Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-10-05
The State University.

1t is significant fact and one we'll
worthy of the attention Of tho people that
Just now on the eve of the Legislature
some of tho newspapers of tho State are
urging the necessity of providing literally
for tho University and thereby plncing
the State, as they say, in the line with our
sister States. The Nc,cs and Courier tells
us in late issue:
"We arc assured, on official information,
that it is the purpose, as it will be tho duty
of the authorities of the University, to
move it forward rs rapidly as possible to
that higher work which belongs to it,,
aud to it alone"
In other Words as We understand it,
"the authorities of the University" will
call on the Legislature to bleed the people,
whether they will or no, with heavy
appropriation for its support, claiming, Of
course, that the agricultural scrip fund and
Sl2 500 arc not enough to make the college
efficient and put the State on footing
with Virginia and other Suites.
We have always talked plainly about
this matter, because we believe it to be the
duty of journalist to do SO. Wo were
opposed TO opening the Agricultural College
because wo believed it to be what it has
proven to be, dclusion and snare to
cntrap the unwnry. The appropriation of
900 additional last year we predicted
would be but the entering wedge for still
larger demands.
We have been opposed to the rcopcnng
OF tho University at the expense of the
tax payer, because we knew it could not be
supported on direct appropriation of $40,
900 year, and because We do not think
the State is able ut this timc to spend
large sums Of money for Iuxurics, when our
people arc already heavily burdened with
taxes and have but scanty means to pay
them with. We are opposed to it, because
1t is undcmocratic to levy taxes for any.
thing but the protection of the people in
their rights of life, liberty and property
and because it is unjust to lay tribute on
the many for tho benefit of The few. The
Revised Statutes, page 3ll, Section 1910,
provide
"'rhcrc shall he admitted into each COL
ege of the University" CHAT ia, the South
Carolina College, at Columbia, and Canip
College, at Orang gcturg) lone student from
each county Of the State, who shall be en-
titled to tuition free Of charge; such stu
dent shall be appointed by the Governor,
upon the recommendation OF the delegation
III the General Assembly in which the up
p'lcant resides, and after competitive cx-
animation"
The Section further provides that any
vacancy made by graduation, death, cxpul-
sion, or other cause, shall be filed in the
same manner. In other words, Abbcvl.c
county, even with tho present small direct
appropriation Of $4,000, must be taxed
about four hundred dollars year to pay the
tuition of one boy fixed by the Statute at
forty dollars year. Our readers will
notice that no consideration is
shown for the "poor boy" Under the
terms of the law the whole matter is left to
the delegation ard if the con of the richest
man in Atbcvillc county is successful in the
competitive examination he may 60 to Co
lumbla with free tuition, while children in
the county arc starving on the crumbs of
education furnished by common school
taught tcr four or five months in the year
by poor teacher, poorly promised and still
more poorly paid. -Four hundred dollars
year for the rich mans son who s able to
90 to Columbia and S2.G5 for the "poor
boy who has to stay at home 1t il par-
tcularly Just to compel tho PrcsbytcIans,
give large sums of money every year to
their own colleges for "conscienco suke," to
pay taxes fol- the support of an institution
which they do not want, which may di-
vorco education and religion and which
hos direct tendency to pjure their COL
lcgcs.
We arc opposed to it. moreover, because
1t VIII tend, as we believe, to restore tho
state of affairs existing before the war. 1t
will build up few families at the expense
of the masses of tho people. They will
claim tho right, as they did then, to supply
our Bench with Judges and all other offices
with incumbcns no matter who clso might
afPly 1t will create class distinctions and
build up mcrc;css aristoeracy.
Wo arc opposed to it because boy can
20 to colleges now iii the State, pay tuition
and get through On less money tl.np ho can