Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-03-20
THE MISSION OF THE NEW INSTy.

"Many Of our State exchanges have taken ur
the idea that the new board of the Deaf
Dumb. and Blind Institution will fail to meet
public expectation when they come to reor.
ganiZe the Institutions corps of officers and
teachers on June 1st. We know of no ground
for this suspicious feeling; on the contrary
we believe that the board will do its duty
fully and fearlessly, Members must
know the public mind. and we presume would
not have accepted service on the board if they
were not prepared to sit in judgment upon
men and measures absolutely without fear,
favor or affection. Their very first thought
should be for the Institution; for the comfort,
security, and education of the poor, afflicted
| creatures entrusted to their care. Yes; the
| first thought should be forthe happiness of the
pupils, and the next for the peace of mind OF
the parents and other relatives of the pupils.
We feel sure that if the Board of Visitors will
keep their aim on these two objects, they will
win the public approval, and make no mis-
takes. and assure the prosperity OF the Insti-
tuition for the years to come.-Richmond Dis
patch.
The "idea' all uded to by our esteemed
contemporary is born of a strong and wide
spread suspicion in the State that Gov.
O'Ferrall attempted, as far as time and
circumstances gave him the opportunity,
to appoint Board in the interest of the
present Institution administration. A
suspicion that found circumstantial evil.
dence in it's favor. That circumStantial
evidence was his having re-appointed Sen
ator Mushbach of the old Board and having
appointed MI. R. S. Turk, Capt. Doyle S
official bondsman), both Of whom
had previously given testimony of their
confidence in the old administration, and
his refusal to e-appoint DR.. 3. L. Win
ston, member of the old Board, who had
given testimony of lack Of confidence in
the old administration, though Mr.. Mush-
bach s appointment, as we learn, was
recommended to the Governor by less than
fourth of the members of the legislature,
and Dr.. Winston's was recommended by
about two-thirds of them. So strong was
the impression made by the action of the
Governor in the matter, that the very after
noon the appointments were confirmed by
the Senate, the Richmond correspondent
of the Baltimore Sun and the correspon-
dents of other out of town papers, tele
graphed that it was thought the new Board
would re-elect Capt. Doyle.
But while this suspicion, if well founded.
is discreditable to the Governor, it should
reflect no discredit on the members of the
new Board, not one Of whom, we learn. was
an applicant OF knew of his appointment
until it was made, and all of whom we
believe to be men having the good Of the
Institution at heart.
The new Board which has just organized
has been selected by the legislature to
change the present administration of the
Institution. That is their duty under the
resolution of that body. as is evident from
the fact that the legislature itself to the
extent OF its authority had already made
change by removing the old Board. The
present Principal. Capt. Doyle,i is well known
TO our community. and the writer of this
who has enjoyed a pleasant acquaintance
| with him of many years duration, knows
/ him to be not only man OF honor, but a
man of high standard of honor. But We
believe that be has with the best intentions
and with laudable ambition to make his
school a model, made failure. He has
| failed in three particulars for which nc
education the pupils received, no matter
how good, could have made amends
Though clothed with almost autocrati(
authority he has failed:
1. To enforce discipline which would
protect the girls department from lewd-
ness.
2. To enforce discipline that would
protect the boys department from drunk.
enneSs.
8. To enforce discipline that would
prevent drunkenness among the teachers
These three points admit of no debate.
They were established 10y overwhelming
testimony of teachers and pupils, and two
Of them We're embodied in the report of the
investigating committee. There is but
one recognized authority at the Institution
and that is the Principal, and it is Capt
DoyIe's misfortune to occupy the position
to which must be charged up all the trouble
that has occurred, just as it is credited
with all the success of the Institution
And it appears to US that his retention is
simply an impossibility. 1t would certain
ly not restore the confidence of the people
of the State. which has received so tremen
dous shock by the disclosures of the i'll
vestigation, to have the same head there as
before. 1t may be said, and it has beef
said, that public opinion should not intlu
eGce the new Board. But to a school
whether State school or private school
public opinion is its life breath, and Whel
it is not favorable to it the school must die
The popular mind of Virginia has no
been SO stirred within the memory of this
generation, in connection with any of thu
State charities. as it has been 10y the dis
closures made at the investigation of this
J one. The newspapers, those organs O
public opinion, have, without regard t.
politics, and including the organs of TIN
various religious denominations in tn
State. expressed the conviction that
| change should be made. AS a matter o
history we have preserved some of tn
excerpts from the State press on the sub
ject and find that OF the whole Virgini;
press, but three newspapers have expressed
opinions favorable to the present manage
ment. The same reluctance with which
we pen this article has prevented our put
fishing these excerpts, but they show conclu
sivelv that there will he no s'peace Q
mind' throughout the State, following an
action of tbs Board looking to the retei
ton of the present administration.
dlfBUSCADING THE CONSTITUTION
AT (tnNTFNTTON