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

CnIVersi,y, for instruction N Agriculture,
the Mecanic Arts, aud the Natural
Sciences connected herewith"
L.ery n,emIer Of the Legislature,
before i;kips his seat, has to swear "Tba!
l will support, protect and defend the
Constitution Of the United States, and
the Constitution Of South Carolina, as
ratified by the people on the 10th day Of
April, 1868. SO HELP NE COB"
Every member, therefore, swears that he
will support and protect the Constitution,
which requires him to provide for The
maintenance Of the State University,
and also for the establishment Of an
Agricultural College. 1t seems 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.
1t 10, then, only question as to whether
We shall have good University or 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 ealary 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.
BILE to risk it without insurance, or to go
to ruin for the want Of small repairs.
Some enthusiastic opponents Of the Uni
versity 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 aanctity of HE
oath resting upon him, would vote for,
and If he did the Courts could not sus.
tain the sale. Therefore, only about
four thousand dollars 10 appropriated
which is not absolutely required, without
reference TO the character Of the Univer-
atty. The tax 70 raise this 10 iess than
three cents on the thousand dollars, and
this is what the Ners complains about.
1t will probably contend that 1t is not
the money but the principle Of the ap.
preparation to which it objects. This
might be strong argument if there
were error in the principle. but the
South Carc'ina University Is one 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 tue results vi recon-
struction. Its maintenance, therefore, Ia
o part Of our State policy for three
fourlhs of a century, and there is more
reason 10 maintain it now than there wns
before tho war.
The appropriation for the Citadel is
twenty thousand dollars, and is devoted
to educating poor young men. The
poorer people of she 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. Tho 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
eend him free of expense to tho 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.
utricted.
The Ne,cs says that this appropriation
would keep 40 schools open and afford
education to 2, 800 children for five months.
Perhaps it would, but five months in our
ordinary public schools, while better than
nothing, would not be 80 good as instruc.
ton from first class teachers. The Cita-
del will give to tho State two trained
teachers 10, each county, who are bound
to teach foT two years. This will give to
our State sixty.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 come of the poor boys
of thJ State an equal chance for obtain
ing higher education with the soma Of
rich men.
The Ne,cs objects to our assertion that
tho 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. 1t is wasting time TO fight the Uni.
vefsity, and It is only candor to say SO.
Therefore We ought to elect the best men
who are running for the Legislature, even
II they are in favor of the University,
and indeed We ought TO be glad to have
our Representatives favor It.
The Ne'ss Likewise objects to the sta,e.
ment that man will lose all chance Of
establishing an influence in the Lesisls.
ture by voting against the University.