The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-09
81 TFor the DiSpatch.J
Our State Agricultural College

The public generally ere this know OF the
proposed conversion Of the Agricultural
College at .B!acksburg into strictly mill
tury school. The readers OF the Dispatch
in particular have been reminded OF the
Injustice, extravaganza. and folly OF such
change. The press Of the State has op-
posed II, and the measure has found, be-
yond those Immediately interested, no de-
Tenders Sensible people had even begun
TO hone that the Board, at the ADJOURNED
meeting last month in Lynchburg, would
quietly let it drop. This hope has. proved
vain. 4 ST.,
The Board met and did not WAIVER in the
least from the; intention foreshadoWed IN
August. They declare that the "markeo
decrease, in the number Of students IS que
Ito a defective system OF organization, ana
an inefficient system OF discipline" In say
ing this they ignore fact OF which they are
perfectly well aware, and Which mas Deen
repeatedly. exhibited, and never contro-
yerted, that the decline during the six years
preceding this in the number OF students IS
far less than the average decline during the
same time lin the majority OF Virginia
colleges; and that the difference be-
Tween the numbers now and the COR
time last year is very
slight, the falling of being less than that at
the University itself. They equally ignore
the fact. repeatedly charged in the newspa-
pers and never controverted, that the ''de-
| fectiye discipline" OF which they speak,
! and, the. existence of which nobody dis
| putcs, is due to their own neglect OF duty
! in refusing. to investigate grave charges
\ against members OF the Faculty, and in
withholding from the executive head Of the
| college that support without which be is
poweress. y They do not hesitate thus CO..
verify to cepsure the president, against
| whom no charges have ever been laid, and
who is understood to challenge investiga-
ton Of his official conduct.
But to be brief. The. remedy insisted
upon by the Board for all the evils that OK
island we hayeno disposition to deny their
eXiStence-is strict military organization.
We are 10 have, whether>we will or not,
another military institute at Blacksburg.
E" One at Lexington (as the Farmyllle Jour.
nal says) for the wealthy. and another at
Biacksbirg for the industrial classes" The
superintendent cannot be so called without
change ID the charter, so the head OF the
re6rganized college is still to be "presi-
dent" He is announced to be elected On
the 10th Of December, when the present in
cumbent mot being man OF military edu-
cation( will OF course be retired.
Are the people Of Virginia prepared to
give up their Agricultural Coileges Are
they prepared to submit to such peryer-
sion OF the iustitution as: will inevitably de-
stroy its usefulness II not, it is time for
them to act. The present Visitors with
one honorable exceptiou) are Joined to
their idols and are not open to reason. No
remedy exists but for the Lesislatureato
turn them all out and provide in some way
:fer,t filing their places with men who better
understand land will more. faithfully per-
form the duties to which, in an evil hour,
those who compose the. present Board were.
assigned, Wescal, upon the Legislature to
do Just this. The matter brooks no delay
q ts,,I,ltl - 40. IA iTAy.pAYER.