The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-10-07
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Tuesday Morning. October z. 1873.
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ing last summer We undertook the dis.
cussion of the status and prospects of
tho University. iof South Carolina. It
was our purpose to present the defects
and wants Of the institution, both in it's
o=ges:=s::::;;oa and iu iis personnel. and to
indicate such remedies for them as ap.
peared to Us to be feasible and desira-.
bic. As far as, We proceeded, We
abstained from denunoiation. and treated
the matter in dispassionate spirit, as
became its gravity, Importance and non
political character. Writing from dis
tance, and under several other disad-
vantagss. We desisted. after q few arti-
sles. pIzposing to tske it ap again at
this present date, and complete the
series necessary to dts full eluoidation.
We thought that We might with pro.
priety, after having exposed the causes
OF the decline of the University, and
demonstrated the necessity OF It's resto.
ration tousefulness through increase of
the public esteem and confidence, make
an appeal to the Trustees to legislate in
its true interests. to discard party spirit
in its management. and earnestly to
seek to build it up again in something
like its just and proper proportions.
This. it appeared to Us. could be
efected by spirit of candor in the
Board of Trustees, which would look
exclusively to the public good, and by
that loyeof learning and judioious re-
gard for the education of the youth OF
the country, which such body should
presumably possess; for surely, if
South Carolina needs any one thing
more than Hhother now. it is, next to
honesty and sound judgment in the ad-
ministration Of its finances, the educa-
stien Of the SONS Of the people in those
sciences. arts and literature. and in that
broad ond catholic culture. training aud
development. which will prepare them,
In The eiangnage OF John Milton. ftly to
discharge all the obligations and duties,
both public and private, of peace and
war '* sia2f'i 'ti"
We expected to urge upon the board
to consider this high interest in tenn.
per and spirit which would lift them
above;the arena of politics, and enable
them to see merit and recognize scholar
ship. whether IT appeared in Republi-
cans or Conservatives! And, as praoti.
cal men, we Thought that they could not
fail, to discern the extreme Importance
Of conoiIiating and satisfying the just
demands of the intelligent people Of
this State. who are attaohed to it's soil,
delight In its climate. cling to its ira.
ditionsi are proud Of its history. and
who, IT: 1.-The opportunity we're fairly
afforded, would sustain its institutions
with their money. and. what is better,
with their hearty moral approval. I.
is, extremely painful to our people. es-
pecialiy, to tnsn away from the College
where's they end their fathers and sons
have been bred in learning and honor,
and to have the younger generation,
now ready to seek the instruction neces-
sary to ae them fdr,the trials of lifo.
discovered from the link of associa-
tions which bind their hearts to the
acadeHie; npaSes of their alma p,aler.
Who thas his beeh taess does ndt fondly
remember the lecture rooms Of his
learned preceptors. where thought was
trained to take its flights, or the alcoves
OF the library, where Investigation was
pursued with the keenest relish and
largest profit? We are entirely candid
in saying that we should recognize no
party in literature. The republic of
letters is not bound round orintersected
by party or sectional lines. The posi-.
ton OF teacher in public institutions
should be conferred upon literary or
scientific merit, upon experience. upon
the qualifications of discreet educa-
ton. and only upon the man of unsul-
lied honor and untainted private charac.
ter. The ancients were right in assign
ing the man who met these require.
ments and adequately discharged these