The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-06-29

The following is the correspondence
which was made public here to-day;
A. M. coLLEeE, Mss, June n, lsss.
Gen. 5. ID, Lee:
Dear Sir-The undersigned, por-
tion of the Board of Trustees of the A.
Il NJ. College and all who are present
at this commencement except one,
whose relations to the subject matter
of this letter are such that he should
not even know of its existence, desire
to address you on a matter of the
greatest Importance to the institution.
The college is now at the end of its
ninth term. Its success has been al
most phenomenal. We believe that
the success is due in great measure
to your action. Since you have been
mentioned as candidate for Govern
or, each Of us has been considering
who would be q proper successor to
you in case you should be in a position
Inconsistent with your further presid-
ing over the college. Each of us has
been impressed with the difficulty and
danger Of making new selection.
We, of course, do not mean 10 say that
no other man could be found who
would be equal to the task; but when
we consider the chances ofan improper
person being selected, we confess we
view with fear the contingency Of fail
ure to make good selection. Col
leges of this kind are new. Many per-
sons qualified to conduct colleges of
the old sort would be unequal to the
task of managing an industrial college.
We believe that the success of the col
lege is intimately connected with the
future welfare and prosperity of the
State. We are deeply impressed with
the necessity for reforms in our farm
ing methods. We are also profoundly
impressed with the burdens Of our
farmcrs-unduly oppressed by our
fiscal taxing systems-and we sympa-
thize with all measures which will re-
lieve them. Believing that relief will
only come from more thorough edu-
cation of the masses and from greater
skill in farming methods, we would de-
plore as a great calamity the failure Of
the institution, whose main object is tc
advance and elevate those Of our fel
low-citizens, who now, as tillers of the
soil are reaping but scant remunera
tion for their labors. We have noticed
your sympathy with these men and
women and your earnest efforts to ad
vance their welfare. We, therefore
take the liberty OF setting out tn
above reasons for q further continu
snce in your present position as presi
dent of the college, and of appealing
to you TO surrender any aspiration
you may have for the Office Of Govern
or by declining further candidac
for the place. We appreciate the fac
that you have remained here at pecu
MARY sacrifice to yourself; that yol
have declined tempting offers Of |
large advance of salary from othe
places. No greater evidence could b
given of devotion to the work yol
have undertaken. To ask q furthc
: sacrifice. is asking what none but tn
most patriotic would concode. w
are sure that no greater service can b
rendered the people Of the State thai
will be rendered by him who shall con
duct the Agricultural and Mechanics
: College to that degree OF perfectio
+ that all win recognize It as benefacto
to the people Of Mississippi. We feel
deep conviction that you, with you
experience and familiarity with tn
] past workings of the College can NOR
] successfully accomplish this than an
other man in the State.
Very truly your friends,
W. B. MoNTG oMERY.
: J.Z. GEORGE,
T II. NJ. STREET,
GEO. II. PEETs.