The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-10-13
A Narrew-Gange Organ.


icism throughout The State by writing
editorial articles for the New Do
MTNIoN.
This organ has even gone SO far
as to pretend to quote from other
papers what never appeared in other
papers, and to practice upon the
credulity of its readers by using
quotation marks to make certain
damaging assertions of its own ap-
pear to be taken from some other
paper.
1t has thus been making COW
ardly attempt to fortify its own mean
ness at the expense of more reputable
journals.
The bottom fact is that the Nor
gantowh Post is the only paper in
the State that has been willing to
father or foster the kind Of criticism
that the Post itself has been indnlg-
ing in this regard. Its own party
papers have repudiated and refused
to fellow the crusade which the Post
has sought to organize.
For example, the Wheeling Intel
ligencer, the leading Republican pa
per in West Virginia, thus repudi-
ates and rebukes the narrow and
malicious spirit Of the Post
at is said that Professor Wiley
is writing editorial articles for the
Morgantown NEW DOMINION. We do
not know that this is true. We can
not see that it concerns the public if
it is true. If Professor Wiley dis
charges his duty in the University,
he has the right to employ his leisure
moments in any honorable way. In
deed, the dissemination of partisan
doctrine through a newspaper is in
every way to be preferred to the d.
rect and personal efforts which GER
tain Of the University professors have
made to shape the political thought
of the young men in that institution.
With due respect to our contemporary,
newspaper writing does not come
under the head Of active politics,
and the farther apart they are kept
the better it is for the press, at least.
1t is conceivable that man shall
write for the press who would rather
work in a chain-gang than endure
the turmoil of active politics. And
SO it does not follow that newspa-
per, which must take account of poll
ties and politicians, is primarily a
political pamphlet
Now, the fact is, that Mr. Wiley
has not been making business" of
writing for the New DOMINION as the
Post seeks to make the public believe.
On the contrary he has, since accept
ing chair in the University, been
devoting his best energies to that
work, and having charge of the
branches, which heretofore, have been
divided between two Professors, it is
easy to conceive that it lis no holt
day spree he has undertaken in the
University.
But, (witheut becoming the apollo
gist for Mr.. Wiley, for we care moth
ing, and presume that he cares moth
ing for the personal features Of this
matter), what if Mr.. Wiley did write
articles for the New DOMINION?
What crime in that2
What kind of an animal or angel
is this individual we call Professor,
anyhow-that he must not mar his
individuality or soil his sacred Office
by writing for a newspaper
Does a man, when he enters this
institution we call the West Virginia
University, surrender his citizenship?
Must he, forsooth, cease to observe,
take part, or otherwise interest him
self in public affairs9
Must he relinquish the common
rights Of an American citizen to vote,
to associate himself with one of the
political parties, or to have any voice
or influence in the affairs OF the gov
ernment under which he lives?
What kind of an animal is he, in
deed, that he must be bottled and
corked, lest he come in contact with
his fellow men and their affairs, and
feel common interest with other
men in all matters which pertain to
the public and private veal?
Is it, in short, to be established by
the dictum of that broad, liberal,
magnanimous and omniscient jour-
nal, the Morgantown Post, that when
man enters the West Virginia
University he shall thereupon absolve
himself to himself, renounce all in
terest and part in sublunary things,
divorce himself from the active and
practical concerns Of the community.