronger hold upon the
popular feeling OF the State, and there.
fore needs at its head some one who
can arouse such feeling. Whether
MI Thompson is the man to succeed in
this work remains to bc seen. He has
lhetield opened to him and must demon.
''r0le his fitness for the position confer
ed upon him. II can, however, be said
OF him in advance, that he has great force
Of character, Heis both a student and a
worker. He has the capacity to make
friends, as htS:carecr here and at Morgan.
town abundantly shows. He will with.
out doubt throw his whole soul into the
work before him and DO all that man can