Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1885-10-15

Stt is to pay taxes and vote.
!, wonder the Board OF Trustees adro
i nominated by a lawyer doubtle
and elected by farmers, who, pc
souls were intent probably on dra
ing their per diem and returni
: home, anxious to be rid of their L
too mighty duties: no wonder, l 81
, that the Trustees, thus chosen, ft
emboldened ITO keep the word of PROF
ise to the ear, and yet break ID to tt
heart"
: Sir, what have they done? Tn.
appointed a professor of Agricultu
and then placed upon his shoulde
the duties of President, thus at on,
rendering.it utterly impossible tn
he should do anything worth nsmir
in his own department. His EXP
ments at the University of Tennesse
4 which had been conducted with mari
edabiliiy. and his reports thereon
which were read by every one wh
could get them, with pleasure an
profit, have ceased, 80 to speak. The
were only incidentally connected wit
his duties any way. And the Agri
cultural School had last year thre
students Three years; Eghtee
thousand Dollars; and Three Stu
dents These three boys should striv
to do great things for agriculture il
South Carolina, for they have cos
enough to be Solomons. Their name
should he placed on record, that theil
fellow citizens may remind them here
after Of the great things expected o
them.
Mr.. Chairman, it is not usual, o.
wise, to put child to nurse in tht
house OF its enemies. An agricultural
college should be controlled by farmers
or, at least, they are entitled to con
trolling representation on it's board o.
management. Let it be shown there
is no farmer in South Caroline com.
petent to fill the position, and my
lips shall be dumb. I know the Presi.
dent of the State Agricultural Society
and the Master of the State Grange,
two ex-ofFicio farmers, have recently
been added to the Board; but had
not every proiessorship been filled
aad the course Of study already been
mapped out by those first chosen,
among whom there was not single
farmer7 l would not be misunder.
stood. l am no enemy Of the South
Carolina College, and only endeavor
to show what injustice is being done
the farmers of the State by pretend
ing to call it an Agricultural College
while it is something else. l would
not have it cease to teach the classics,
or any Of those higher branches which
are deemed necessary to thorough
culture and the high destiny 81 even
q supreme Judge or Governor but,
sir, all Of US cannot be supreme Judges
or preachers, or doctors or lawyers.
Half the five hundred lawyersin South
Carolina now, and l defy any member
of the profession to deny it, are on the
ragged edge of semi starvation. When
return home with their sSe, and they
plomas, nine out of cen OF them can:
not read them After we have paid
put our hard earned mopey-far too
ara much 81 which seems to be required
to stay at such places-they return
to US entirely spoiled and to be moth.
ing but professional man will suit
their high aspirations-taught by
precept and example that to be q
farmer IL to be nobody,
"And all their after lives ;,
Be bound in shadows and in mlserleP."
Although their families have been
pinched, and every economy has been
used, to make these fine gentlemen,
too often instead of doing any honor
to their training, they become drones
and end as vagabonds. The fool OF
the family-God save the mark is
kept between the plowhandles, and
considered good enough Tor farmer,
even without training, althoughit has
come to require more brains, more
;udomant more executive ability, and
more e scientific knowledge, to make q
first class farmer than any profession
of them all.
Farmers Of South Carolina, | beg
of YOU to give this resolution unani
nous vote, and put these Trustees
and this Legislature too on notice
that we know our rights and dar'
maintain them; that we know ou
wants and dare express them tha
we know our needs and will hav
them. Already the war.cry OF tn
dsnominational colleges is soundin
in the North, and their cohorts az
gathering for the fray; Let thel
arouse the agricultural Sameon trol
bis lethargy, make him understsn
what has been done and is bein
done to rob him Of his rights; and a
sure as there is a God in Heaven, tn
Board Of Trustees will see the ten
ple of their idolatry topple to II
ground. 49,, .;.
AZ representative Of only tvent.
FIVE of it's best citizens, who have r
Gently formed an Agricultural Soeiet
I do not hesitate an instant to elal
+, to express the sentiments OF its 4.U
! white voters on this question. L
this iniquitous wrong remain unrigt
3 ed, and I guarantee that if her pre-
, ent delegation does not so vote, t
! next that comes from Edge6eld "
}. come Instructed to do their utmost
t smash this institution to atoms. |
8 cannot pass this resolution here-a'
r I fear l cannot-becsuse the few g
9 uine farmers here are afraid to ta
for fear of getting confused-vh
y the politicians are afraid to vote
e fear Of offending some one-I kn
n can pass it in Edge6eld: / 81
-, It-t -. oollo0a h,