Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-30
WHAT THE PEOPLE MEANT
BY 1T.

FRIDAY MORNING. MAY 80. 1884.
WHAT THE PEOPLE MEANT
BY IT.
There have lately appeared in the Rich
mond papers two or three communlca-
lions on the subject of the D. D. and B.
Institution here. They are contributed
by Col, James II. Skinner. and ex-Princi-
pal Of the Institution, Leonidas Poyntz.
ESQ. both of whom have had sufficient
experience in connection with the subject
on which they write to entitle their utter
ances to weight. Without attempting to
decide between these two writer's. as to
the merits of the two systems of educa-
tion that they discuss, we should like also
to call the attention of the Board of Visi-
tors, TO whom they address their letters.
to some facts which il is well they should
take into consideration in connection
with any arguments addressed to them
from any source whatever. When the
Democratic party was in control of the
State, it manned this and all the other
charitable institutions in Virginia with
the best material at its command. 1t was
claimed that the D. D. and B. Institution
was managed, Internationally and other
wise, as we'll as could possibly be done in
the then scarcity of public funds. and
that, except in matters caused by the
scarcity and irregularity of finances, it
ranked with any similar institution In the
country. This was it's reputation at home
and abroad. 1t was thus that the school
stood when the Coalition got possession Of
the State. The Principal was Thomas S.
Doyle. ESQ.,, gentleman of eleven years
experience in the institution, and who
Was recognized in the specially to which
he belonged as an expert. AS is we'll
known, this gentleman was replaced by
the Coalition party on political grounds,
and at the same time the steward. A. N.
Breckenridge, and others of the institu-
tion staff, was replaced by other officials
on the same grounds. This action of the
Coalition was viewed with indignation by
the Democratic people of the State. and it
is not overstating 1t to say that the action of
the Coalition party with regard to the chart
table institutions did more to give the peo-
pie true insight into the motives of that
organization, and more to prepare the way
for its final overthrow, than any other one
outrage that it committed. For it was an
outrage, pure and simple, without provo.
cation, precedent or excuse, and showed
wildly to the people precisely what mo-
tives actuated and governed the political
adventures of all creed who had gathered
under the ensign of public plumber. II
there was one outrage in their career more
denounced than another 1t was this work.
The people saw political office-holders 60,
with hardly murmur; it was the fate of
war, and they so recognized it, but the
raid upon the State charities they vowed
to remember and they have remembered.
One of the 6rst acts of their representa-
tives after they met in legislative body,
was to pass laws preparing the way to
restoring these institution to their former
control. At the time of the change the
people had denounced it on the ground
that there should be no changes made in
their charities on political grounds; they
could not now stultify themselves by keep
ing their control in the hands of Off
GERS whose appointment was the direct
result of political partizanry. The unan-
imOus sentiment was, and is to-day, that
those who we're displaced for political rea-
sons must be restored. This was not mere
sentiment. it was practical conviction.
Either the great Democratic party of Vir-
ginia had managed the affairs of the in
situations entrusted to it by the people,
well. or it had not. In the case of the D.
d. & B. Institution, there had not been
single complaint by the Coalition against
its officers, prior to their removal, save
the fact that they were Democrats. This,
to the Coalition was political crime; to the
Democratic people of the State however,
it did not appear in the same light, and
they sOlemnly determined that if they ever
regained the State these men should be
replaced if only to show that Democracy
was not crime in Virginia. This re-
solve became part of the programme
of the campaign as is we'll known
to every one who heard the speeches
of the Democratic canvassers on that
side. 1t is as much part of the pro-
gramme to-day as it was last fall, and
the sentiment of the Democratic people is
as strong In it's favor now as it was then.
The case under discussion by the gentle
men we have named, is one that meets
every requirement Of that sentiment. The
Principal Of the Institution at the time of
the political raid, was an expert in his
profession; under his SUPPLEMENTARY the
school had been run economically and
successfully, and its financial affairs hon.
estly administered. Its standing among
similar specialties in this country was
unquestioned and the testimonials to it
ELECTED from experts in the Union by the
change made purely on political grounds,
were numerous and of weight. What
reason could prevail to prevent the resti-
tuition Of it to its former control? What
political, practical, or sentimental reason
could be adduced for refusing to reinstate
a Dem ocratlc expert of high standing in
his profession !? II the Democratic officers
and teachers who were expelled by the
Coalition party were incompetent or ineffi-
Gent. that would be an excellent and un-
arswerable reason for not reinstatinq
them, and one which should be made plain
to the people to whom these institutions
belong. But as these charges have never,
to our knowledge, been even intimated
against the experts who were in control of
the Institution at the time of the change,
and had been there for ten years previous
to the change, it is hardly likely that such
objection can ba made now. Without
complaint against their manaRamant.