The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-06-15
Our I'ubiic schools.


The vote on Saturday for. members
OF the Board o fEducatIon was so ridic-
ulously small as to almost make the
election look like farce. Only n
week before over 5000 votes were cast
at city election on a contest between
tho two leading parties where politics
wns injected, and on Saturday in so
coed o cause as the cause OF education
only about one in every dozen Of those
who voted for Mayor took the
trouble to so to the polls and vote for
members Of the Board OF Education.
We do not know that the usefulness or
character OF tho board would have
been improved by largo vote, but IL
would at least have been an endorse
ment of the work done by tho board.
Upon the whole 1t Is scommendablet that
tho election was unmarked by q fierce
political contests. yet two Of the
ehlnsis were mllo In favor OF the
Democrats, but In wards where the
Democrats have large Inojorities and
are really entitled to the members II
thsy claimed them.
It is, however, a matter OF regret that
two such good members OF tho board
as Mr.. Alexander of the Second ward
and Mr.. Turner of tho Fourth have
proved themselves to be, should be do
feated, even though their successors
should prove themselves to he MEN,
hers OF equal merit and ability. Mr..
Donahoe Of the Second ward has been
in tho board before, but SO long ago
that he has had time to level up and
level down and to become more oil a
citizen educator and less Of a parti-
san than ne was before. OF Mr.. B0tt-
ger OF the Fourth ward. an entirely
new member there can be no other
thought than that he will make an ex-
cellent member of the board, though
he has his record to make, and tho
came may be said of Mr.. Staats OF tho
Eighth ward, another entirely new
member. 5.
Had party fccling injected itself into
the election us 1t might have been
supposed that lt would so soon after
an exciting city election, the Demo
Gratis could easily have elected a mem
her in the Third ward and another in
the Eleventh, therefore Mr.. Coyle from
the first and Mr.. MCCARTHY from the
latter may feel themselves highly hon
ored with a 70 election and that their
course In the board has been OF such n
conservative and non-partisan charac-
ter that they have been endorsed by
citizens Of ull parties. 1t Is a source
of congratulation that such true and
tried friends OF the cause OF education
as John Pyle, S. r. Smith, S T. Belts,
Charles Baird, DR. s. II. Morgan, DR..
E. G. EShortlldge, +. +. O'Donnell, Jos
Pyle and Arthur Brileley, should bo 10.
turned to the Board by unanimous
votes, and it Is no less source OF con
graduation TO know that Jesse X. Bay.
lis, Daniel Ross, Peyton G.. West, John
r. Hartman, John Ii. Dandy, s. H.
Baynard, DR.. John Palmer D. r.
Smith, DIR. j. c. Fuhey and S. H.
Trump are holding over members and
the city is to have their services two
years longer under the now law just
passed by the Legislature.
Tho public schools Of Wilmington
arc in most excellent condition. fully
abreast Of the most advanced cities ol
its cluss, and ahead OF many of them
Their support has been generous, thelI
management sound and liberal, and
while oil the school buildings OF The
city are substantial and comfortable
those erected in later years. are modelt
In design and architecture. The besi
talent is employed to teach, and alto
gether 1t may truthfully bo said. thai
the Public School Department OF Vii
mington is the sunniest side ot 1t.
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