The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-04

as, elsewhere Offering ever .hlngs eo'p il..;ti
linz nothing, Compulsory religion VIII
never make 1nau Christian.
Discussing this point, The speaker az
.Iuded to his own experience W Hblhe hei
sacred. precincts he had first learned CON
scollsly 10 cali God Father; and nowhere
lad the religion OF Christ offered go attrae,E
tive a face to the young, the reckless, anu
the Indifferent as here, where no com
sion arrested bis step and drew him unwli-
Iingly to hear the gospel story. Inat no
harm had been done by this freedom IN re.
ligion is attested by the fact That an over
the land her Sous are found defending tie
ancient faith and proclaiming the Worius
redemption. Whatever may haye Deen Tue
religious belief OF Nr. Jefferson, every
honest Christian must rejoice that in his
University religion was, put on the same
footing with every other truth. No Church
as such should have influence here.
The speaker next argued that there snould
| he freedom OF admission TO the UNIVERSITY.
| ALA should be free to come as fortune shouid
enable them. Some may come whose time
would be better spent between Inc p'ouSn-
handles. but they cannot damage the !nsti-
tuition. and possibly the Inhalation OF luz
atmosphere Of industry, OF thoroushness,
| OF resDect for only honest attainment, may
kindle aspirations for better things:
But gathered at the University, TINS Troop
Of uniformed boys. how shall they be gov
ernofIp The speaker asserted thatthere had
been no mistake made in dscardiDS naTsh
discipline from the government OF tue UNI
yersity. 1t is no defect that there IS no p's-
trrnaI element in the government o! TUG
| University to walk before the students, rou
| in hand, to restrain their youthiul eAll-
1 berances and goad their tagging lazlness
into diligent activity. Greatly as ne nom
ored yireinia's noblest son, it would have
been mistake when men cried place
him at the head CT our State Uniyer-
s;tvu TO have done so. The Board OF VISIT
ors did their duty when they said never
word, but let the chieftain 80 to preslue
over college in whose system there was
leritimate place for him. and whose chanSeo
name will now be perpetual memorial "
Virpin,a,s hero. TO have placed MN mere
wonld have DESTROYED the very constil.tloh
Of our University. The wisdom Oh Tue
University system OF govcrnment mas otcll
established by experience, and there Is 'o
call for change. .fo,oo
The sneaker briefly advocated the teiec-
tive svSfcm" Of the University, Whlc'l n.s
been adopted in whole or ~ part Dy eFG1y
school OF high grade in the country We
are not concerned to estaDi'Sn ck''1ii "
nyioritv Tor the system. The virginia Uni
tersitv administers no medicine that is
n,tcnied. but rejoices that all Shall kno"
Ind use her prescription. She does not
want any carlully-conceated processes,
rnown only % herself. but is concerned
That her own principles shall be suffered
and helrcd 20 lind their fullest develop
mcnt, Another illustration OF the spirit
Of freedom which pervades tn2 UNI
vcrs,ty is The absolute equality or her sons
IN her eyes AntccedcntS nave notnlnS ~
do with The estimate she places upon thth,
and this is alike trus OF the COMPANY tlaL
tbronns the benches and the learned gent'e-
mon on fine platform. This is recognized,
and the Board that governs in Flrginla's
name can never dare 10 place any Ian I'D
| mower here for other reason than rcai nc
comulishment in the school he would dlrec'.
| Woe bctidc the University when Ting
shall govern, ard when ether supposed cA-
cellencirs than that OF fitness SHALL pear 4
feathers weight i'll determining the
choice OF teachers. NO consideration
of religious faith, or impecuniosity,
Or notiyity should be an argument for or
against an applicant. Just here lies the
chief danger 10 the University. Let u>
guard this foundation cipe-nothng
but unuuestioncd and unquestionablc nc
ouiremcnt can give any man claim to posi-.
ton in the University: Let us ever demand
that only prinIacy in his own department
shall be regarded in The selection OF pro-
lessor, and that all other considerations,
views political philosophical, religious,
BIRTHPLACE, residence. natiOnality-GH save
personal honor and upriGhtnesS, be utterly
ignored. ,..
The speaker next discussed the second in
urcdlent that goes to make up the very at
mospberc OF the University llfc-thor0uGh-
ness. Never once in fifty years has ccrtll-
cate been awarded by the University TO
aucht else than thorough attainment. All
over the land in colleges and SCHOOLS are
found her graduates. They arc eagerly
sourbt for because it is believed that the'r
dipumas mean something. She corners no
honorary degrees. and what she says OF
man she knows, and knows nl eNaihlha''oh
careful and exact. Graduation here means
ottoinment That is absolute and tlnvarylng.
The speaker argued the necessity o! con-
stantlv cIeyatjng the standard OF excellence,
We must not expect the boys OF the South
to flock hlihcr simply because this lsa south
ern institution. The day IS almost gone
when calantry in the past conflict >ulhccs
TO transform intellectual poverty into
aboundinw resources II only the poverty
wore the grey. l will never forget 10 love
and honor the men who battlcd aud suffered
for the cause we all believed to be just and
true, and vet the question where | send my
son that he may best be fitted for the batte
OF life is seen to be all apart from sympa-
thies and antipathics, sectional anu poIltl-
cal. These antiquities Will be forgotten by
the coming generations, and they will 90 TO
he educated to that place where the greatest
teachers sit.
The speaker said it was possible to attain
TO higher and greater thorou%hncSs even
here, and maintained that hew schools are
needed and more professors and adiunc!s,
that the circle OF learning may be. enlarged
and needed leisure be afforded to the pres
ent corps OF Woodworking and oyer-laXed
professors, who are so burdcncd because
only thus can thoroughncss be obtained.
He would also have the University not
only free in us spirit, free in its methods OF
study and discipline, but absolutely free to
all who may come from any quarter, that
they may drink OF its river OF knowledge
without The payment OF fec or reward. He
knew the difficulties in tie way OF this and
in the way OF the development he bad indi-
Gated as necessary. Money must be had
before such results can be obtained. For
this we must not look TO the benefactions
Of large-minded men OF wealth. For
many reasons cur University can never
expect the experience OF Harvard and
Yale, andEPrinceton. Whence, then, shall
come the means TO make our Uni
versity what it should be? | answer from
the State herself. But Virginia is poor, al
most bankrupt. Yes, sue Is poor, but