The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-06-18
EDUCATION.


An article with the above caption, has re-
Gently appeared in the Carolina Spartan,
over the signature of" Rutlcdge;" and as it
presents some interesting facts for the con-
s'deration of the State at large, we have
copied 1t in our present issue, and will add
some remarks of our own.
he distribution of the funds Of the State
appropriated for educational purposes, is
matter of very grave Importance 10 every
Tax Payer. and wc conceive tl.at thc present
method is susceptible of sogae important
changes for the better. The charge of unc-
quail distribution, will not admit of dcnial,
inasmuch, as only two classes of our people
derive any benefit from it, and the woman.
ry and middle classes, who constitute the
great mass of any country, and who in our
Stale contribute the greater portion of the
funds devoted to free schools and to the
support of tn, South Carolina COLLEGE,
derive not one particle of practical benefit
from either the one or the other. If any
people have ever pract;rcd a most unrcason-
able charity, and evnccd an enduring for
bearancc in ;hc face of wrong and Injustice,
At is this class of the citizens Of South Caro-
lima We do not intend 10 dircc. our ariil-
lcry against the South College, and am not
prepared 10 say that the State should cut
her adritt, in view OF the plausible al,erna-
tive, that when the fostering care uf the
mother is withheld, the pcttcd of: spring
must withcr and die for the want of her ac
customcd bounty. We are willing that it
should be sustained, in consideration that
other classes are aided in proportion
as arc the recipients of The bounty extended
to the College. As the Institution existed
| twelve months ago, VIC believe il inferior TO
none eXtant, and as an honpr TO the country
and the pride of South Caroina, we are willing
that il should be sustained, even at some
sacrifice OF justice, but rot at The enormous
one that is now made in its favor.
"Ru,lcdgc," III the article alluded 10, cal.
cu!atcs that on an average, one hundred and
torty-scvcn dollars of the lublc money is
annually paid for each student at the South
Carolina College; and for each recipient of
the amount devoted 10 Free Schools only
tour doIims and twenty-six cents is paid
In both cases it is the public money, and
the question very naturally arises, why such
u d'ilrrcncc is made. The disparity is not
SO unjust rs The first glance at the subject
may lead one 10 imagine, from the fact, that
III The case Of the poor il is entirely mat.
Ter OF charity-thcy contribute nothing TO
the public fund, and what little they receive
Is purely gratis whereas in the other case.
Il small proportion Of the amount they re-
c"Wc was drawn from them by taXalion.-
We sa? small proportion, for in both cases
The principal burden is borne by the middle
classes, who 1t SrcrIs have entirely lost sight
ofthc maxim which teaches us that charity
begins at home. II We are To sustain IN cx.
pensivc Institution from which we derive no
benefit, and TO support and educate the indi-
gent poor in our midst-if the condition IF
our Treasury will warrant the magnificent
! appropriations for the one, and is sufficient
10 rcllcve tho wants of the other; why not
enlarge the measure of our libcrality, and
make an appropriation that will reach tha,
class Of people, who constitute the bone and
snew of our country! 1t is the only cours q
that will satisfy the people, and the only
remedy that will check the hue ard cry raised
against the South Carolina College. Gentle.
men, You who are friends of that Institution
and would wish TO see it flourish ana bros.
per MS in days gone by, and would save il
from the doom which the popular clamnr
against it threatens, must seek TO propi.
ttatc and aid those who have SO lony patient,
ly sustained and aided you.