Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-17
For the Yorkville Enquirer.

Messrs. Editors You have, in your last num-
ber, given what you consider the ''principal rea-
sons" for your re marks on the Faculty of Erskine
College, and the "Sons of Temperance, and. We
ry naturally, regard them as sustaining your con-
clusion. Let us, then, compare the ''facts" sta
ted, with the representation made.
You tell US, that on your arrival at Due West
you made inquiry of certain students as to the
truth of the rumor which you had heard, "that
the faculty really discountenanced that society,"
and the answer received was positive afirma-
tive" The information received was that the fac
ulty discountcnanced the society. The reprcsen-
tation made by you, fer this is impression pro-
duced. is. that the students are forbidden the pri
yilere of forming such an organization. The
Edqefeld advertiser says, 'the Professors of Frs
kline College have forbidden the students the priv
ilepe of organizing Lodge of the Sons of Tenn
perance in that Institution. Singular indeed
Hear, also, the True Carolinian, in its great con-
Germ for the morals of the place. "The Trustees,
or Professors" (precison is Unnecessary "of
Erskine College have forbidden the students the
privilege of organizing Lodge of the Sons Of
Temperance in that Institution Of all the acts
ever committed" &c. We know that the True Car
Gilman asserts that "the statement has been con-
firmed by several correspondents of different jour-
nails throughout the State"-but great accuracy is
not claimed by the writer, and when the editorial
flourish shall have evaporated, we are mistaken if
the residuum shall contain anything hut the arti-
Gle "Erskine College, in the YorkuiHe Enquirer.
The fact, then, rs stated to you, is, that the
faculty dscountenanced the society: the repre-
sentation made by you Of that fact is, that the
order is forbidden in the College. Not altogeth.
er an exact correspondence. But the spirit of
the press, like that of the age is progressive, and
facts, however stubborn they may be, must SUBJ
nit
You say, moreover, that "the faculty had not
taken the initiative and aided in inaugurating the
society by lending it their moral influence ;" and
that what you had heard, occupied with this
significant fact, seemed sufficient ground upon
which to bottom our (your) charges" ;"
But here again you must be badly at fault. Is
this legitimate conclusion? Do the "Sons" re-
cognise no neutral attitude on the part of Others
towards themselves? Is every man who does not
professedly advocate the order to be set down as
opposing it in his /" folly" or " "stubbOrness ~
You are certainly doing injustice to the society
BY your inference. Are you prepared to hold up
to the public, in this complimentary manner, all
the teachers of the land who may not lead off
division of the Sons? no, you are not. Why,
then, single out the faculty of Erskine College,
whose veal you have so much at heart, for your
animadversons: Is this thy kindness to thy
friend?
The facts en- this subject really are, that the
faculty has never taken any action, either pro or
con, with respect to the order. About the time
that the organization at Due West was formed, il
was recommended to the students that those who
might desire to join the society should advise with
their parents, unless their wishes might be already
known.
"The very head and front of our offending
Hath this extent no more"
and even this was done, not on consultation with
the faculty but, on individual responsibility.
This affair suggests few hints which may be
of some service to you, when, hereafter it may be-
come your duty as "public Journalist" "fearless,
" to attack" either "the 'high' or low places Of
prejudice and error" Before publishing charges
| to the world, be sure that you are not misrepre
senting those, whose conduct, in the exercise OF
your censorship you are condemning as ''culp'
able" 1t is much easier to produce false impres
sions than to correct them. And besides, this pru
denc. WILL it may be hoped, supersede the un'