The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-08-13
A University On Absolute Necessity.

Editors Prcss and Bdnne
l feel no scrupulous delicacy In discussing
question which involves the glory and pros
| perity OF South Carolina. And while / adV0-
cate the propriety and absolute necessity ol
establishing a State University, Wish oy no
means TO depreciate the Church In any shape
or form. But l contend that the State Is the
institution TO educate and notthe Church. II
is the highest institution on earth-gunrds
and protects the individual In his sphere OF
action, and therefore. Is entitled to the highest
honor and prOfoundeSt affection OF all us GU
liens. And when the Church endcavors 10
wrest this from her grasp-this m duty
as we'll as divine risht-sllc deriatcs very
largely from her appropriate domain aua nat
deadly and implacablc In their Influence ana
effects, and, therefore, most scdulously lto De
guarded against In a confedcracy or Tree
StaleS. The growing influence and Contend
Ing interest Of these colleges In their struggle
for aScendency may supcrinduce the corrup-
lions and treacheries which furnish our ma
tional glory and jcopardize our national sta
e erl,tsi AN" tb then %po Wf are 1mm annGIn 81 and nd
crime of the ancient republics-repcatins
the history and calamitics OF these splendid
vet wonderful exampleso OF the past.
II has been objected by Sectarlsts that the
state is too much Impoverished to establish
q university at present. II Is sufficient to re-
rly, that the power 10 acquire wealth, and Sc
curity in retaining i and enjoying II depends
on the popular intelligence,a and virtue, and.
tncfeIOTe. u stNtlloIl 10 poD PlopVit hit" wv
tage from such taxation. But it Is npt this
they wish 10 carry out their own designs
dis regarding the sacred duties and rights OF
their State and are consequently destitute OF
all public spirit and patriotism. which Is the
very essence Of prosperity and wealth. and
all that Is noble and good. It is irrevelant
with good reason and sound philosophy for II
s~cctnrist to he patriotic, for he hasn't the In
tercst of the State Mt heart. but seeks to al.
vance his own party-tinged with a spirit OF
self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. and ILLUMINATING IN
the total DETERMINATION OF this great %renovat-
er OF political affairs. show me a sectorist
and ! will show you n demngOgue and q syco-
plant. This theory hns proven true In our
day. We see then that sectarinns have no
possible reasons for opposing n state UniVer-1
slty. Nothing but nArrow-minded. selfish. IL
liberal views prompts them In such q course.
nothine moro Than "hnt-bcds' OF immortality
Inns been exploded long ago. ! refer them To
DR.. ThOrnwells discourse on education II
they wish TO get n hlCh.mindcd. intelligent.
views on the subject. The sectarian colleges
are incapable and incompetent Of meeting
the higher demands Of the State. and It's not
worth while for these, petty political scctar-
lists to he continually hnrping on this ques-
tion. How In the name OF common sense
can our state ever attain any. intellectual SUI
periority and n high standard OF civilization.
when she Is continually n~gitated by these
partisan views Five men by organized and
wisely directed cooperation can often nc
complish what q million could notnccompliSh
each working in isolation. And the larger
the sphere furnished the greater the possible
results from this cooperation. Let us have n
university so that young men may gather to-
gether from MI parts OF the Stats 70 40 n"n n
ma. Crushing sectarianlsm and producing
unity Of interest. unity OF thought. and unity
OF feeling all over her borders. We can have
It II our Public men WI r,r on,y eyer Serdon mem q
now. Notwithstanding the sundry and scri-
Gus objections to Church education. She is
adequate to educate refine and public spirit
cd young men. These young men have nntr-
raj missions to fulfill, and therefore,. feel a
great scrupulority In uniting themselves
with such narrow inde people,. They POS
sess broader and more liberal views. are
not hcdgcd In by party spirit. bnt their whole
heart, mind and body goes out for their
country. Tho past record OF the South Caro-
lima College Is sufficient to vouchsafe for her
future succcss. Look for n moment at thn
trust in the State, and we find them to be the
sons Of the South Carolina College. who i'm.
bibed her noble pnilanthropic views. Ana
tIon Of their State Mt large, In view. and have
gained a name for themselves and their State
which Will flourish In all coming .postcritE.
md be preserved by all eternity; Let South !
once more he Il unit. Let her rear
her trfumphal columns 10 welcome her sons
from NIL parts OF tho lnnd to honor her digni-
ty md majesty and frown down this sectarian
spirit. -. ~
I ask why do public men hesitate to discuss
this question? Why are South Cnrolinians
silent in advocatinGa doctrine which shall
mould their turc'destinyc H. will soon he
too late, for the scctarians are rapidly gaining
ground and II they only grasp the reins OF
th,y will sap the very founda-
lion of this governmental fabric. 1t Is
enough for them to grind out preachers nn'l
hemagogucS without entering The dOmninS OF
the state, South Carolina Is able to educate
her putriotS and statesmen. Then we can
have unity, and harmony and pence md
prosperity. Then there will be heard no
boast and discoriant note from the boat OF
0nr Constitution. All will he harmonious.
placid and grand, and she will continue to
roll OH with that grandeur md majesty OF
symmetry that she did In her ancient pros!
pcrtty: j. n. >.