The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-11-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..


Though Farmer Tillman has been
roughly handled by the press in some
parts of the State, there is much good
sense in many things he says. His speech
before the Farmers Convention recently
held in Columbia is very readable.
There is necessity for farmers to organ
ize, as there is for every calling. The
better class of farmers do not propose to
organize as against other professions, but
for mutual and general improvement.
With that object in view, every thought
full citizen, of whatever vocation, must
encourage Farmers Associations, MIR.
Tillman speaks of Farmers Institutes.
Why not have Farmers Institutes? !?
They can do no harm they might ac'
complish great good. We believe in In
stitutes, we believe in Conventions, in
Associations, in agitation, in enterprise,
in progress. We believe in innovations
when they bear upon their face the pur-
pose to ameliorate the condition of any
class of citizens or of society in general.
We respect the customs of the past, but
we would not worship the past, though
frightened by its successes or marred by
its failures.
We honor the farmers for their effort
to improve themselves, and again call
upon the teachers to be up and doing
Let the farmers have their Association,
the lawyers their Bar Association, the
postmasters their Associ;. ion, and let
the teachers take care that their own is
maintained, and that every member get
some benefit from it.
An interchange of ideas, a free express
sion of opinion among any class OF clti'
zens can result only in good, if the pur.
pose of the discussions is to arrive at
truth. The world is beginning to realize
this and beginning to move in the right
direction, despite the ratings of fossils,
the croakings of fogies, or the winnings
of pesssimists.
We quote with pleasure from the pro-
ceedings of the Postmasters' Convention
held in Columbia
Resozyed, By the postmasters of the
State of South Carolina, in convention
assembled, that We organize permanent
Postmasters' Association, which shall
meet every year in the city of Columbia
on Wednesday night of Fair week. :.
2. That we earnestly recommend to all
postmasters and postal employees closer
study of the wants of the people and the
good of the service and strict compli-
ance with all the requirements of the de-
partment, that we may in every way
possible add t, the efficiency of the
already wonderful postal system OF the
United States.
"a closer study of the wants of the
people" is, no doubt, needed among the
postal clerks; we know that closer
study of the wants of the little people is
badly needed among the teachers of our
day. If Association work will bring that
"closer study" let it come.
David Crocket's maxim, "Be sure you
are right, and then 60 ahead" was never
more fully appreciated than when we
think Of the Institute and Association
work that has been done among the
teachers in Anderson County. Capt. j
81. Rice, standing now at the head of the
educational interests Of the State, en-
dorses our plans in toto, and that fact
nerves US for the conflicts of the future.
The Teachers Institute, our pet-our
hobby, if you please-isa a fixture. Capt.
Rice promises to be one in our midst
next summer, and, by his presence and
labors, to further the work we have be-
gun. Let every teacher arrange to be
present at the Institute, and not send up
q second rate excuse for absence.