The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-01-24
written for shs Times, :
The Debate on the Cismson Collage brings
out q Candidate for CongTsss. ~

p
The Debate ON the cismson Collage brings
out Candidate for CcngTsss.
To THE EDIToR OF rHr TiMEsL - Tho lsst,,
Session of the General Assembly will go'
.ssounding down the ages" in South Carolina
history. as indeed a memorable one -aacmo-
rable, if for no other reason, surely because !
the Clemson College was established. Ibis
was great work. Industrial educati N
to-day imperatiyely demanded. 1t ]
only open Sesame to success; and Cleh
College, when she begins to turn out skill
farmers, will have begun to convoy the o.
shin of State into tho quiet roadstead
material prosperity. We have not estab-
lished luxurious lounging place, downy
Agora for the "Curled darlings" of socicty.
These precious infants have provided for
them by the "brute work" of the "horny
hands" an Infirmary at the Capital, where
they can make oil the demands within the
bounds of unrcason on their Fortunatus
purses, perfect themselves In tho biea sednces
of life, and imbibe an incalculable quantity
of supercilious conceit We have no war
to wage on tho South Carolina College
True, we wish that 1t would rouse itself from
the lethargy Of its provincialism, and the
scrofulous contemplation of its glorious ira
ditions and splendid history; that it would
taboo the syllabub and curds of education,
literary nutriment that would make whole
some men, educated to know and appreciate
the unreasonable difference between the
boisterous assumption that is generated by
scanty education, and the modesty that
comes from a thorough realization that one
has Just begun the grand ascent to the tenn
pie of education when he receives his degree
of bachelor of arts.
The opposition which the college "bilr
encountered was interruptions and malig-
whip plated with the velvet Of legal tech
nicality and noxious sophistry. Haskell
pounded 1t with the bludgcon of the Rheto-
rical savage. Graydon stabbed il with the
dagger of the "envious Casca.'' Abney
struck it with the Stiletto of the Italian
Lazzarone. McCrady gave it the unkindest
cut of all with rapier, battoned with the
awkward sham of patriotic interestedness
and zeal for agricultural education. -
The "bilr' was ably defended by Abbe-
ville'spride and Carolina glory-W. G. Benet.
Messrs. Tindal, Evans, Bowen, Bean and
Whitlock got in some trenchant blows for the
college. The latter's short speech was one
of the most effective delivered. 1t was terse,
incisive and convincing. He reminded the
liouse that the acceptance of the bequest
was the paramount issue in The campaign
of 1888. That, as evidenced by the votes Of
last Session and the votes of this Session.
the majority of the people Of the State werc
IN iaVor OF establishing an agricslltnsaiac CO.
:tsss= fssPs-sa a-by mon. learned in tlSSd
That it sought to equip and furnish forth tn
college by indirect taxation that the prt
visions of the bill were unobjectionabll
Notwithstanding these indisputable factsit
opponents had sneered at the advocate
"factious discontents." He repudiated
epthet. If the veil were lifted discontS
would be found on the side of the opponents.>
They had hotly contested the bill of last
session. They were found opposing the
present bill with perfect unanimity. Their
tactics betokencd factions, discomfort, as did
also their weapons-legal technicality and
specious sophistry. Mr.. WhItlock thought
that the advocates were more honest than
the opponents of the bill. If the "second
sober thought had repudiated the college,
as insinuatcd by the opponents, then they
were demagogues, catering for votes, not the
advocates. We were standing intrepidly to
our convictions, they were eligning then-
selves with public opinion. Mr.. Abney had
said that the proposed college would be the
hot bed Of agrarian politics. Mr.. Whitlock
had heard it charged, and he did not deny
the cbnrae that tho U4fUVU
was q political institution. If this were true.
the middle class in the State-the class- that
Burke said conserved the virtue, and was ut
once the strength and glory of tho Common
wealth, needed;a college to counteract.its in-
fluence."
This young orator won our respect and
admiration. He stood up squarely ahnd
boldly for economical measures. He rarely
spoke, but when he did commanded tho at
tention of the House, because his speeches
were pregnant with cogent thought and
eloquently delivered.
l give this testimonial of him because
Union should feel an interest In him.-
His father was born and reared in this
county. If the farmers want q friend in the
National House of Representatives, take
the liberty of recommending +. l.. Whtlock.
ellis metal has been tested, it's ready for
the stamp" Highly educated, sagacious,
intreped, man of untainted integrity and
deep reflection, nominate him. Will the
people of the 9th Congressional District
| second the nomination? ECONOMIST,
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