The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-09-28
The Management OF Free Schools.

Our able and dignifed n%elghbor, the Hinas-
Goro Neux and Herald takes us 10 task Tor our
remarks Il week or two ago about the StateSu
perintendent OF Education. He puts the most
extraordinary and forced construction upon
our article, and eharactcrizcs 1t as "casting
slurs" and making persona! reflections" up
on the State Superintendent OF Education,
and rs having nothing but ccnsure'' for the
school authorities OF theStatc. Itseeus to us,
that II Is our neighbours CHIEF aim to place his
adversary In such n light as to force him to
act on the defensive. while the real question
ut issue IL lost eight of. Now, We do not pro-
pose to go OH the defensive. But VIC intend TO
stick TO the subject end prove that we were
right. although in doing SO, We shall be com
PEELED to repeat and ~rc-asscrt more forcibiH
than ever, the assertions then made. This we
regret, as we would have been glad TO have
!ct the matter rest. Our ncighbor in his de-
fence Of tho State Superintendent OF F.dura-
ton. where none was needed. and IN his un-
fairness to us, necessitatcs our vinlicatlon,
even though 1t be at the expense Of his friend.
whom he would ostcnsibly defend from mag
him. That paper says:
Z the VIEWS. ScESltiis, VI tiS 1O''Ifit
Press and Bruner concerning the proposed
constitutional amendments We have nothing
to say, though they do not fully meet with on"
concurrence, I;ut il has gone out OF the way
TO cast SlurS upon thn management OF the pub
lie school system, and TO reflect personally,
upon Tie State superintendent of Educttion.
10 the Charge of casting slurS" and "rc-
nrcting personally upon the State SuNcria'
tcndent of Education" we plead not guilty.
We have the hI.hc>. respect for the personal
character of the State Superintendent OF Ed
ucation, but when lie uses his official position
to indoc;rinatc uron the minds OF the public
his personal o%pinionson a subject upon which
there is Il division OF sentiment, are those diff
fcring from him. bound To be speechlcSs?
! This is a time Of profound quiet in politics,
and sh2ll he o advance the interests
Of political questions without hearing
a word OF dissent In the discharge
Of the duties Of that important Office there Is
rot n citizen OF South Carolina, white or
black, Democrat or Republican. who would
throw Il straw in his way, but when he al
tempts the role of tho partisan, he must OK
pee, 10 meet opposition.
The Improvement Of the public school sys.
tenn, with its steady growti, IN population, y
one OF the chief glories of a Democratic "a,
/ ttitltSlltllpst tIIo WI Ibiss t'HSH
Superintendent himself, who with conSum-
mate ability, tact, energy and enthusiasm las
brought order out ot chaos: aud clothed orF
bones with flesh and sinew.'
To AL of the above we subscribe most heart
ily. No officer in the State has done more In
the way Of securing II just administration OF
law, or brought about q more judicious en-
%pcnGiturc of q public fund, than has the State
Superintendent of Education, and everybody
knows, except the WInns6oro Neus and Her.
ail, tina we have always spoken in q most
kind manner OF that officer. When. however,
he went outside of the legitimate business OF
his office and took sides In a question which
divides our people, VIC criticised the act, as
We had a perfect right to do.
Thc Press and Runner charges Supcrintend'
ent Thompson with "nevcr-end;ng efforts To
"opprcsS the Taxpayers" and asserts that 1.-THE
school meeting at which that officer appears
seems to be for the sole purpose OF forming as
sociations and combinations for further legiS-
lative enactmcntS In the iGterests OF the
schools This Is somewhat vague, To what