The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-29
wAKED UP THE WRONG PASSENGER
Senator IIcI1aster Replies Most For.
cibIy to Mr.. Shells Vulgar Attack
o, f,,e Good Name OF the State.


chilly to Mr.. Shells Vulgar Attack
on the Good Name OF the State.
Editor Registe,'-In an article addressed to
the Democracy Of South Carolina. purporting
TO come from the executive committee of the
Farmers Association of South Carolina. pub.
Iishc ed in your paper Of the ed instant, L am
described as representing the sentiment OF
the South Carolina University and Military
Academy, in consequence OF my using "hat
Iappearcd to be an unchartable expression
against the Clemson Colege;in speech In the
Senate last month.
South Carolina College two terms, each time
without any solicitation or knowledge Of the
purpose to elect me. But for tile last two
years have had no connection with the
University or Military Academy, and there
fore these institutions should not be held re.
! sponsibie for any ollcnsc charged against me.
The remarkable philippe published by q
body OF men who style themselves fhc Far
mers' Association of South Carolina ira
duces our people and dlshonors our State.
The document Is unworthy or Carolnians,
and has its parallel only in the diatribes of Il
Whlttemore and l.. CaSS Carpenter In the
dark days OF Radicalism is not my pur.
pose to answer this manifesto. But when
this committee undertakes to arraign me as
opposed to the higher education OF the far
mers of South Carolina, by insinuation and
garbed extract from Il speech, Will resent
the imputation as false and calumnious,
whether it comes from an Individual or IN
association.
AT intervals, during many years, I have
given my services for the education of the
masses Of the people, and | rejoice In the
fruit of my labors, rs Columbia does cspec-
tally. But Will always oppose 10 the best OF
my ability any effort NJ class legislation
which will SOW d!Srord and bitterness
amongst our people and give one class of cit
lzcns IL precminence over another. see no
reason or justice why the farmer shall be ia
vored any more than the mechanic, the rail-
road man, merchant, or any other cnilin2.
Moreover. have no sympaty with any leSis.
any little ncighborhood; and any legislator
who works Tor the benefit OF u town or Coun-
ty at the expense Of the interests OF the State
is unworthy OF his position. South Carolina
Is small and poor State, and her honor and
prosperity depend upon the unity, integrity
and education OF her people; and whoever
seeks TO cripple her institutions and divide
her people is not n friend To the common.
wealth. Therefore protest against single
garbled extract as the Keynote Of my speech,
as 1t will create q false impression. l, there
fore, beg to submit short abstract OF my
speech OH the Clemson College bill, ns veil us
| can recall 1t.
began with a history Of the Farmers
Movement" so called, AS originating In the
| brains OF 4 witty and eloquent enthusiast
who desired to restore the grandeur OF the
ancient planter, without any reference 10 the
changed condition of affairs. That after
| much waste of elcquencc and floundering
midst figures he boiled down TO the scheme
| of "larmers, college," pure and unadulter.
ated, as the panucea Tor all the ills OF 1iatc
The Mississippi Agricultural College beLame
| the issue. 1t was Thoroughly discussed
throughout the State and clearly denonstra
| ted that the "AnneX" to tho University was
far superior 10 the Mississippi model, and
here we thought the matter was ended, anC
| our schools and colleges would go on dispen
| sing :heir blessings as they have been doing
since 1882. But. alas, about this time u poOl
cranky agnostic, who sought TO perpetrdte hi:
name by allyins IL with that OF South Car
&c toSt Co. n a
J few hundred acres OF hills In remote corner
/ of Anderson, (Which can Ge duplicated at s:
per acre In Oconee or Fairlleld) and an annu
| ity of 5000 u year Whereupon the noisy
adrocatrs of the farmers movement, grabbed
at II as If 1t was magnificent legacy, show
| ing all unholy desire 10 cooperate with q
crank in dcpriving q defendant OF Calhoun
| OF her rightful Inheritance.
l challenged any Senator to point to the in
stance Of any purely asrIcu tural college sue
cceding-that it would require the wealth OF 9
Vanderbilt to establish one. That technical
agricultural college could only differ from
other colleges in hoelng, ploughinG and at.
| tending iO stock. 1t could not and would not
be attractive or desirable to farmers sons. and
would prove q failure, as all manual schools
| had. That only polytechnic colleges, where
different arts and sciences are taught, could
attract numbers sufficient To form a college
That in these expensive buildings and appa'
raLus were neceSsarieS which could be used in
! common, saving thousands Of dollars; and
the variety Of branches would increase the in
tercSt Of patrons and pupils.
That the Stute at great expense had already
established the finest chronological school In
the South. That there were 81 in The Univcr-
sity in the college of agriculture and mCchan-
les. That since 1881 the numberOi chemists,
engineers, and farmers graduated at the Uni
versity were much greater than those from
the Mississippi College, and 1t was y subject
of congratulation TO every citizen Of the Slate.
That science hall, which Is principally devoted
to mechanical arts, chemistry and agriculture,
cost the Slate SG0,tO) was an ornament 10 the
State and should be il pride to every farmer
and mechanic in the limits Of South Carolina.
That To cripple such an institution would be q
crime against civilization, and to attempt ~
duplicate such colleges would create q burden
the State was unable to endure. That farmers
desired to give their SONS the best opporlunl-
ties for education and wanted them 10 come
In contact with the sons of all classes; that
this attrition was best for al students and Tor
the State.
did not believe then, nor do now believe,
that the farmers approve OF or sympathiZc
with any such movement. They were salts
tied and would prefer IL send their sons 10 the
University rather than to Il school in the clay
hills Of Anderson, mace, ssible in the winter
time and withouta u hO;cl or livery stable IN
miles Of 1T. There WAS no use f'Ir 1t. That III
IatteinptS TO carry out the scheme OF Il purely
agricultural college had failed and from the
nature OF the case must fill. That .'the Glen.
son College was an unmittgated and an infer.
nal humbug" But as - few OF our people
were demcntcd on the subject, for the sake oi
the peace Of the State wus willing 10 vote fol
n Tux of S30,0OO u year. That wanted the
matter TO go before the people, and If 1t was
| fully discussed they would conclude that they
alrcady enjoyed much better advantages i'll
! the University than a farmers college ever
can give. And then the people in four years
time would sink the Clemson College out oi
| sight
After made my speech, friend told me
used the word "inlernal.' l admitted 1t was
| , In mn nr,f fur IL nd
late. Since have seen the pronunciamento
I think the word was prophetic and certainly
the proper word If this address voices the SEN
timentS Of Clemson College advocates.
+. w. MCMAsrER.
Columbia, S. G., JAN q, lSOj.
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