The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-26


tors Part I'm It-Certain Statements Con
cerning His Conduct-He Declares that II,
Has Never Worked For or Against An,
! Political Party.
AT the close OF his annual report, which
Is Just from the press, DIR. Rufner, Super
intendent OF Public Instruction OF Nir
ginia, says: lnasmuch as my present
term OF Office will expire on the 18th day o.
next March, hope it may not be deemed
improper in me to indulge i'm some ro-
marks OF personal character, which, un.
der ordinary circumstances, would be In.
appropriate" Then, after giving a con-
dcnsed history OF public education in Vir.
gina, the obstacles met and overcome. the
Doctor closes as follows:
"Beiore taking leave, in spite Of It's ego
tism, feel it due to myself ut this iuncturc
70 make certain declarations concerning my
own conduct. Ny present position is the
only public Office ever sought, and | wa;
moved to seek this by my conviction OF the
importance OF the cause. | have worked
under growing sense OF its vital charac-
ter, and would adopt what was uttered a
few years ago by that eminent man DR..
William 5. Plumer. who said If ! could
speak but one word to the southern people,
il would be, Educate, Educate, EDUCATE >
I Large responsibilities OF many sorts have
been laid upon me, and | solemnly de-
clare that according TO the measure
Of my ability, | have been faithful
and true 10 every one Of them. | nave
not yielded TO threats or scductions TO de-
part from what believed TO be the line Of
duty. Whatever errors or infrmities
might justly be laid to my charge-and no
/ doubt there are many-it cannot be truly
said that have ever sought TO benefit my
/ self, to reward my friends, or to punish
my enemies, at pu0lic expense. / have
never worked for or against any political
party. / have never authorized my name
/ TO be used in any
POLITICAL CANVASS,
and regret extremely that | ever submit
ted for one day to its unauthorized Use.
Some will call this trimming. Would that
/ those who are 10 come after me would con-
/ sent to be called trimmers, towards, trait
ors-anything rather than mar the purity
and excellence OF the sacred work OF edu-
cation.
81 have anonymously in the newspapers
/ discussed measures pending before the
/ Legislature which deeply affected the
school system-and this, too, rcgret-but
! never have discussed any issue whilst il
was before the people in a canvass. never
gave Il vote in the Board OF Education or
in any College Board under the inspiration
OF party or personal feeling, or OF any
other motive than the merits OF the subject
in hand. / always preserved my lnde-
pendence and
REFUSED TO MAKE BARGAINS.
"Evcry man who acts thus will make
many enemies, some OF whom will pursue
him with rs perscryering malignity As ii he
had committed some horrible crime. But
woe be 10 the public officer who allows the
dread OF personal hostility 10 turn him from
what he knows to be right!
at is common form OF injustice for
persons throughout the state 10 hold the
superintendent OF Public Instruction re-
spOnsible for the doings OF the local Off
GERS, in both official and personal matters.
We have an admirable body Of local Off
GERS, who probably make as few mistakes
as could be expected OF men; but they, OF
course, err sometimes, and thus excite en-
nifty; and, rs intimated awhile ago, even in
their wisest official actions, they OF necessi-
ty run counter to the wishes OF many who
and thus there are local lamentations al
ways in motion. In nearly every such case
the trouble grows out OF local official action
over which this Office has no control, tx
cept to see to it that the discretion lodged
in these officers is lawfully exercised. And
so is ii in respect to their personal acts
particularly in politics. Often, when q
county superintendent makes himself
DIsAGREEABLE IN POLITICS.
| am most absurdly held responsible for
his behavior. This is most unjust i'm
every point Of view, for in casting my vote
for candidate for this Office have never
been influenced by either his politics or his
religion, and whilst after their election,
any more than before, ! have no right to
dictate TO them, or to trustees, or TO teach |
ers, how they shall demean themselves in
respect to party politics, ] have, through !
the Educational journal and otherwise, !
constantly advised them against political 1
activity, and never have given them, or
any one OF them, any other advice, directly
or indirectly. Some OF them have thought !
fit to act otherwise, and | deeply regret it. |
They will see, and the public will see,
sooner or later, that such course damages /
their usefulness, engenders hostility to !
those who appoint them, and brings evil,
and only evil, TO the school cause.
"But sometimes the conduct of these !
local officers is greatly exaggerated, and in
some instances wholly misrepresented Just /
in the way and for tie same reason that
MY CONDUCT Is OFTEN MIsREPREsENTED.
Malevolence, revenge, selfish aims, or
party scheming eXaggerate, or possibly In /
vent stories of words and acts against men /
who have really given little or no cause OF /
offence. And there are some who would I
persecute and prescribe a man simply be- T
cause he differs with them, as if he had not .
as good right to an opinion as they .
have, and as il such difference de- /
tracted from his value as man or
an officer. This sort OF work Is always .
going on in the world under various
forms and various pretences, and will so
continue 10 the end of time. But there has
been real ground enough for complaint in
some cases to justify me in now renewing
the warnings so often given against politi-
cal activity on the part OF school officers.
And whilst admitting that those who take
the sword IN political strife must perish by
the sword il the fight goes against them,
will even under the present peculiar cir
cumstances implore our public men to
PRESERVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM
IS sacredly from the influence Of party
politics us they would the Church
Of Christ. Punish eyil-dcerS, ii need be,
rom the highest to the lowest, after
The ell has been prOUed, not simply
but let not their misbehayior
,ause the political test to be applied to the
schools where only the purest motives and
he best professional skill shall be allowed
o enter. Surely in the education Of the
children the State should have. and the
people should demand, the very best SER