Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-10
pURE Parry yANDAlIsM.


The reckless assault that has been
and Is now being made upon the State
University by newspaper organ OF this
city and followed up by some Of the
same party organs in the State, Is be-
ginning to react.
The people have discovered the pur-
pose and spirit Of this raid and the
people are coming to the rescue.
They discover that it is deliberate,
concerted scheme to destroy one OF the
public institutions of the State. 1t Is
an act of pure party vandalism. The
intent is as clear and rs criminal as II
they had attempted to apply the torch
to this valuable property of the State.
Their plain purpose is not to reform but
destroy; not to correct but to pull down;
not even to fairly criticise, but to or.
ganize warfare to overturn and utter
IN demolish this institution.
We have the statement from the lips
of Republican Of high influence and
standing, whose name is known
throughout this State, saying that ne
had been receiving letters asking him
to join in this conspiracy and use his
influence and efforts to close up the
University.
We have also the statement from the
lips Of Principal of one of the public
schools of this city, that five of his boys,
who had intended going to the Cniver-
sity next year had been turned from
their purpose by the efforts and opera
tons of this conspiracy, and unless
something was done to disabuse their
minds, would go to college outside OF
the State. This gentleman is also
Republican; and is probably only one
of a number in the city who could tell
fha.ae sre tr1tnIug with ...vsO, srvv rauvy
or fabrication.
We want the people of this State,
who are not already informed, to un-
derstand the situstion-to get into the
merits of this conspiracy. Here is an
institution which the State has built up
at great expense for the public benefit;
it has invested large amount Of money
in buildings and equipments to make it
q first-class university; it was designed
to offer the young men Of West Virginia
educational advantages of the highest
order within the boundaries of their
own State; Il docs offer these udcnn-
tQgeS; there are very few institutions
in the country that excel it in its edu-
catiOnal equipments, in its beauty
and healthfulness of location and
in all the appointments that
20 to make up a college of the highest
grade; it has graduated and is still turn
ing out class of young men who are an
honor to the State and who will become
the leading citizens of the State; the
largest class of any year within its his
tOry-with one eXception-was grad
uated in June last, and at the close of
that year, the institution was declared
by its friends to be in highly prosper
Gus condition.
This is fair and uncolored statement
of the situation as we understand it.
If there is anything wrong in the man.
agement or policy of the institution if
there is any influence of political or
sectarian character that should not eX-
ist in public institution; if there is any
sane reason why this institution should
not live-why the young men of West
Virginia should not be educated there,
the REGISTER would neither conceal,
suppress or seek to palliate the wrong.
The REGISTER has denounced any at
tempt or seeming disposition to give it
a partisan character, and will continue
to rebuke any such attempt. The REG
iSTER will encourage auu assist in the
criticism and correction of any abuses
that may be shown to exist.
But when public newspaper leaves
the realm of fair criticism and joins in
a conspiracy to tear down and destroy
the patronage of this public institution
through mere partisan spite and in the
pursuit of rule or ruin policy, the
REGISTER will be equally prompt and
plain in exposing and furnishing the
authors and abettors Of such crime.
Wepropose that these partisan schemers
shall now and henceforth bear the full
responsibility of their unprovOked and
uneOnscionab,e invasion and violence
to this public property, If the State
University is injured or wrecked; if it
turns out that the young men of the
S ate are deferred from attending it,
and its usefulness is diminished or de-
strOyed by this scheme, the REGISTER
promises that the responsibility shall be
fixed where it belongs. The newspaper
vandals who are prosecuting this pur-
pose shall shoulder their load. They
shall bear it until their backs |
bend ana break with the burden. They |
shall bear it until the whole people OF
the State have had the opportunity to |
discover and visit upon these wreckers
the Judgment they so richly deserve.
The REGISTER will be in at the death. |
'IT is doubtful" says the Whining