The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-30

These figures refer only TO white people,
and II figures mean anything, We think they
must be anything else than gratifying TO the
advocates OF taxation for education and must
fail to strongthen tho opinions Of those who
uphold the present system.
The orator devoted n considerable part OF
his address TO tho berating OF that class OF
politicians who look to the material prosper.
ity OF the people by urging such legislation as
would reduce taxation to the lowest figures.
like n majority OF the advocates OF public
school education, whom we have heard speak,
he thought It mattcrcd little how great the
taxes were so long as our money went into
the pockets OF the school.maSter. In fact, he
believed the higher tho taxes, the more pros.
porous were the people. They prospered
much In the ratio as the taxes were increased
How this statement agrees with that OF a dis
%tInguished writer on the currency may be
readily seen. The. latter places the actual in.
crease OF the national wealth at III per cent.
per annum. Now II the State and National
Governments should tax US SO per cent. an.
nuaily from whence Is to come the prosperity
of which Colonel Coward speaks7
That most eytimable christian gentlemen,
NV ~ tuC Lcdu VI lilo puullC SCuOOle Ill
South Carolina, never once referred 10 the
defect In the law which allows all the chill.
dren OF the State to be taught at public or.
Hense, whereas the law should be amended 30
TINT the school fund should be expended
only In educating tho children OF such parents
As are unable to pay. He did not seem Ia
manifest any special anxiety to ascertain II
such children are not som etimes or always
engineered cut OF the public schools. While
ho spoke OF the nobility OF true manhood
arhcrever found, aad while he cited the noble
patriotism Of an humble shoemaker's son he
did not say that all OF the noble boys are
vouchsafcd tho benefits OF the school system
Of which he is at the head.
Colonel Coward's address was not only re.
markatte fer what 1t contained, but was also
notable for what 1t did not include. In our
way OF thinking 1t dealt too much in genor'
allties, without getting down to specific mat.
terra. Fol- instance, he made a beautiful fig
urc OF speech about the advantages which the
poor might derive In the way Of public edu
cation, and spoke forcibly OF the duty of thu
State to educate oil her sons, and more espcc
tally the sons OF impecunious parents. Blu
he did not explain If the public fund Is no
nninwiully used in some localities to teach
Greek aud Latin to some boys, while the doOl
OF the same school house may have been n
the same time barred against the children o
poor parents who sought instruction in thu
branches which the law directs shall b.
taught.
He did not explain by what right the schoo
trustees OF any township choose TO give pref
erence to boys h seek instruction in Grcel
and Latin and then deny the rudlments Of III
English Education to others on the grount
that the school is full. He did not explain
why the school trustees do not open suficien
schools to accommodate all Of tho children
and especially the poor children. These art
practical matters npon which We would hav'
been glad to hear the learned SupcrIntend
ent OF Education speak, but upon which h.
1as a. silent AS the grave.
Section 1904 OF the School law reads as fol
lows:
sxcrox 1904. It shall b the duty 1t the Count,
B,nrd Of Examiners, and Of the Boards 81 Trustee
hereinafter provided fnr, tn SEQ that In every schon
Mnder their care there shall DO taught. - FAR as prscti
erble, orthOcrsphy, trading, writing, arithmetic. grog
rspay. English grammar. history II the Unitei State!
and of this State, tho principles Of tho Constitute
aud laws VI the United States and Of this State, NOR
als and good behavior.
Any man who understands the meaning c
the plainest language. will fail to find therein
tho least semblance Of lawful authority fol
1onching Greek and Latin to anybody In tn,
public schools.
Al our people know, Colonel Coward was
gallant officer In the Lost Cause and Is nov
m honored and beloved citizen of the State
the purity OF whose character and tho grace
of whose mind command the highes
admiration. Colonel Coward made an earn
est presentation Of his side of the sub
ject, and 1t Is his official utterances. and no
the individual, with which We have taken Is
sue.