The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-04
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Public Schools.

on the verge OF ruin, I'rOfeSSDr Fur
year, in a series of articles, over the
signature of ssCivis, awaited shimself
Of the condition of the schools and the
growing dissatisfaction in the State as
to the operation of the system, to assail
them in some Of the ablest articles ever
written in a bad cause. They attracted
much attention throughout the State and
were replied to by DR.. Ruffner, then Su-
perintendent Of sPublie Schools. The dis
cussion developed the fact that a large
number of the ''best people, were hostile
to the public school interest, and regarded
the whole system as agrarian, and conflict
been crystalized into unwritten law under
the influence of slavery and the caste dis
tinctions it entailed. The ineficiency of
the schools, growing out of the arrest of
the funds dedicated to them by the Consti-
tuition, by the tax-paying coupons, and then
given to the bondholders, had caused great,
dissatisfaction with those who believed in
the system, but who had not only to pay
the tax provided by law, but had to supple
ment the meagre school fund by private
subscription, in order to run the schools
four months. This dissatisfaction grew
into open protest and the whole public
school system was threatened with disas-
ter. 1t was at this time and under this condi-
tion of public feeling that Prof. Puryear
appeared with his powerful, articles. a gl
Recently the Bourbons Of Richmond
nominated their ticket for the Legislature.
The leading candidate on that ticket,
Hon. Thos. J. Evans. The following ex-
tract from speech delivered by him at a
public banquet, shows how he views: the
public school system, and who it is the
party that nominated him Wish'to entrust
with this social interest. 1t isprOper to say
that Mr.. Evans has written a card, in
which he does not modify anything
he said in that speech, or his own be-
lief, but says that he will, if elected, act
for his party as it has resolved on that
subject, and give his support to all meas
ures designed for the good Of the public
schools. But people do not gather figs of
thorns, and the only way to preserve the
public schools is to commit their care into
the hands of, their friends. The extract
is as follows:
s'And last, though not least, there is. one
who can explain the difference chemically
between whisky and water, who knows all
about raising potatoes, children,a and straw
berries, who understands our position about
political recommendations and who has the
manliness to speak out upon the subject,
whose essays, over the signatureof "Civis,N
on that monster of iniquities, the free school
system, have never been. and venture to
say never will be, successfully. answered.
When the barrOOm and cross road pOliti-
tician, who is afraid to say his soul is his
own, shall have been forgiven and forgot
ten, the arguments of ssCivis" will be held
as texts and axioms upon the subject of
which they treat. Scientist, philosopher,
statesman! May he long live to speak and
write and teach the truth, for the truths
sake and for the sake Of humanity
We can hardly think it possible that any
friend of the public schools of Virginia,
can cast his vote for Col. Evans. When
he denounces the public school system as
that monster of iniquities," he assails
the only institution that has been inau-
gurated by the people of Virginia, for the
benefit Of the poor children of the State.
He attacks an interest in which is involved
all that is progressive in civilization, and
arrays himself against the fundamental
principle of Republican government
against public order and liberty, and in IA
vor of denying the masses the benefit of a
common school education, in order that the
few may constitute the government, in
stead of the many.
If the people Of Richmond shall elect
Col. Evans to the Legislature it will be
the greatest wrong to that city that was
ever committed, and do much to retard it's
progress, because of the distrust that
would be engendered in the minds of all
public spirited, philanthropic men.
In charging that the Democratic ticket
in Augusta county represents the whiskey
men and was practically placed in the field
by that special class, we did not and do not
wish to be understood as rejecting upon
the habits of the candidates themselves.
Mr.. Echols, we have heard, never tasted
spirituous liquors in his life, and Mr.,
Opie, we understand, is not q drinking
man. 1t is not against the candidates per-
sonally that we protest, but against the in
fiuences that placed them, in the positions
they occupy. tits against the policy of al
lowing some half dozen men to determine,
virtually, who shall be the representatives
Of as many Thousand that we warn the
people. 1t is in permitting any one class,
as the whiskey dealers in this instance,
from being the makers Of legislators, into
whose hands must be confded the interests
of all classes, that serious danger lies. The
people know as well as we know, that this
ticket was not selected in the interest of
the people of the county, nor yet of the
Democrats of the county, else why was it
that the man who had faithfully served
the Democracy in the last House and
against whom not one word could be ut
tered by any party man, Except that he
favored local option) was sacrificed? Col.
Skinner was certainly as true to his party
pledges, as able in his party counsels, and
as efficient in his efforts on the hastings
and elsewhere, as either Of the gentlemen
chosen. But because he had incurred, in
the discharge of what he conceived to be
his duty to the people, the hostility of a
particular class, that class DEGREES that he
sssmust go, y and straightway he goes, Ibis
honesty, efficiency, experience and party
devotion, counting as nothing against the
schemes and devices of the few to whom
the many must bow. We repeat, it is
against Messrs. Opie and Echols, as the
representatives Of the class to whose eff
forts they owe their nominations, that we
protest, and not against the gentlemen
personally.
On King Alfonzo's of Spain, recent visit
to-the Emperor of Germany, he Awas ten
dered and accepted the honorary position
Of Colonel in the German army, thing
not unusual between friendly nations. On
his way back to Spain, and stopping in Par
is, to pay his respects to President Grevy,
of the French Republic, he was Kissed and
hooted at by the populace. They sur
rounded his carriage Oeered in at the win