The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-04
DESOTO CO., MISS.
THE DISMISSED PROFESSORS OF
TIE UNIVERSITY.
A Statement or Facts That Ought TO
Have some Weight With the
Trustees for q Rehearing.
lnn,,rarosprror or rHn lrrrAL.l

IconRKsroSDExoE OF TIE APrEAL.l
DRsoro COUNTY, MISS, July Sit
was with establishment and mortitica-
ton that / read in last Sundays AP'
PEAL OF the dismissal Of FIVE members
of the faculty OF the University OF
Mississippi. For l was a student in
the university from 1878 TO 1882, and
have been familiar with the history OF
the institution from that time to
within few months Of the present,
and know OF nothing to excuse the
recent acton OF the Board OF Trus
tees, much less TO demand such &C
ton. / am not ready to question the
motives OF the board, but they have
been over jealous TO an extent that is
inexcusable If not ruinous. There
have at times been rumors OF mi ub.
ordination among the students aud OF
a lack OF effective discipline on the
part Of the faculty. These have been
In the main untrue. But to the extent
TO which they were true the faculty
are not responsible. In 1881 the Board
of Trustees, IN their mistaken zeal,
sent A committee 10 Oxford which
summoned the senior class before 1t,
and invited the boys to make such &C
cusations and criticisms on the faculty
rs they saw proper. At that very time
all Departments OF the institution
were moving in perfect harmony and
order. The faculty we're 30 supported
by the student body that no immedi'
ate evils resulted from this unwise
and unjust action OF the board. But
the bows began more and more TO re-
gard themselve, the masters OF the
faculty. Every grievance, real or I'm
aginary, was TO be redressed by the
trustees. an lay the matter before
the board in June" come 10 be fav-
orite boast or threat. The voice OF
chandler IL gems had found a willing
ear. The offic' ous and ignorant med
der outside the university began to
carp, TO criticize and misrepresent.
The more fearless and conscientious
professor was in the d scharge Of his
duty, the more exposed was he to
these insidiouB attacks. Perhaps this
goes far to explain the seemingly UNI
explainable fact that the five best pro-
fessors In the faculty. were dismissed
Gentlemen Of the Board of Trustees,
these men have not merited this treat.
ment At your hands. The welfare OF
toe uuivers ty has not demanded IT..
/ personally know they have been
yiglsnt in discipline and successful
int aching. Their efforts and their
methods NIT the requirements OF for
mer years. They have done all that
could be done under the disciplinary
power vested In them. II the youth
fuluess or the spirit Of insubordina-
ton OF portion OF the present stu
dent body demands stIicter discipline,
put the university under military reg
ulations. Do not strike down these
men because they may have failed 10
reform the boy who has come TO them
an embryo gambler and drunkard
This, under the preseut order Of
things, cannot be done. II the charge
against them Ia failure TO aid efficiently
in the government OF the inst tuition
it teens altogether insufficient. II
cannot be the puny plea tina
the public demands chang
somewhere or in some way
for this is the reasoning OF the rabble
not OF statesmen. Then they must b,
inferior instructors, or their character
and reputation before the public doe
not lend strength and dignity to tn
university, or their service TO the Stat
has not been OF q character to entiu
them TO honor and trust. Let's see.
DR.. A. ]. Quinche Ia the man RI
ferred TO bya recsnt communicate
to the APPEAL, whose interceBeto
saved the university buildings fror
the torch OF an insolent invader.
appeal to the men who have gone OF
from the university during the lai
twenty years to say whether his In
st,uction in the Latin language an
literature has BEEN thorough aud eff
Gent.
Gen. Claudius w. Scare, professo
OF mathematics, left leg somewher
on the ba tle6slds OF the lost caus
He Is a man wor ny OF all honor sn
esteem. He Is old, aud, | understau
dependent upon his salary. But b
Intellectual vigor is uuimpaired. 4
has a peculiar tact for the peculi'
difficulties OF his chair. The DO!
under him work, and they learn
love TIE study OF mathematics. The
all respect aud esteem him. A ms
may be found who will learn TO do h
work as we'll rs be does 1t. But
the meantime, what OF him2
PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE,
Dr.. George Little Is one Of the able
scientists in the South. He was @ '
Gated in Germany. He tes ches le
by lee u~e, End IS tho on by poetic
in his il struction. Ii mas the ficul
OF making difficult subject high
interesting. And II bis pupils lea
less Of Yankee text books they O.
tainly gain more practical knowled
OF geology, minerology, etc. Few col
petent men are available for his cha
Shall a tried and able instructor
thrust aside for the chance OF fndil
one TO take his placer II 30, why ?
DIR J. ]. Wheat, professor OF Gree
is, / believe, the only native Miss
aippian among the number Of the
dismissed. He began active life
plowboy in Copish county. He II
man whom every Mississippian shot
delight to honor. Col. l. @. o, Lam
Is reported 10 have said DR.. Wheat
the only man in whose presence
feels his own inferioiity. l believe
is today the most eloquent pulpit o
tor in the South. His transcendI
intellect would have won him ricl
material rewards, and, doubtless, n
aheartier appreciation in other fl Il
But he chose to devote his life to
moral and intellectual elevation
his own people. To say he is an a
and thorough Instructor is to say
little OF the man. The man 10 hi
self greater than any position he II
occupy. Under the sound OF his voi
when lecturing on the Greek mytl
oRy, one foIgets that the walls Of
lecture room encompass him {
almost imagines Hume has
him TO Olympus TO beh
the gods in council. To be his pu
Is more than to be college studI
To hold commune with mind
stored with the riches Of knowied
30 teeming with treasures Of its Q
coming, Is greater privilege than
attend university. ! refuse to