The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-22
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, June %. 1867.
Educational Needs OF the south.


neous, and unjust towards the people
Of the South. When it says that
Ignorance was tho primevnl curse
there, lat the South,) for slavery
was Landed as the cornerstone of safe
institutions" when it says "the
ruling class denounced popular edu-
cation as the prolific mother of abe
minations;" and when it says they
'.reviled the common school system
of the North as its most radical vice, ="
it makes assertions which have no
foundation in truth or in fact. If
ignorance was the primoval curse on
the South, how comes it that she has
sent to the councils of the Govern
ment. and to its three departments,
more talent, learning and statesman
ship, in proportion to her population
and territory, than any other section
of the country? How comes it that,
if the ruling class denounced popular
education as the prolific mother of
denominations, the Legislatures Of
the several Southern States made
large annual appropriations for the
support of common or free schools,
as they are styled at the South? In
this State at least, to our own know
ledge, the appropriation for this OBJ
ject was being increased yearly, and
it is probable such was the case in
other Southern States. How comes
it, if they reviled the common school
system of the North, that trustees
and managers of normal schools of
the South sent commissioners to ex-
anime that system, and, in many
cases adopted it, and frequently en-
ployed Northern teachers? These are
facts, opposed to the bare assertions
of the Tribune.
But the cause of the Iri6Mne's in
tcrest in "the educational needs of
the South il the apprehension that
the income of the muniiicent dona-
ton of Mr.. Peabody, expressly given
by that gentleman to the cause Of
education in the South and South
west, will be misapplied. 1t says that
the administration Of that fund sis
of immense concern to the South and
to all Of u.s.. That is so to the peo-
pie of the section to whom it was
donated, beyond doubt, but that it
is of any concern to the editor, we
are at loss to comprehend. The
fund is entrusted to board of trus-
tees, composed of prominent men of
both sections, who have selected an
honorable gentleman as their chief
agent, and it is to be hoped that its
administration will be wisely con-
Quoted, and independent OF the 1i-i-
bune's suggestions.
For instance, the Tribune says that
it has followed pretty closely the edu-
cational experiments made in the
Southern States, and that the trus-
tees twill find themselves beset with
embarrassments which will make
their plan hopeless Of completion.
And why? The Tribune answers i'll
the two following questions: care
they not leaving too much to the
Southern people? Are they not as
suming moro intelligence and right
mindedness in them than exist?"
What does the writer mean by throw
ing out such imputations against the
intelligence and honesty of the South
ern people, especially in a matter in
which he has no concern? The pro-
duction is certainly not Mr.. Gree
ley's; for, even were he not in attend
ance at the Constitutional Convention
of New York, now in session, we
feel assured, from what he did and
said in Richmond, he has higher
opinion of the Southern people than
We have here quoted from his
paper. Had ho extended his tour
further South, and had he and Mr..
Gerrit Smith addressed the people in
the various localities along their tour.