The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-16
The Democratic Meeting and Hon.
ID. w. Aiken's Speech.

Thursday last was the day appointed for the
meeting. in the court house. OF the Central
Democratic Club. At Il O'Clock Col. Cothran
took the chair and VIM. II. Parker, Esq, call.
that there was not Il quorum present. 1t is
supposed that the previous bad weather had
prevented many Of the local clubs from hold
ing meetings to appoint delegates, and the
slim attendance on this occasion is thus ac-
counted for. or course no business could be
transacted without a quorum.
Hon. D. W. Aiken being present made
some well-timed remarks IN the subject OF
schools and the imperative duty Of educating
our children.
He said that our people had been taking
great interest In the settlement Of the bonded
debt. the enactment OF a fence law, and many
other matters looking to the public welfare.
but 1t seemed to HIM that the most important
subject of all-that Of edu~cation-which is
paramount to every thing else, is ut present
greatly neglected by our people, who have
heretofore been SO distinguished for their re-
inement and literary attachments. BY the
recent constitutional amendment two mills Is
levied on every dollars worth of property In
the State. which would raise S27O.NO. This
added to the poll tax, would make nearly
100000 to be applied to the education of our
boys and girls. At present Abbevilie County
In her poverty, will pay nearly as much for
educational purposes as the whole State OF
South Carolina paid from her wealth for the
same purpose before the war. This amount
properly expended would prove an inestima.
BILE blessing TO our children, and a great
benefit to the country. He deprecated the
manner in which much of our school money
townships as many as nine eeachers had been
employed, and in some ne!ghborhoods
q large number Of schools had been taught
when Il much less number would have con-
served the public good equally us well, while
in other localities there was Il lack OF schools.
The Changers and the State authorities In
Alabama had worked in harmony on this
subject, and had located the school houses ut
hoo niD Z l. nrnrf CO fhuf NO Rnnl-
munity has more schools tnan are needed,
and no man Is compelled to send his children
Il greater distance than three miles TO school.
Our s~choolhouScs, the speaker thought, should
be located somewhat in the same manner
and Il more efficient corps OF teachers en-
plOyed Owing TO the incompetcncy OF those
assuming TO do the work. he believed that the
great bulk OF the money paid for teaching the
negroes was worse than thrown away.
The speaker thought the present mat
tention to education on the part OF the
whites truly lamentable, and as proof of this
related some remarkable facts that had come
to his knowledge. He said that he knew OF a
man in this county who did not know the
names OF the newspapers published AT Aope-
vile Court House. He also knew OF a recent
bride who could not write her name. and or
another young lady who talked right Out In
the meeting" the first time she went TO
church. =,
He said white men would not often send
their children more than one mile and never
more than two miles to school, while the ne
sroes would send theirs three. four or FIVE
miles, IL necessary; that the negroes would
accomplish "a little learning" very readily,
and with the least acquIsion they thought
they knew it all, n could be taught
nothing more: that this little educa-
ton did not make them better citizens, but
only enabled them to dcvelope their natural
meanness thai If we neglect to educate our
children our present high standard Of in
te!ligcnce and culture Will be low.
cred. while the negro's will be raised, SO that
by their superior numbers, under the lead Of
white men who are willing to ruin their
country for their own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT they
will regain political ascendency In the state:
Our greet need Is education. IT Is more Inn
portant than everything else. and he hoped
TO see our people thoroughly aroused ON this
vital question.
The speaker concluded his remarks by d.
recting the attention of our people to the
great Importance of political unity OF action
on their part, and as proof of the correctness
os his position cited the recent lessons taught
US in Sumter and Beaufort and Newberry.
Or motion the meeting adjourned to meet
next Thursday week, the 9th day OF the
month. The local clubs will see to 1t that
they have representatives here on thai day.