The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-06-23
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The Republican anu fopullst
spoilsmen played thigh. jinks" at
Raleigh last week. Under the lend !
of Governor Russell the new board
of agriculture and the trustees OF
the Agricultural and Mechanical
College at their meeting shook up
the affairs of the experiment sta
zion and the college. The Office
of director of the station, so long
held by DR.. II. b. Battle, was
abolished and several other
changes we're made in order to
make room for monitors of the
pie brigade. The faenlty of the
college was also changed for the
same purpose. The meeting OF
the board was not quiet one and
several of the members protested
sgainst the high-handed proceed
ings. One Republican, f. V. Cox,
of Pitt county, resigned, ss he
could In no other way express his
disspproval of the scramble for
spoils. .,..r ,,,,.s- -y-. q,
There wxs, III possitte, tmbre Of
disgrace in the sction of the trus-
tees of the school for tho white
blind and the deaf, dumb and
blind colorsd children. Jim
Young, the black Republican
leader, of Raleigh, dominated, the
meeting and made sweeping
changes in the officers and teach
srs of the institution. So'plainly
was the thirst for spoils shown in
this case that Prof. Charles II.
Meserve, president of Shaw Uni
versity, who was appointed a trus-
tee by Governor Carr, has refused
to serve any longer. The letter
Prof. Meserve sends to Governor
Russell is the strongest condemns-
ton Of Republican and Populist
greed we have seen and, coming
from . Republican who is the of.
fetal head of the. leading .celored
educational institution an the
State, it is the more noteworthy
II should be read carefully by
every citizen of the State. w,
make room for the letter. believing
that thereby we7do the Statea ser
vice. Prof. Meserve writes:
II hereby tender to your Excel
lsncy tho trust committed to M
by your predecessor on March Goth
1895, as member Of tho Boar,
of Trustees of the Institution 70
the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind
/ take this step with sincere re
erei FOR i have CONS to have
deep, and, believe. intelligen
interest in the welfare and need
of the unfortunate wards of .th
State, who are cared for" nm
trained an this Institution, :. =
The position came TO mo 81
tirely unsolicited end ] had nc
the slightest idea that my nan
was being considered for the plat
until / was informed of the al
pointmeDt. / was appointed /
Democratic Governor, aud as
have been recognized for twent
six years in four different Stat
of our grand Union as loyal toll
best and highest interests of Il
Republican party, and as the p
sition carried with it, and sti
carries with il, neither salar
mileage, nor per diem, / cam
be charged with having accept
the position 9p either politics
9t percsnary, grounds. j di
however, accept the position wi
the determination to serve, ~ be
could, the highest interests
the State. !, .SN
II believe that pshlic. Office i,
sacred trust, whether the positi
be appointive or elective. hs
felt for many years that I
''spoils system" as prscticed
generally by political part
when in power, is 2 menace, q
one Of the greatest dangers to
healthy body polite. / belle,
further, that al official trust,
matter what political party is
power. should be sdmipists,
particularly in the education
elssmosinary institutions of
State, regardless of political
ward, or political dislike. In
yidual efficiency and high mo
character, rather than ppliti
ispull," can alone subserve
highest interests of the public ,
vice. ".
III cannot conscientiously, Y
self-respect and with q consoi
tious desire to do my duty,
main in a position, where T. nj
share responsibility, when a !
jority of the Board has adoptet
line of policy which, in my ju
ment as to how the institut
should be managed, is positiy
detrimental to the highest goo,