Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-11-29
That University Pos,enice Agony.

Mr.. EDITOR: In the Thanksgiving
issue of the Tsribune correspondent ap-
pears to have ''agonized" few sticks con-
cerning bit of information" pertaining
to the University" Postofice aRd Mes
senger. 1t is unnecessary to say more
about this settled question than that this
appointment of Messenger will prove
beneficial in many respects to the Cadets
and the Institution. The establishment of
the postofice would have been quite an
acquisition to the postal accommodations
of the University. but as the Faculty has
seen fit to refuse place for it on the hill,
it will, of course, be abolished. It is true
that the old arrangements for carrying the
mail may be satisfactory to the postotfice
officials in the city; also, it is true
that the new arrangement will
be satisfactory to them. 1t is true
by which the Faculty are enabled to assist
one or two meritorious students who
would not otherwise be able to attend col
lege;" also it is true that this is one of the
little "perquisites'' by which our Postmas-
ter General is enabled to assist and honor
one or two worthy and meritorious stu
dents who may not otherwise be able to
attend the University. He seems to think
a Federal appointment will terrify the
boys on the hill, and cause party spirit to
run high. This is hardly justice to the
students. That there are any on the hill
who are so narrow-minde1 as TO let an ad-
ministration appointment govern their as
sociation, we don't believe. No3e are so
prejudiced and mean. We have had but
one occasion to notice on the hill disre-
spect on account of politics, and that two
years ago. At the time this oc-
Cured, the man who treated his fellow
student with disrespect, because of the po-
litical virus entertained by him, was
branded on all hands as a fool" and, to-
day, we believe, were the sam thing to
occur again, the boys would condemn it
likewise.
If there are any o: these "fools" on the
hill to-day, they should be sent home, or
class formed of them at once and lectured
daily by the Faculty on the "evils of party
bias" and the "love of country" If there
be any on the hill, and this appointment
will expose them, God send it. Let that
man be published to the world. Again,
we ask, what student is so foolish as to get
mad when the Federal Government ap-
points an agent who may perhaps hold diff
ferent political views to himself? All this
cant about political preferment, in an
educational point of view, being unwise,"
is not true. This appointment being made,
the Faculty will take advantage of it, and,
as we said, if there be any cadets who are
so low flung, educate them to rise above
party bias, and to respect all
gentlemen alike without regard to
the political faith to which they
may belong. This appointment was made,
no doubt, because it was consistent with
the welfare of the public service The
cadets are thankful to Gen. Key for this
favor.
The Tribune correspondent asks that
the University authorities be left free to
manage their internal affairs So do we
S. mail transportation belong to private
individuals, corporations or Institutions
No, it belongs to somebody else. 1t be-
longs-yes-to the authorities at Wash
fOO