The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-05-02

forth.
We claim only our just share OF edu-
tcatonal advantages for the sgrlcuitural
anE industrial classes, and that the same
shall be placed within the reach of the
.syerase farmers son, and not, as is now
the case, We be compelled to support
only such institutions as are inaccessible
to most farmers, and which do not
furnish the cheap and practical education
needed. We make no war upon the
South Carolina University as place for
obtaining scientific and classical edu-
cation. and reiterate our desire to see
the South Carolina College hberally sup
ported, and to become real university
worthy of our State. But We assert with
out fear Of successful contradiction that
farmers cannot be educated In city and
remain farmers; and that in all efforts to
mix practical and literary training, the
first has been overshadowed; the sgricul-
tural students have been few, and the
attempt an utter failure.
The demand for better facilities for
cheap and practical education for farm
ers has been heretofore refused on the
plea of expense, and the opposition has
not hesitated to scare the taxpayers with
largely exaggerated estimates of the
probable cost of q separate agricultural
college. With consummate cunning and
,unblnshing inconsistency they have taken
advantage of the sgitstion for separate
agricultural college to build up that won
derful ten students ssanne1," and, while
crying out against duplication of plant
and teaching force, have actually increas-
ed the tax beyond what the farmers asso-
cistion thought of asking for. Not
satisfied with robbing the industrial
classes" of the benefits of the Gland
SCRIP fund, they have stretched forth
their greedy sand grabbed the Hatch
fund also; and State which two years
ago was too poor to. support any expert
mental station at al, now supports three,
with their duplicated attaches, thus init
tering and wasting the funds spproprl-
sted for scientific investigation. In 1885
the University, including Clafin and the
Citadel, had an income Of about $50, 00O,
and the Trustees claimed that, as then
constituted, it afforded all the practical
training for farmers needed by the State.
Its income is now approximately S97, ,0OO
per annum, but as an agricultural school
It is q bigger and more costly deception.
m. cuEMsoS's BEoUEsT.
But while our efforts to obtain re-
c cogntion OF our rights and needs have
hitherto failed to secure college for
. educating farmers, fortune hiss unex-
pectedly smiled on us. The munihcent
becuest of Mr.. Clemson, whose affection
for his adopted State and wise insight
has removed the great stumbling block
in the way of providing suitable site
and farm for the college, gives US the
coveted opportunity. By this bequest
not only do the farmers come in posses
sion OF property valued at well nigh
ASlOO, 900, but also Of an estate eminently
suited for the purposes for which it is
given, and hallowed by the sacred mem,
.ories of CaroEna's greatest statesman.
Ne have the authority Of Genera.
Stephen D. Lee for saying that 500, ,0OC
Is ample for building and equipplng 6
school like the Mississippi College
Without counting anything donated by
MIR. Clemson except the Calhoun home
stead, we propose to show the needed
money can be obtained without increas
ing the taxes one single dollar; and while
many have believed that the building o1
separate agricultural college was and /:
the only vital issue represented by the
farmers movement, We shall call stsen.
ton to other reforms which we deem o1
equal or greater importance. The pur
chasing power of money is much create,
than it was ten years sgo. The tax-pay
ing power has not increased at all, while
the price Of our main money crop-cot
ton-has hovered very near the cost O
production. The reduction of expendi
tures, when possible, must then appea
to the common sense SIS well as tht
pockets OF our people, and no good rea
SON can be given why salaries in on:
State should remain fixed higher than il
North Carolina and Geo-gia-both large
and wealthier States. We invite th
careful attention of taxpayers to the fol
lowing figures, taken from the Comp
troDers' reports of the three States: