The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-31


for their benefit, and appropriate it to
bestowing special advantages upon
favored few? 1t may be right to tax the
people to educate the people, but it is
not right to tax the people to bestow q
college education upon few. But there
is, another view in which the injustice of
the appropriation contemplated will be
made to appear more fragrant There
are great many people in this State
who desire, when they send their chill
dren off to secure a collegiate education,
to send them to such an institution as
will confer not only the intellectual edu-
cation, but will also gather around them,
being young and inexperienced, such in
huences as will best protect them from
the temptations which blast so many
lives. The South Carolina University
did not afford such influence or protec-
tion, hence different plan was resorted
to, and colleges. were instituted under
the care of the various christian denomi-
nations. These are the colleges which
the gentleman from Charleston calls
gymnasiums. Now, let me illustrate. l,
am a Methodist, being thoroughly con-.
vinced that it is to the interest of my
children not to send them to college
like the South Carolina College, and de-
string the benefits of moral as well as.
an intellectual education, l unite with
those entertaining similar views, aud
endow with money out of my own pocket
an institution which will afford the facil-
tiles desired. The various other denom-
nations do the same. Now, where is
the justice to tax me again to build up
an institution for the benefit of those
who openly avow their opposition to
UNCONVENTIONAL colleges? If they are
not satisfied with our colleges let them
put their hands in their own pockets and
build college to suit themselves, as we
did, or else, If they take the peoples
money, let them at least give back 3
portion of it to the peoples colleges. If
you help one help them all. But you
say that is not right, for no denomina-
tional school shall have control of any
part of the public school fund. 1 would
ask, then, lit will be right because you
have the power to do such an injustice to
the views of a large majority of the peo-
pie by establishing a school so contrary
to their ideas of morality.
The issue is raised, Mr., Speaker; let
the responsibility rest upon the heads of
those who have sought to work so great
an injustice. For myself, will never
cease to battle against so great a wrong:
Carry your point to-day, but day of
l'retribution will come yet.
As to the remarks of the other gentlee
man from Charleston, (Mr. Simonton,
that the discussion is not german to the
subject, because be does not contemplate
Immediately reopening the college, I
have this to say: The bill is not 80 word
ed, and that such was the purpose there
| is no shadow of doubt. But when it
was found out that to persist in that
course would defeat the bill, the gentle
! man then gave notice that at the proper
time he would offer an amendment leav-
ing the question of the time to the Leg
islature. But my opposition to the bill
extends further than to the time of re-
opening the institution. / am opposed
to opening it at all, because to do. so
would be wrong. One word more, MIR.
Speaker, and am done. l appreciate
the importance of education as much as
any one on this floor I desire to throw
not single obstacle in the way Of any
\ one in obtaining an education. More
than that, I am willing to help all in
every legitimate manner. To the colored
people I would have them enjoy every
advantage extended to the whites. II
will be useless for the gentlemen on the
other side to torture the discussion from
the main issue. The question is to-day,
and the question will be tomorrow, not
the Importance of education, but the
| If It is to be the policy Of this House to
persist in, this purpose, wait, then, at
least, until the State is freed from it,
financial difficulties, and the honest cred.
itors satisfied. Be honest, st least, before
YOU attempt to be liberal. 49,.