The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-01-18

''sh Aai' u boSl, 1Ct We aiS pbllHCu
to acknowlsdg' we cannot blame him sim
ply for expressing an opinion, and rs espe
cially so few think alike in this subject
The speech is n beautiful piece of compo-
sitlon. We cannot do Mr. Perry the injus-
ticc, as to suppose he designedIy misreprc-
sented Mr.. Taber; editors, though, should
be careful in such matters, for in this case
MIR. Taber was most unkindly censurcd by
the citizens of Columbia and Charleston
The following article is from the Carroll
nian:
Popular Education--Mr. Taber's Ad-
dress---Mr. Perry's Speech.
The subject of popular education, in con-
ncction with our free school system, has Of
late attracted much attention in this State !;
but as yet the Legislature has failed to make
trial ut reformation. We hope, however,
that the admirable letter of the President of
the South Carolina College will have the
effect of awakening deeper interest on this
all-important aubject, and that during the
approaching summer it will be thoroughly
discussed, so that the representatives of the
people will come up next winter fully pre-
pared to take such steps towards reform
rs may be deemed advisable.
Since our connection with the press, we
have ever been warm advocate for giving
vitality and efficiency to our school system !;
We believe that it can he made etlcctual in
the accomplishment Of the great ends aimed
at by the liberality of the State, and so long
rs we occupy our present position we are
determined to continue our cflrrts to secure
that accomplishment As we stated, in Il
former number Of our Journal our conviction
of the extent of the duty of the State with
regard to popular education carries us be-
yond the mere appropriation for tuition. We
think that, in certain cases where the servi-
ces of children are required TO mid in the
support Of a family, the State should not
only furnish them, with school facilities, but
remuncratc the parents for the time of the
children during the term of tuition. Many
parents cannot afford to lose even the time
of their children, and if it be the duty of the
State (and no sane man questions ID to pro-
vide the means for public instruction, il
must also be her duty to remove every OBJ
stacle in the way of the right application of
the funds appropriated for that object. We
hope to live to see the day that South Car
olina will not have withuher borders n fam
ilv which will not have within its reach the
Dement'S ana blessings OF good educaIIon.
Recent occurrences have brought very
forcibly to view that the people feel deep
interest on this subject. Mr.. Taber, of the
Charleston Mercury, had been selected by
his graduating class to deliver IN Grafton be-
fore them, which duty he discharged at the
last commencement of the South Carolina
College. In that address it was represent
ed that he had taken ground against popu-
lar education, and Mr.. Perry, in one of his
letters TO the Southern Patriot, asserted that
Mr.. Il. announced the doctrine that the Ia
boring classes had no right to be educated :;
that the poor man had To work; and it was
useless for him to learn To read and write
that Il little education made the people VIC
ious and idle; and that he opposed the com
mon schools, and demo dnced them as mis-
chievous.
This allegation, in our day and time, was
we'll calculated TO arrest the attention of the
people, and to draw down popular indigna-
ton on the utterer of such sentiments in n
public address, and the consequence was
that manifestations of such Indignation were
made both here and in Charleston. We be-
lievc, however, that these demonstrations
never would have taken place but for Mr..
Perrys notice of the address; we believe
that If the excitement which that notice ere.
ated had been allayed, and public opinion
had been suspended until the address was
published, they never would have been made
here OF elsewhere. We feel convinced, with
lnaay others, that to Mr.. Perry belongs the
honor, whether intentional or not, Of crea-
ting and fomenting IN excitement and ella
NOR Tor which there was no sufficient cause
Had Dir. Taber enunciated such doctrines as
those attributed To him by the editor of the
Patriot, we would have been among the first
To have expressed our condemnation: but
whilst we differed from him in some of his
views-and were prompt in expressing our
dissent-we felt convinced that the speaker
never made such bold assaults upon popu-
lar education as those laid to his charge. We
DO not seek to investigate motives; we would
not undertake to divine the cause of Mr. Per-
rvs structures; it may have been that he un-
dersiood MIR. Taber's address to be as offen-
siye as no represented il; but one thing il
certal,:, he has acquired some capital out of
the matter for his own advancement and
glorifcation.
With regard to Mr.. Taber's address: We
have read it carefully, and fiud no such nb-
horrent sentiments rs those which it is allie
ged It contained. On the contrary, we find
that he has advocated throughout the en-
hghtenment OF the people, and has sought
TO Impress upon his hearers and readers the
necessity Of thorough system Of educa-
ton for the whole mass Of the people. With
regard to the mode of imparting Instruction,
the Athenian or oral system--Vhich he has
taken as his model, we believe it to be ut
terly impracticable, and totally inapplIcablc
in our country; but il his address contains
one idea or sentiment opposed TO popular
enlightenment, We have failed to discover il.
In this matter we care neither for Mr.. Taber
nor Mr.. Perry; but 1t is our duty as journal
lists, it is the dnty Of all who desire 70 aid in
the maintenance OF truth and correct princi.
pies in the community, to uphold and de-
fend the innocent, and to guaranty TO every
man freedom of speech upon public meas
ures, when that freedom does not come in
conflict with the laws of the State or with