Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-14
WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE


To the Editor ofthe Aieraad-ja Ga-e',
Your editorial on William and Mary
College ought to rouse the people to Il
sense of the danger threatened By the
radical part Of the Legislature al Rich
nond. The proposition to sell William
and Mary College is one of the NEST
astounding ever heard Of, and goes to
show the superficial and dangerous
character of the Recommendations
made by the joint committee Of re-
trenchment and reform. That com
mittee, although resting their report
upon mine to them, wdiil contained
Just the contrary informatiols clameG
the college lands and buildings rs
State property, and proposed to sell
them. They were subsequently iOrc.d
in both Houses to acknowledge their
blunder. But they have made 10
apology to me for their misrepresen'a
ton, nor to the State at large for the
horrid suggestion OF selling one oi the
heirlooms of our fathers To I'll WI
liam and Mary College, where Jsllei-
son and Marshall were taught aud ia
whose chapel lie the bones of Peytou
Randolph and Lord Botetourt would be
az sacrilegious as to sell the tomb OF The
great Washington himself Woe for
Virginia when her people ever come to
sympathize with such Il sentiment
Woe for Virginia when the spirit OF
economy reaches the point where OIL.
thoughts Of patriotism, Stale pride ard
sentiment are forgotten
The same inquiries were addressed
to me as were addressed to the heads OF
insane asylumns. These inquiries It
lated solely to the expenditures OF The
institution, the only point of re-em.
hlance between the two kinds OF iu-tjla'
tions. I answered these, and showed
the exceeding economy which had
characterized our board of visitors.
But, ignoring entirely the question ct
expenditure, they rest their remarkable
recommendation solely upon the WORE
DONE, as to which they made no 10.
quiries, and no one of them asked aH'
question that would indicate thai, he
was at all expert in school matters
The value of our school and training
work is attested by letters received
from many of the leading 5uperiuten-
dents of schools, whose business along
educational lines entities their opinion
to consideration. | must conles- mat
| value the opinion OF such men as Df
]. w. Southall, Superintendent q!
Public Instruction; Superintendeuis j..
NJ. Shumate, of Loudoun; John I. West,
of Norfolk county; NJ. D Hal, 81
Fairfax; John E. Mapp, of Accoma.
and scores of men in similar POSITION
above the opinions Of men tnat con-
demned us without hearing, and whose
qualification for an impartial dec...on
IL rendered at least liable to be called
in question by their proposition to se.-
William and Mary College
While the negro institution ase
lauded and their appropriation 81
dorsed, all but two of the white iu7.-
tutions were struck out. These Tvs"
were the school for girls and the
ginia Polytechnic Institute, pei %.
the committee" as you said IN your
editorial. | do not suggest PERSON.
motives; but may say that, II "ii.'a'"
and Mary had only had friend Oh 'ia
committee as Farmville had in the pr
son of member of her board, ana a7
the Virginia Polytechnic In7lilu. ,
had in one whose two sons are atttl1.
ing that institution, am certain una,
this terrible il justice, ate Getting our '.i-
years faithful work for the S,a'e'
would never have been permitted
LYON G. Tyler.
President OF William and Mary COZ
lepe.