The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-14

versity and the Citadel stand open tc
him for that purpose, just as they dc
for the sons Of lawyers or merchants
Or doctors or any other class OF the
people. But I submit that the News
& Courier misses the point com
planned Of entirely, which is. that not
withstanding more thar threc-fOurtils
Of our people are engaged IN and
dependent on farming, and notwith'
standing large proportion Of the
taxes comes out OF the farmers
pockets, nothing. we may say: almost
absolutely nothing is done for the
education Of farmers as Sach. The
most important interest OF the State
is treated as if no special education
or training was necessary to prepare
men for success in it. This is the
point Of complaint made by Capt.
Tillman and those engaged in the
farmers movement. OF course the
News & Courier is entirely TOO astute
not to nave perceived that this is the
ground Of complaint. But it pur-
posely pretends not to see It, and to
60 into elaborate arguments to prove
that the farmers sons enjoy q fair
proportion OF the advocates Of the
State University and Citadel in order
to draw Off the attention from the
main point. 1t hopes in this way to
get the $4,000 appropriation con-
tinueG for the Citadel, and to con-
tinue to appropriate the National
agricultural fund to the use Of the
State University. 1t is to be pre-
sumed, however, that the farmers
convention will demand that this
latter fund be used as it was intend.
ed, and be replaced by fair tuition
fee; and that the $4,000 be diverted
from its present purpose, and DE
united with the agricultural fund to
establish and support 9 real bon0 .jide
agricultural college with experimental
farm. 1t is to be hoped that the con-
veption will not only demand this Of
tie next Legislature, but will also
recommend that no candidates be
supported for the Legislature by
farmers and their friends who will
not pledge themselves to support this
demand. The prime object Of the
farmers movement is to improve. in
struct and elevate the farmer; and
the best means for doing that is by
establishing 4 good agricultural col
lege and farm. This no doubt vii!
be one Of the chief demands Of the
convention, and it should he done in
o tone that will be heard and needed.
BY the way, will not the News 4
Courier give US another Of its claho-
rate articles to show what practical
advantage tie Citadel Academy is to
the State and people in return for the
large sum appropriated to support it:
1t is an institution to train Young
men for profession that they can
not, from the very nature Of the case,
pursue. The Superintendent in his |
report argues that the course is as
thorough and complete as at West
Point. But pray for what purpose? |
At West Point young men are pre-
pared for life calling. But at the |
citadel they are prepared for q call
ing they must give up as soon as they |
leave its walls. Aside from the !
physical and mental training obtained |
there. which l would not depreciatc,
their education is not only OF no
practical benefit to them. but in some
respects actually Objectionable as
uniting them for work. I believe
tie money spent on the Citadel can
be very much more wisely spent, and
that it should be. B. 0. D.