Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-20
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
Third Article From the Late Presi-
dent. Hon. w. L. Wilson.
I'd az Eiitor Of &c Reqiist.

| yersity, | omitted to state that student
/ must reach the grade of seven and q
| hall, in the senior classes Of school, to
| graduate therein. Six is sufficient, as
stated, TO pass from lower to higher
| class.
come now to speak of the charge Of
Partisanship in the University, which
has been made with much vehemence
and nertinacity. So far as this charge
| grew out of or was based upon the
| changes recently made in the iRstitu-
| ton, the explanation given OF them
is its best refutation. Fair minded
persons, think, will rather say that it
IS partisanship, and that of very reck-
less type, to seize upon the confusion
| and temporary discomfort involved in q
proper and much needed effort to i'm
prove the educational work of the Uni
versity, and to raise it to q higher and
wider plane of usefulness, for an attack
upon It in the hope that any resulting
damage may be made into political
capital.
So far az the instruction and internal
management of the University are con-
cerned, do not believe that any fact
has been cited, or can be cited, TO give
color of support to the allegation. Such
q grave charge should be accompanied
by some specification. 1t is not possible
and no man is called on to prove a
negative. The accuser should furnish
specifications and evidence. Until this
is done it will be sufficient to meet q
general allegation by general denial.
Speaking for the session just closed, L
make this denial as broadly, and as un-
qualifiedly as it can be made. Indeed, |
10 not think that any one who under
stands the inspiration which an in
stTuctOT feels from contact with young
men, ami his consequent desire to pos
>cSs and To merit their confidence anu
respect, for all future time, will reality
| suppose that he will gratuitOusly intro
! dure into his relations with them, any
INFLUENCE that will forfeit o. endauger
| hat respect. | speak from experience
and with a sense of obligation | cannot
! exaggerate, when | testify, that for all
| the exceptional cares, and anXietieS Of
| my brief connection with the Univer
| SHY. | found cOmpensating enjoyment
in the free, cordial and pleasant asSo.
| citation with the young men gathered
| there. That association was marred by
not one unpleasant incident, and Was
frightened by many marks of conf
| drl ce and regard.
ijuT IL is said the Board of Re-
| gents, a. now constituted, is a partisan
| uOagd. | do not know how far those
! who cite this fact can cite their own eX
| ample in this State in rebuke of it. In
some States university regents are
| elected by popular vote. In such, pre-
sumo, the same result appears. 1t Is
! not a matter of consequence, except
| as it affects the internal administers
ton of the school. The Regents
meet hut once a year, and then for a
| few days only. Their time is largely
! given to auditing accounts and to like
| business matters. They elect the Fac
| uIty, and il ought to be sufficient de-
| Tense of the present Board to say, that
| far one year only in the past dozen
| wears, has the head of the institution
| been in political accord with the Re-
| gents. All those professors who belong
| TO different school of politics from the
Board, have been appointed, reap
| pointed and continued ia office by
Them. The only subject involved in
| current politics, on which instruction
| is given in the University. is commit
| ted TO one of these, and is, | doubt not,
| taught without the slightest reference
! to its party bearings. During all the
rest of the year except when the Board
is in session, the administration of the
business matters with the filling of va
| cunCies in the Faculty, is vested in All
| executive committee of citizens, OF
which the secretary and bOOkkeeper is
Senator w. e. McCirew, one of the most
prominent Republicans III the State.
The fact has been commented on that
the Regents appointed Chairman of
the Faculty for next session, and the
appOintee has been the Objert of much
and unmerited abuse. | am not in the
cOunsels of the Board, but it is well
known that they ballOted several
times for President, and being
unable to agree upon one, designated
the senior professor by seryice) 10 act
as chairman of the Faculty until other
wise ordered. Professor Berkeley, the
gentleman so designated, is worthy the
full confidence and support of our peO-
pie, an accurate scholar, an experienced
teacher, all unasSuming, Christian gem
tlCman, modest, methOdiCal aud con-
.cientiOus. He may MT be so "progres-
>ive" as some whose speed is not en-
numbered by any "lOad of lean and
wasteftll learning" but in the better
sense OF that much abused word, and
i'm having high ideals Of scholarship, he
is subject to no reprOaCh.
do not wish to dwell upon the ques-
ton of partiSanship, but candOr COM
pels me say before Diminishing it, that
the same rule is not in all quarters APP
piled to all these professors. Manifesto
tons of political sympathy and activity
if in one direction excite no comment or
disfavor, but are regarded as matters Of
course and altogether proper, while the
mere holding of opposite views, no
matter how quietly and unObtruSively,
will be denounced as rank partisauShip
In other words, the standard of one side
is set up "a the absolute rule of right so
far rs the University is concerned, and
all deviation from that standard,
whether in act or opinion, Is politically
ineXcusable and wrong.
This may give some explanation of
the fact that it has been impossible,
hitherto, to get more than one half OF
the State represented in the attendance,
or to inspire il with any interest in or
friendship for the University. On any
basis narrower than the whole State its
growth must be forced one, and too
often in its past history has the PreSi-
| uSul Detu SApSClcN W aO<suhOn Ills dp'
propriate work, and to sally forth as q
commercial traveller, drumming" up
pupils for the school. There Is surely
something to be remedied if the State
after spreading the feast has to send out
into the highways and compel guests to
attend il.
The recent assaults upon the Univer-
sity are unfortunate in that they will
inveritably affect the attendance next
session. Some youths will go to other
and perhaps less advantageous institu.
tons, and some will remain uneducated
who would otherwise avail themselves
Of the opportunity at theis very doors.
In my judgment, there was no justifi-
cation for these assaults. Nothing is
better for any State institution, than
fair, honest, watchful scrutiny Of the
press and the public. believe such in
stitutiens should be conducted in the
spirit of the old Roman, who, when his
| architect offered 10 build him q house