The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-23
From the News and Courier. !

speak to the farmers Of the State upon
the question Of the establishment of an
agricultural and mechanical college and
the acceptance of the Clemson bequest,
which is now profoundly agitating the
public mind. What is done will be
done by the farmers and primarily for
the farmers, for they are largely in the
majority in the State. All my sympa-
thies are with them, and nearly all my
association for my life has been devoted
to agriculture, and my all is invested in
it First, as to the Clemson bequest.
At best it Isl very small bone thrown
to the State, and when the lawyers get
through gnawing it there will be no
marrow left in it. 1t, too, brings with
it lawsuit with a Young girl, the
great-grand-daughter of John &. Cal
houn, the purest and ablest man who
ever represented South Carolina in the
Congress of the United States, or any
where else; whose life was spent in in
tellectual toll for the State, and who
died almost in the Senate chambers,
heroically fighting for her.
Can the State entertain fora moment
the idea of making herself party to
such suit? If she does, we'll might
this innocent girl, as did Iphigenia in
Aulis, draw veil over her face and
hide her shame at the degeneracy and
dishonor of the State made immortal
by her illustrious ancestor.
Know that enter my solemn pro-
test against it, and invoke the farmers
Of the State to rise up against it. Let
no dishonor be brought upon the State
by their act. Peabody, Cornell, Cooper,
and Vanderbilt gave of their millions
to found colleges and universities, after
making ample provision for their fami-
lies, and made their names immortal.
Mr.. Clemson, to glorify himself,
would ALLEVIATE the maternal inheri-
tance of an innocent girl, the home
stead of her ancestors, and inyckes
South Carolina to aid him in his un-
holy work. Farmers, have nothing to
do with it! South Carolinians are able
to establish an agricultural and me-
chanical college separate and apart
from any other institution, if they so
will it. If they do, let it be called the
South Carolina Agricultural and Me-
chanical College.
Mr. Clemson's will shows that he
himself doubted the acceptance by the
State of his offer, for he made provision
in that event.
. will now, fellowfarmers, consider
the establishment of an, agricultural
and mechanical college separate from
any other institution in the State.
favored it from the commencement of
the agitation, as favor any and every
thing that tends to advance the agri-
cultural interest. The situation in the
State now is very different from what
it was two years ago, when the agita-
ton began, and wise craftsmanship
always looks ahead and avoids trouble
as the mariner does breakers. Let us
make no mistakes ifthey can be avoid
ed.
The agricultural aud mechanical de-
partment in the College at Columbia
has been so much enlarged by the
election Of a full corps ofprofessors that
it is no longer 1.-The annex" but is now
the prominent feature of the College.
If there is a lack of students the fault
IS not in the department or those who
established it. 1t is because Of the lack
Of feeders.
Three experimental stations have
been established, one at Spartanburg,
one ut Columbia and one at Darlington,
all in successful operation under;
thoroughly scientific and practical
director, President McBryde. The
South Carolina College, Citadel Acade-
my and Claflin University constitute
the University ofSouth Carolina. The
two former are for the white people and
the latter for the black people. The
interest on the land scrip, donated by
the General Government, is divided
equally between the South Carolina
College and the Claflin University. The
Hatch fund, given annually by the
General Government for experimental
stations, is divided between Spartan
burg, Columbia and Darlington. All
now are harmonious and we have
peace. Let us never lose sight of the
fact that we are not homogeneous
people; that we have to legislate for
two races of people, a condition that no
people before US ever had toeonfront.
Now, if to establish an agricultural
and mechanical college separate aud
apart from all other institutions the
interest on the land scrip IS taken from
the South Carolina College and Clatiin
University, the agricultural and me-
chanical features in those institutions
will be destroyed and the institutions
themselves will he emasculated to that
extent. Ifthe Hatch fund is taken the
experimental stations at Spartanbnrg,
Columbia xnd Dar,ins. have to
he abandoned. Well, suppose all this
is done and al agricultural and me-
chanical college, separate and apart
from all other institutions in the State,
is established. If colored students ap-
ply for admission what is to be done?
They must either be admitted or a like
institution established for them, or the
cry of the Republican brother will be
heard loud and clear all over the North.
Let US give them no chance to utter
+I,a;r wild American Screams