The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-09
or sec that welfare OF the people which
lis higher than Unjust. but enforciblo

avn.
THE LIBRARY MUST NOT sUFFEK. J
Charity shall covcr a multitude o. 5
sins and an appropriation bill may
conceal much injustice. Happily !
this is not the case with tho meas
ircs introduced In tho Assembly
yesterday, but here and there through
OF them are wcn1sncsscs and mis-
takes. Few OF these arc more serious
than tho reduction proposed by tbs
House Committee In the appropriation
the state Library. The library mas
never had more than enough money TO
barely keep it afloat and has never had
n sufficient wording force to demon
stratc its great value to the people of
Virginia. Its present efficiency Is due
to the careful management OF the
Librarian and the Board It's success mas
been achieved through their economy
not through tile generosity OF the
State.
The House bill will take away even
the pittance given the Library Board,
and will practically reduce the state
Library to a few half-flled bookcases
ana n few unpaid attendants. The APP
precipitation for travelling libraries is
taken away, the publication OF the
lJournal of the House of Burgesses Is
suspended, the work on the manu-
scripts has to lie abandoned. The Lis
brary is to cease doing the things
which have mad it n part n parcel
OF virginia's Intellectual life.
We fear that the Assembly does not
appreciate tho significance OF its ac-
ton. 1t does not understand what the
withdrawal OF this SCI 900 q year Will
mean to the state, Richmond will not
be the loser. Tho Library will still be
open. It's attractive Reading Room
will be at the disposal OF the citizens
OF this town. The state will DO the
real sufferer. The travelling libraries
which are carrying culture into every
corner Of the State will not be renew
ed aud VIII no longer be cared for by
the expert who IS in charge. The
books will soon be worn out and the
100 little torches of learning through
out Virginia will be cxtinguished. We
believe he counties will seriously feel
Ithis loss. We believe that the educa-
ton OF our children will suffer a dis
tInct blow.
That is not all. The work OF repaint-
ling the pageant, of Nirginia's past will
have to be abandoned. We will cease
to collect with reverent hands the
manuscripts which tell he story OF
our fathers daring, and will leave to
mouldcr as they did for a century the
llpriceless papers that chronicle Viz
ginia's glory. Without money the
splendid work OF tho Archives Depart
ment oftl,e Library must stop. Without
a continued appropriation the bib
biography. which is now being pre-
nj red. must be abandoned and the stu
+ dent must work his way without all
g If he would write a history OF the Com
&c monwealth.
81 such a course will place Virginia !
ne a. bad light before the country. "
re boast OF our past and VIC glory In tt
at deeds OF our sires. We put them 9
a a pedesta1E before the nation and sa
.es -lool, and wonder! We can never e:
nd pect the rest OF the country TO appr'
al ciate these men or to value their me-
ed its If we bury their deeds in fade
at manuscripts or hide their valor in II
,o twilight of oblivion.
THE APPLICATION OF a DOMINANT
MENT
! We print this morning a. letter fro1
: the Rev. ]. d. McAlister, just to sho,
that we nave no hard feelings again'
I him.
In the second place, we print It b.
cause we think we can handle It best
applying the Scripture to which he r