The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-06-05
The Institution.

TO impress the Board OF ISL
,ors of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Insti-
;ution with the necessity, from it's stand
point, of change of administration in
,he management of the Institution. 1t
lrgues that the late Principal and late
Steward were displaced on account Of pol
tics, and that with the return of the DEM
)cratic party to power those officers should
be reinstated. In the very teeth of this
position, it contends that the people in the
asst election pronounced most decidedly
against making the public charities the
football of politics, and that the law
passed by the recent Legislature was in
tended to forever remove them from the
political arena.
The law which the last Legislature
enacted and under which the present
Board was appointed, declared in terms
that politics should not enter into the
of the Institution. 1t spe-
cially provided that no political considera-
tion should weigh in selecting the officers,
and that fitness for the positions should
be the sole test. We know some of the
gentlemen appointed on that Board, and
we know that they would never have &C
cepted the trust upon any other condition
than that the interests of the Institution
were alone to be consulted in the selec-
tions Of the officers they would make. When
they took a solemn oath to support the
laws of Virginia, there was no mental
reservation as to the statute which spe-
cially prescribed their duties as Visitors,
and more especially as to that clause which
declared that politics must be excluded
from the management of the Institution.
On the contrary, had they been told that
they were expected to conduct the Insti-
tuition for the vindication Of one political
party or the rebuke Of another, they
would have relegated that task to those
who would have more lightly regarded the
responsibility placed upon them and whose
fealty to party was stronger than their
sense Of duty to the trust stronger than
their interest in the unfortunates CON-
mitted to their care stronger than the sa-
cred obligation of an oath.
We take it that the Board Of Visitors Of
the Institution, when called upon to select
The principal and his sub0rdinates for the
next term, will have but one object in
view: To elect those who, in the judg-
ment of the Board, are best qualified for
the respective duties they will berequired to
discharge. Ifin comparing the qualiica-
tions of the present and former princi-
pals, in comparing their respective ad-
ministrations throughout, (should the
contest be narrowed to those two) they
should be satisfied that the former had
made better officer than the latter, then
the duty of reinstatement is plain, and
vice versa.
The conditions for such comparison
are peculiarly favorable. During the re-
spective administrations, the annual APP
preparation was the same, and each prin-
cipal expended the amount with which
he was credited. Mr.. Doyle, if we mis-
take not, was principal of the Institu-
tion for two sessions Mr.. Rollers admin
istration covers nearly similar period
Prior to his election as Principal Mr..
Doyle was a teacher in the Blind Depart
ment, whilst Mr.. Roller successfully con-
Quoted a high grade male academy, the
reputation of which was second to none in
the State. If, as the Vmdicator intimates.
Mr.. d. Is an expert in the education Of
deaf mutes. his claims to that distinction
must be based upon the requirements of two
sessions. Mr.. Rollers experience extends
over like term, and we doubt not that he
has been equally successful in improving
his opportunities.
So far as the expert qualifications of
the two are concerned, the hon0rs seem
about easy. But there are other qualifi-
cations more important than thorough
knowledge of the sign language, which the
head of such an institution should pos
sess. 1t is not necessary that we should
attempt to enumerate them. The results
fairly demonstrate their judicious exer-
else or absence. And it is comparison Of
the results of the two administrations,
that will doubtless guide the Board in its
choice between the two applicants. 1t
will, as far as it can, compare the general
condition of the pupils {; their scholastic
progress the provision made for their care
and comfort and moral training; the ef-
feet of the new features introduced into
the curriculum the improvements
made about the grounds and buildings !;
the general appearance of the prem
ises, cleanliness and evidences of thrift; the
system, management and expenditures of
The finances, &c., &c. These, we believe,
are the tests the Board will apply. And If
hey are applied thoroughly, conscien-
'iously and impartially, no one will have
light to complain.
AS to the reinstatement of the former
Steward, whose Office has been abolished
altogether, it will be for the Board to de-
ermine whether or not that abolition was
udicious. After the investigation they
nay conclude that Of the many improve
nents instituted under the present ad-
ninistration, the dispensing with the stew |
lrdship was not one of the least. Our CO.
temporary will hardly contend that offices
must be created in order to vindicate it's |
,arty.
There are bills before Congress granting |
heright of way through Indian Territory |
o as many as six different railroads. The |
hiefs of the Indian nations. whose lands |
isproposed to invade, protest against the |
obstruction of the proposed lines. The |
indians do not want them, and they view
hese encrOachments of the whites with a |