The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-12-08

always the wisest economy. Govern
ment is business, and, like any other
business, requires for it's successful con-
duct the use of money; such, for in
stance, as for the adequate compensation
OF oiticials, the proper maintenance of
charitable and penal institutions, the
prompt payment of all public obliga-
tons, the liberal support OF common
schools and higher institutions Of learn
ing, the necessary expenses Of legislation
itself, and the numerous other incidental
purposes that foot up no uncomfortable
amount.
We have already achieved much in the
way OF economy, having reduced cX-
pcuditures to II point that placcsthc gov
eminent of this State among the cheap
est, ii not the very cheapest, Of the
States OF the Union. \ comparison of
our expenditures with those OF any other
State will, l am sure, fully justify this
assertion. While looking, then, with
continued care to the exercise of this
cardinal virtue Of economy in thcadmin-
iStration Of our affairs, especial attention
should be paid to maintaining the credit
OF the State, now ut II point OF excellence
mover before reached i'll the history of
her finances. If this credit is fully sus-
tanned the opport nifty will soon be pre-
spnted, by the early maturity OF our SO
curiticS, OF rctunding them at Il much
reduced rate OF interest, and thus re-
lieying the taxpayers, by a single trans
action, of an annual burden Of perhaps
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
This surely will prove Il measure of
cvonomy that would be sensibly felt rs
a relief to every industry and occmDa-
ton, and should enlist, therefore, for its
accomplishment, the active sympathics
and cooperation OF all. \ practical test
OF the feasibility of this project must
sOon be made in the case OF Il deficiency
bonds and stocks, which mature as early
rs July, 1888, for the r~efundingof which
timely provision, will have, of necessity,
to be made.
But however rigid the ideas enter
tanned upon this subject, however great
the appal ent necessity for rctrcnchment
and reform, there is one direction in
which they cannot be exercised without
sitting the young life OF the people and
sapping the very sources of our material
and intellectual strength. | alludc to
our public schools and the system OF
Colleges we call the University. The
onc is the essential complement of the
other, and neither can accomplish the
full measure Of its usefulness without its
necessary coadjutor in the grand work
Of education. In the common schools
are to be laid the broad foundations, and
IN the institutions of higher learning are
To- be reared the beautiful and lofty
structures OF intellectual Development
that render Il people prosperous, happy,
great and respected among the nations
o. the earth. Applause. Such inSti-
tutions are not like mushroomS-thc
growth o anight. They require long years
OF patient sacrifice, OF uuccnsing patriotic
effort, of liberal and unstinted support,
to attain their full stature and grand
proportions, where their %pinnaclcS, reach
ing to the sky, will shed n beam of
t~ranSccndant brightness over the land,
yjViiying industry and warming into
active life every dormant energy,
IN the matter of education we cannot
afford to contract. The true policy
Should DC to broaden, to deepen and tC
widen, us the resources of the State per.
init, until the last Ncstigc of mental
darkness Is swept from II borders, and
every child Ill the State shall bccolnctl |,
recipient of the bCnignant influences O.
thorough instruction. The accomplish
m"nt OF this great work, with us, ca.
only ID" gradual, for none bat the will
fully blind can fail to see and feel tn,
prevailing embarrassment, SO widcsDrca,
and universal. But, at least, no stcl
Backward should be taken. The marcel
Nus he e. onward, with The stead,
determination not to he outstippcd il
the race by Our sister States OF the Union
Who are bending every energy to tn,
most complete and perfect development
ct their educational systems.
South Carolina, among il not the frs
10 establish a system Of free schools
imperfect though ii was, has the added
incentive OF Il noble ambition to main
tain her ancient proud position anon.
thc mos advanced and progressive @
the States. Nor will the fruits of sIIcl
IA liberal policy be either mcagrc or dos
tLtutr of Il certain and abundant com
pcnSation. How richly has She inthr past
r,apcd the reward OF her libcmlitv t,
her institutions of learning. Need | tel
OF the lllustrlOus names that have illu,
mined her annals both IN peace and il
war;? OF how her sons, trained in thcs,
institutions and imbucd III every fibre 81
their being with Carolina sentiment and
Carolina devotion to principle, hay,
carried her flag often to victory, but
always to glory, and have won for her i
reputation for loyalty, learning and clio.
pucmcc not bounded by continents on
oceans? How the heart thrills Will
emotions of the lofticst State pride ms
We read of the men who were indeed
giants III those days, the acknowledged
peers of the greatest and best in the
land! Not to mention n hundred others
almost equally famous, | have no hcsita-
tlon III asserting that the production of
two such men as McDunic and Thorn
we'll, both poor boys, would fully com
pcnsntc for every dollar expended in the
maintenance Of the institutions which
nutmrcd them. The South Carolina
College and the State Military Academy,
as the capstOncs to Il perfected system of
common schools, and aided by other in
stitutions of II similar character, will
most tssurcdly prove, i'll the not distant
future, the mfiuling source of prospcri-
ty, happiness and advancement in all
that cicvates and cnmoblcs. From their
gates will issue an annual stream of cul-
tmrrl Cnlnlinn Nputb with bno,tv EIL,1