The Southern herald., 1881-09-03


theirs nor from any process Of reasoning Of
my own eoRld ever arrive at such con
sluson but on the contrary. despite lhr
defects Of the system, as we'll as the abuse
Of it both ofhc-rs snd teachers, sfways |
thought could di.e-rn saOugb of good in
it to give the system both my hearty sppro
baton aud support. 10 this | have not
been mistaken. for th- fruits of that system
are making themselves So plain aud evident
to the public, buth among the white and
eolored population. that it is OF the rarest
oeeurrenes to bear an anath+ms hurled |
against the institution now a days. The
States management Of the institutions at
Oxford and Oakland has been mote happy
at least no great drHuneiatiOn has ever been
pronounced against il, on their account, Of
which am aware. But 10 regard TO lhr
Agricultural aud Mechanical College, OF
Starksvils. some bad feeling has been en-
gendered. but it is to be sincerely hoped
that these may wear away with the passing
time. since it would be a source Of sndlrss
regret should this institution, the great
nineteenth century conception" bat TO be a
still greater accomplishment, he in any way
crippled through either prejudice or sbOrt'
sightednpss. For, il LET alone, unharmed BY
it's enemies. it is bound to bscome at no
distant day not OHly the ps. aud pride Of
the State, aud an unfading hoHOr both to
State and its founders. but an unfsiliog
source of blrsslngs to the eiliz-ns at large.
tor many generations to eomy-rvru through
out all time. By the thinking portion Of
the ptopl- it must, it will ever bp, fosterrd
as a priceless most inpstimable boon -
The only great danger to bs feared is that
it may receive condemnation before it lie
allowed time TO attain the age OF majority,
so as to give a sample of its iruitage. Once
old enough to bear fruit aud then she will
be safe. She will send out her graduates
as apostles, dispensing them as so many seeds
OF nuclei, around which will gather aud
cluster interests aud inaurncs to permpaip
he masses of the people throughout the
State. Being an institution devoted to ih-
farming interests, which represents by far
the most numerous class of its citizrns. it is
destined to give 10 the near future color
aud Shape to all future legislation in regard
to our public school system. and this being
the case, should no, this institution be most
literally supported In my opinion it would
be- the greatest Of folly for the State to with.
draw her patrouags now but on the tOu-
'rary. | believe it would BE- the wisrst
policy to contioup aud iucreass the patronage
which she has already given. Aud, Mr..
Editor, while the public mind is being
drawn to the consideration Of political meas
urps which are to affect State wtal iu thr
future, would it not b. well enough to add
to the list the subject of education. which
may well b. considered equally as imporisnt'
il not the most 40 Of any of them 7 Should
not our Representatives BIZ instructed iu This
matt,r. the same as auy otheri No our
will pretend to say that our school system
ia perfect INDEED. it may require long
while before it makes an approach towards
anything like perfection and this is reason
able, under the existing circumstances sur
rounding the case. Our Legislature is and
has ever been composed Of membership
more largely representing any other class
10 lhs educaion Oi the masses of the people
Patriotism and ability have done some
thug-may have done their whole duty
and we should feel grateful towards them io
having accomplished so much-bat it re-
qurrs something more than patriotism am
ability 10 our legislative halls to bring tLi
interest Into that position which the az
necpssitIrs of the times demand. Ii require
an absolute knowledgs of aud experieucs il
The business. and until this knowledge an,
experiences is in some way infused into Ou
legislative councils, our system of education
must remain imperfect and retained power
less to accomplish the grand mission 70
which it was created As to the exprdirut
10 b. resortrd TO in order to accomplish lhi,
they may or may not be owing entirely t
circumstances considered iu a future com
municaton. Az for the present. know
have already skeichsd this far beyond th
bounds of your liking. KNCF ADzQC.
. Our friends faults reconcile US to the
II virtues.
II a man emptrs bis purse into his heal
: no one can take it away from him. Au il
vestment ia knowledge pays the best inttrps