The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-10-17
Public School System an Infringement
on the Province of the Church.
TSIlUdd Argus.

At the recent anniversary OF the Thornwell
Orphanagc ut Clinton $ e.. Governor ThOrnp-
son Is reported as saying that the education
Of the people was the province OF the state.
RI such n declaration Is made as tho .nuncia.
ton Of Il correct principle, and therefore al
visedly made, we respectfully dissent from
any such doctrine. hut on the contrary. hold
that 1t Is II departure from its legitimate pro.
vince. It is aggression. The tendency of all
civil g'vernm"ntS Is aggressive. There Is in
1t that element which leads TO u%surpation,
and eventually into n conflict hrtw"en the
government and It's citizens. 1t Is this ten
drncy which renders all civil government I'M
stable. This srme truth has given rise TO The
aph"rism, 1.-The price Of liberty Is eternal vigil
lence,"
The State Is not content. even with its ron.
stitutinnal limitations. but would "f:cn step
beyond them, IL not repealed b. the reserved
rights Of the individual.
The province OF the State is not to teach Its
people. hut TO protect them In the possession Of
their property. IN the exercise OF their lit,rrt,
IL simply To protect. II gives him non" OF
these, but assurne> that they ar" Al his. or
within his reach. IL he desires to attain them
and gu%arante-s their fullest enjoyment nith.
ont let or hinderance. Whatever more than
this she undertakes Is going beyond her pro-
vince. and Is an nggressl"n. dangerous, rs all
gitimate means. 1t Is In nosensc the province
OF the STAT" to educate. II 1t IL. then what
marks her limit of educating? What defines
II rs intellectual rather than moral education,
II not both: Is her duty confined to the
merest rudimentS of an education, and not to
the full extern, Of the curriculum OF a college
course? Shall her teaching apply to the head
and not to the heart? BY what Is such dis
Within her province as the other. Indeed, the
one incidentally involves the other.
But Gays an o%hjector. an educated citizen.
ship Is essential to the perpetuitY and intelli.
gem support OF the government.
Hi>tory teaches that Intelligence alone will
not preserve a government, but rather. will
insure Its destruction. The greatest mental
triumphs were achieved in ancient times,
when rhetoric and the arts and sciences were
developed To their highest degree OF pcrfec-
tion: their cities were monuments OF intel.
lectual culture; models OF elegance. grace
and beauty. yet not one OF them remains 10
perretuate Its worth and Suff1clanry. 1t Ia
the province OF the Church to educate. both
In its corporate capacity rs an organized body.
and IN Its primitive organization In the iani-
ly. The province Of the State Is 10 defend and
protect the citizen in the enjoyment OF
that education. The Stale is dcp"ndrnt
on the teaching Of the Church for the efficient
performance Of it's own functions and It's con.
sequent perpetuity. II IL the heart Of the cit.
izen which gives impulse to his intellect.
This Is The province of the Church.
But, says one, may not the State aid the
Church In this matter Of n onItnon educa-
ton?
The State is not ft to undertake or assist in
such work. II Is not her business she has
no means Of knowing the character or quail.
~ OF teachers employed. or the character and
quality Of the tenching: matters on which
therefore. delegate this duty to any other. Ii
la hers. TO be Initiated through the family or.
ganiZation, and advanced by the aid OF the
organized Church. It Is n fatal error to sup.
pose that a people will ever become u great
people by anything that the Stale can do for
their elevation. 1t is the province Of the
Church alone to truly elevate them. 1t Is her
legitimate work. and It cannot he entrusted "a
any other agency, for no other can do 1t. Both
Church and State have their resp ctire and
appropriate spheres, and the one has no duties
70 pefOrm which conflicts with those of the
other. While the one elevates and prepares
the individual for the highest, moral. SociuI
and intellectual enjoyment. the other defends
him In the possession Of those blessings. Lei
the Church. therefore, awake to her great
mission and repel the encroachment which
the State make upon her exclusive province.
Thu responsibility Is upon her.