The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-09-24
Selections from the Christian NHighbOr
Educational Need In Our State

which in its purpose, mas less Lnan In'
full interest of all the people at heart
is short sighted, and narrow, and be
low the great principles embraced il
making up Christianity.
In this day of restlessness, and IN
vestigation, when humanity is trying
to rise and more generally assert her
self as the object of divine support
and of divine purpose, it is very harc
to keep down revolutions, and long
delay, the demands of a struggling
people.
The time was, when an Oligarchy
could sit supreme, and appropriate law
and religion to their own benefit, and
hold the masses subordinate, but the
progress of truth, as revealed in
Christ, has thrown off shackles and
humanity is obout to be free.
The day has dawned in the history
of our Republic, when the dignity OF
labor must be recognized, and when
intelligence, sanctified by truth and
virtue, must become the ruling expo
nent. and the chief end be obtained in
all of our political and religious agi'
t.tions.
I am free to predict that the day is
close at hand, when education, in obe-
dience to the great demands of our
"Nineteenth Century Christianity
shall be the all absorbing topic Of the
people, both in the Church and State
and when all classes will he benefited
by it.
This has not been our former policy
as people.
We have been putting the fodder too
high in the rack for the horse to
reach.
We have been making intellectual
development too much of secondary
thing in our gospel proclamation, and
in our political movements, we have
only provided for the educational ad-
vantages of the few, and have left the
masses, to provide for themselves, or
NOPE in darkness, and intellectual
destitution, and to be used only by
demagogues, and political tricksters, as
they may need them, to carry out
their own selfish purposes.
The above is q deplorable acknowl-
edgement, but it is none the less true,
and if any one doubts it, all he will
have to do is to investigate what has
been done and then look into the pres
ent condition of our country, and
he will find the conviction Of the
above truth inevitable.
If we were to yield to the old policy,
"let we'll enough alone" then we
would forever fasten upon our future
an ignorant rabble, and Church and
State would both suffe: in return, the
cause of their folly.
It's to be hoped that what ever may
he done by those who are to control
public affairs in our Stale in the near
future, that they will do something to
improve the educational advantages of
the people at large.
The first thing that should be done
by the next Legislature should be to
provide literally for the general edu-
cation of the people.
Pass law opening a good school in
every community in our State, max
ing provision, sufficient to keep such .
school open nine months in every
year, and their levy an extra pole tax
upon any parent, who may deprive
his children of school benefits, unless
good reason can be given for the neg
lect.
Having gone thus far, then let the
Legislature erect standard of schol-
arship that can only be attained by
those who are competent to teach, and
then pay them out of the appropria-
ton raised for education, good salaries,
so as to induce competent teachers to
follow teaching as a lifetime profes-
sion.
Until this is done there had better
be less done in providing the State
with Universities, Citadels, and Col
leges.
We need educational advantage
within the reach of the masses,
aud to thus provide for it would
do more for our civilization,
and for the general prosperity of our
country, than any thing that could be
done.
1t is crying shame on our State, TO
have provided as she has done, for
the University, and the Citadel, and
is now about to provide for an Agri-
cultural College. when she has done so
little for the common schools, which
alone can reach and benefit the
masses.
Let our people all over the State
think of this, and then keep it in view,
when they exercise their right of suf-
frage.
OBSERVER.