The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-10-16
The University Of South Carolina.

South CarOiinianS who nav" fillcu up Inc
wilderness from the Savannah to the no
Graudc have never forgotten her, and many
Il graduate of the college who, ever since the
war, has held his OWN and we are glad 10
know that there arc many Slchl would aNail
himself of the opportunity OF givin" his sons
the benefit of the culture and association
which he believes more than any other, would
ucvclopc those qualities of head and heart
that constitute the gentleman.
South Carolina gets full credit, too, through
all her sister States OF the South for all that
she has done TO free herself from the dust and
Hsllcs of degradation; and many in Texas,
Louisiana and Mississippi, and O"therSuuthcrn
States, would in the light of that prestige,
Though not claiming her as their mot!,rr.}
send their sons as well. This We know, litH-
ing had opportunities of Judging. Let us De-
vrlopc that wherein we are strongest. We
cannot compete with the rich bottoms OF the
Mississippi in the production of cotton and
sugar; nor with the prairicS of Texas in rails
ing cattle, sheep and horses. 1t is the nigh
tone and refinement, the manlincSS OF char
actcr with which we are credited outside OF
our own State, that wuuld he the attraction
to those who are willing to cniccdc them to
us, (let us be careful how we destroy any such
illusion, IL Illusion Ii be- and we claim would
tend TO build up II great central southern
Cnivcr>ity'' in South Carolina. 1t is Il mis-
take to suppose that the cost of heGlnnlng
such an institution would bear so heavily.
upon the resource of the State, as to be out Of
proportion with the benefits cunirrrrd. II is
but to begin, and todo that at once is Of prime
Importance. AL the other Statcsof the
have done SO. Virginia has hrrtimc-hnloreu
University alongside Of the Virginia Military
Institute. Washington Lee, llampdcn.
Sidney, William and Mary, and possibly 9TH
crS. North Carolina has In prosperous opera
ton "Old Chapel Hill" Georgia and Ala
bama as well; Mississippi has opened her
State COLLEGE ut oxford with 400 students,
and Louisiana in Novcmbc. last rc"rgRNlZcd
hers at Baton Rouge, upon Il liberal endow-
nent. Poor as we are, il The number of stu
dents who leave the State now. but Wiio IL is
safe to say would remain IL we had Il State III
stitution rs II was in the days when Il lGlrli-
well. an Elliot. n Th"rnwcll and mobile most
besides, lead our voting mel IN the way that
they should go, add those attractions to our
old state for tic honor she has won, and our
ranks would soon be full. ,
II our unitarian friends sheer at this, and
say that the age Of chivalry is ono, and no
one now has time or thought for t%aticrcd,
dust-fraycu banners that once waved men L"
high and noble action that we are but Stum-
bling among tho torn and trunpicu nlOilu-
mcntS OF thoughts dead and iorg ,ttcn, we tell
them no! Let them raise their heads from
the muck in which they arc rakinG-such
things never die. The great heart of man al
ways has, and always will, respond &" that
one touch tia: makes the Whole world akin.
And it is well that 1t Is -.
Columbia is admirably situated. IN ny
wienic p0int of view, tnl,rin- to the = ,uih Tho
Northern student prevented by the climate
rom prosecuting his studies Ill home. .\nd
here comes II View sufficiently rractl.al i"r
the least poetic. The Northern student. drawn
10y assurances Of respect and consideration
would Ito much eventually to attract by an
intelligent report that Inquiry into IN" re-
sources of our country that would result IN
bringing capital for investment IN factories,
and other schemes Of Improvement. Noplicr
suits in the whole South so well as Columbia
in the heart of tie great pine belt-nrii!icr
too far north for the southern nor TOO far
south for the Northern students. With the
Atlantic depot Of the great southern Pacific
Railroad, to be most probably at Charleston.