The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-12-01
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2 srsae Unkvsrssty. sn AgsteulsuFaa College.
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tsis From the sWinnaboro News. we take
ithe following editorial, and give the re-
ply RI Col. Thomas to the oall made
apo9 hind h,a '4s4m 4ss.
au ssiCplumbiA is the location for q State
Univefsity. Columbia is the location
fora State Military Academy. Colum-
bic ss tbs location for a State Agricultu-
raj College. Add Columbia is the loca-
tion for State Normal School. We do
moSt earnestly trust that the present
State overnment will see the eminent
propriety Of treating with contempt and
Bcorn the narrow minded and vindictive
spite OF some who pretend to express
public sentiment upon the great ques-
tion OF State education, the sectarian
bigotfy and self 4ihterest of many others,
the harbafibn folly of others still who
oppose State education altogether, and
will go straight for yard in the work of
enlightening and developing the State,
and Of building up our own State capital
TO be- on ornament and centre of uniyer-
sal attraction In the last number of
'DeBoio's Re1ie,o there is an article worth
needing upon this very question of con-
centrating at o single point the higher
Institutions OF every description. The
writer, one Of the leading educators of
the great West, states that even in Ger
many, where population is ten times as
numerous as here, the universal senti-
ment now favors such concentration.
He states this simply as fact, without
going into the reasons for it. But we
can give one reason that is quite suffi-
cient to determine the whole question
the stimulating effect of the society of a
large number Of earnest and learned
professors, each ambitious { fame, and
the emulation called forth by the pre-
sence Df large number Of earnest stu
dents mingling in the same society, even
when pursuing different courses of study.
We believe that, just at present. tho
duty of sustaining the University and of
inaugurating State Normal School de-
wolves more particularly upon the LIE.
gislature. But it would require simply
an earnest canvass of the State by Col.
John P. Thomas and Col Alex. Haskell,
or two others like them, to get qnite
money enough subscribed by the Survi-
yofs' Associations and the Agricultural
and Mechanical Societies, to re-establish
the South Carolina Military Academy on
q sure aud growing foundation, and to
engraft upon it the features of an aeri-
cultural and polytechnic school, The
apathy Of our people is deplorable. But
in the name of some few earnest men
who grieve over the deterioration of our
education, and hate to see our youth
losing pride in their State, in the name
of the orphan boys of our glorious dead
rapidly growing up beyond the opportu-
nifty of being assisted by grateful peo-
pie, we call upon Col. j. p. Thomas more
particularly, because of his former con-
nection with the State Military Academy,
to put his shoulder to the wheel, to
canvass every District in the State, to
speak at every public place, as he can so
gracefully speak, and to erect an institu-
tion in Columbia, which will be monu-
ment of his own patriotism and of the
public spirit of the State. He CAN DO
1T, and without conversation with him
or any one else about it, we point out
the man, we-suggest to him his work,
and earnestly exhort him to his duty"
MIR. EDITOR: In an article upon the
subject of education in South Carolina,
yon have done mo the honor to assign
me an important task, and to accompany
it with expressions of confidence in nv
ability to execute it. The public call
}you have made upon mo seems to re-
-qaire, as due to myself and courteous to
-yon,, that 1 should make reply.
It is not agreeable to my taste to OBJ
trade myself upon the public notice, and
except in the discharge of public duty,
have madeit rule to court becoming
retirement. In this case, I feel that
violate no rule of propriety in appearing
before the readers of your journal, par
ticularly since that journal is published
in the District where I was reared, and
where hope I have number of earnest
friends. Allow me to say, in the begin
ming. that I highly approve of your
? scheme to revive in Columbia, the South
Carolina Military Academy, and to en-
graft upon it the features of an Agricul-
tural and Mechanical School, Such an
institution in the capital OF South Ca
rolina. would be most useful work-a'
noble contamination "most devoutly to
be wished for"-wonld be to realize the
conception Of Milton, who called q com
plete and generous education that which
enables one to disch9rge s],ilfuIly and
magnanimously all the luties Of the citi-
zen, both private and public, in peace
and in war,
VUn hot