The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-18
MORE BoURBoyIztNG,


In line with the abolition Of the Pfesi
dsncy is the abolition ofthe curriculum tc
give place to the elective system, again In
imitation Of the University OF Virginia.
am informed by one who has taken
the trouble 70 make the count
that OF more than two hundred and
Gity colleges and universities in this coun-
try only eleven are conducted on the plan
OF the University OF Virginia, and these
are Southern institutions. The Southern
institutions might be the best Of all, bui
that Is not the general verdict The plau
seems, therefore, to have been introduced
here for no better reason than that Is
Southern, and this Is not u sufficient
reason. AT any rate the students are not
satisfied with il; the alumni are not satisfied
with II; 1doubt whether the people will be
satisfied with Il; and have q curious inter.
estto know,where the University is to find
It's support The alumni are an element
which every institution oi learning expects
to lean upon. The alumni Of this institu-
ton have had their aIdor cooled 50 that
they take little interest in 1t. They held
no meeting this year. .0t all the bright
men who have gone out from here not one
has been invited TO sit In the Board Of Re
gents. I could name some-pronounced
Democrats, too-Sho wouldbe credit to
their alma mater In the Board as they ART
ont Of it. Butthey renot wanted.
SHALL FuE UNIVERSITY 1--we?
lam informed that the University closed
with about seventy students, many otthen
in the Preparatory Department. The pres
emit number Of professors could as well
teach three, hundred, and the uilding
could accommodate them. But they do
not come. 1t is idle to think that this
generation will SEE students drawn In large
numbers from other States, and II they
were to come what would that profit the
State Of West Virginia? In the year Just
closed the STATE realized about $1,000 from
tuition-the pay Of one professor. II free
tuition to all would increase the number oil
students-open the doors / doubt whether
that would result in much unless morel
liberal general policy were pursued-poli.
tics thrown out and tho institution COM
mended to the people without regard to
party. As the Bourbon University Of
West Virginia Its days are not long in the
land, for the time will come when there
will be no appropriation. But in any
event we may as well put the institution
on free school basis since it Is part Of the
free school system. We shall also do we'll
to lay aside the absurd idea Of the UniveI-
sity and try to build mp q good college. In
twenty years or mare we may have
material for the University. For
a young State, poor in ready money, q
good college ought to satisfy our ambition.
As an original proposition the common
school is enough for the State to look to-
It's duty goes no further. But, since We
have gone into this business OF higher edu.
cation, we should try to make it prscti.
cal, creditable fact, religiously avoiding
what is obviously wrong, fighting very shy
Of what is palpably absurd. In any case
we can not hesitate to decide whether the
University shall stand for the State, or
whether It shall be mere tail TO the
Bourbon kite. g3F O. B. b.