The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-31

LQ0 MeCaulCA aIIS, duQ Luo, NotuioA
Sciences connected Herewith" -
Every member Of the Legislature,
before taking his seat, has to swear "Thst
I will support, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States, and
the Constitution of South Carolina, as
ratified by the people on the 16tn day Of
April, 1868. So HELP Me GoD."
Every member, therefore, swears that he
will support and protect the Constitution,
which requires him to provide for the
maintenance Of the State University,
aud also for the establishment of an
Agricultural College. Itseems to US that
aside from the other reasons for main.
tanning the University, that the members
of the Legislature are bound by their
oaths to maintain the State University.
tits, then, only question as to whether
we shall have a good University OF waste
money on useless one. The Land
Scrip Bonds raise little over $1,000,
which goes to the Agricultural branch Of
the University. The other 81 900 appro.
priated to the University includes five
hundred dollars for salary of Librari-
an, and twenty-five hundred dollars for
repairs and insurance. These items
would be necessary if the University
were closed. The property is too valua'
bic to Risk it without insurance, or to go
to. ruin for the want of small repairs.
Some enthusiastic opponents of the Uni
lversity want the State to sell the prop
erty, and thus close the institution, but
we apprehend that this would be such a
clear violation of the Constitution that
no Legislator, with the sanctity Of his
oath resting upon him, would vote for,
and if he did the Courts could not susr
tain the sale. Therefore, only about
four thousand dollars is appropriated
which is not absolutely required, without
reference to the character of the Univer-
sity. The tax to raise this is less than
three cents on the thousand dollars, and
this is what the .Ne,Os complains about.
It will probably contend that it is not
the money but the principle the ap.
preparation to which it objects. This
might be strong argument if there
we're error in the principle, but the
South Carolina University is ooe of the
great institutions of the State. 1t has
been handed down to us from our fore.
fathers, and has always been the pride of
the State.. This University vas charter
ed in 1901, and has been kept up ever
since, except when closed by the invasion
of Shurman and by the results of recon.
.struction. It's maintenance, therefore, is
part of: our State policy for three.
ifourlhs of century, and there is more
reason TO maintain it now than there vas
DelOfe LUG WaT. -:
! The appropriation for the Citadel is
twenty thousand dollars, and is devoted
to educating poor young men. The
poorer people of the State are most in
terested in both these institutions, for the
wealthy man can afford to send his sons
of to the University of Virginia, Yale,
or even to Europe. The poor man can
not do this, but he can send his boy for
small sum to the South Carolina Uni
versity; or, if that boy is one of the two
best prepared boys in the County, he can
send him free of expense to the Citadel.
Thus these institutions put higher
education in the reach of many poor
boys with bright minds, who become
useful and prominent citizens where they
might otherwise have their sphere Of
usefulness would otherwise be much re-
stricted.
The Mews says that this appropriation
would Keep 40 schools open and afford
education to- {, 300 children for FIVE months.
Perhaps it would, but FIVE months in our
ordinary public schools, while better than
nothing, would not be so good as instruc.
ton from FIRST class teachers. The Cita-
del will give to the State two trained
teachers for each county, who are bound
to teach for two years. This will give to
our State si1ty.eight we'll taught schools,
which will greatly promote the cause of
popular education. We believe these
advantages will compensate for the out.
lay, besides giving some Of the poor boys
of the State an equal chance for obtain
ing higher education With the SONS Of
rich men.
The Ns,cs objects to our assertion that
the University is here to stay, whether
our people favor it or not. The state.
ment is nevertheless true. If every voter
in Anderson County were to try to stop
the University it would be triumphantly
carried on by the intelligent, progressive
and patriotic citizens Of the other coun--
ties. It is wasting time to fight the Uni
vetsity, and it is only candor to say so.
Therefore ne ought to elect the best men
who are running for the Legislature, even
if they are in favor of the University,
and indeed we ought to be glad to have
our representatives favor it.
The Ne'cs likewise objects to the state.
ment that a man will lose all chance of
establishing an influence in the Legisla-