The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-05-12
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Read It'll
HE ADVERTISER cannot better
express its appreciation of the fol-
lowing able and dignifed editorial
from the Herald than by giving II
all the further circulation i'm It's
power:
The Haskell Invitation Etc.
Professor McElroy's philippe regard
ing Col. A. G. Haskell's invitation to de-
liver the annua' address before the stu
dents of the Laurens Male Academy, in
June next, will be found in another col
umn. While we have thought and still
think 1t was not in good taste and a mis-
take to invite. Col. Haskell here, we did
not regard it of sufficient importance, one
way or another, to say anything about
the matter in these columns, save the
bare mention of the fact that he would
deliver the annual address. The HERALD
was as much opposed to Haskelps indie
Pendentism, and it fought him as hard, as
any other newspaper in the State; in
deed, 1t was charged hat the HERALD
was too severe in its criticisms regarding
him. We did not think so then, nor do
we think so now. We were criticising
his political course, which we regarded
not only undemocratic and highly repre-
hensible, but worse, if possible, than Rad
icalism itself; and we are of the same
opinion still, and have neither ~explana-
ton nor apology to offer for any utter
ance then made regarding his alienation
and disloyalty to the Democracy. But
while we thus feel towards Col. Haskell
politically, we do not regard his invita-
tion to deliver an address here a personal
insult to us. We are not, however, the
guardian or keeper of other peoples feel
ings and preferences, and accord to them
free and full exercise of their opinions in
this matter. And in this connection we
will further say that, in our view, if Prof.
Evans saw proper to invite Col. Haskell
to deliver the annual address before his
students he had a perfect right to do so,
If actuated in the interest of his school,
regardless of the preferences of his pat
rons; and any patron had IN equal right
~ ITO PoiiolidSC II hS lCll
aggrieved at the Professors action in thus
inviting a man to address his children to
whom he objected, on political or any
other grounds. The expediency Of such
action in either case Is another matter.
AS to the matter of the apparent boy
cotting of the HERALD by the Teachers
Association in adopting a resolution Of
thanks to the editor Of another newspa
per, (our neighbor,) to. which Professor
McElroy refers, we will say, that while
fully approaching his kind expressions
towards this newspapers, we did not re-
gard said action as an Intentional slight
to us, although it may lave had that APP
pearance to others and beer so interpre-
ted. The HERALD is so conscious Of hav-
ing always labored in the educational in
terests of town and County, that it is not
hasty to jump at conclusions. Our young
friend who was designated in the resolu-
ton in question doubtless deserved all
that was said of him, and more.
Regarding the matter of inviting Has
kell here to address the students of the
Male School, as the question has been
revived, which we think is untimely
and unfortunate-we will say in conclu-
sion that while we still regard it a mis-
take on the part of Prof. Evans, we are
not disposed to think that he intended it
as an insult to any one. Because, if so
intended, the insult would be to Haskell
rather than to the people of this COM
munity and County, in proposing thus
to use him for such an offensive purpose;
and we give Prof. Evans credit for hav-
ing too high a sense of propriety and dis
elimination to descend to such a device. 1t
was, we think, only a mistake on his part.