The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-08-05

Jewish church. The antiquity which
we claim for ourselves is no dream OF
idle boast. With unerring precision
we trace the golden thread of Masonry
step ny step back through the dim cen
turlcs which lie entombed in the eternal
past, until the sound OF the gaVel IS
heard falling in the east in the temple
erected upon the threshing floor OF
Ornan, the Jebusite. The echo aWak-
ened by the gavel in the hand OF King
Solomon has come sounding down the
vaulted courts Of time, through the in
tervening centuries, to be lost only on
the silent shores of eternity.
| Then followed glowing eulogy OF
free Masonry, and in conclusion ne
said:
We are here assembled to-day to lay
| the cornerstone of an institution which
we pray God may deserve to prosper.
The institution IS being erected on his
toric ground-the home Of the Illus
trious Calhoun a lame, around which
clusters memories which should lm-
prove the youths Of Carolina for all
ages to come While many holored
names adorn the pages OF the history OF
our grand old state, Calhoun alone is
with ut peer, and illuminates the I'M
mortal page May this become a place
where good and wise men WILL for ages
come to diSsemCie knowledge and ln-
culcate friendship. morality and broth
erly love. That their labors may be
abundant, pursued in great harmony
and bear much fruit TO the glory OF
God and the great prosperity OF the
state. SO mote it be- Amen.
THE SPEECIl-MAktNG.
After the benedictlOn was pro-
nounced the crowd adjourned from the
foundation to Il stand which was erect
ed near by. Seats had been arranged
for large nunluerS. There were fully
5000 people on the grounds, but as it
was raining only about one-half of the
crowd, large portion was ladies, lis
tened to the speaking. The balance
were 10 the various houses. On the
stand were the trustees Of the college,
the members of the Grand ledge, Col.
Polk, president OF the National Farm
ers' Alliance; Senator BUST, of Charles
ton; Adjutant ana Inspector General
Farley, Congressman George John
stone, Rev. DR.. Wilson of Converse col
lege and Il number Of o'her dlstln-
guiShed gentlemen.
Col. Simpson then introduced Cover
nor Tilman, who spoke as follows:
GOVERNOR TILLNAN's WELCOME.
have been selected in behalf Of the
trustees of the Clemson college to eX-
tend you welcome TO Fort Hill, the
historic home of Calhoun, a name which
will be famous as long as time lasts.
You meet here to witness the ccremo-
nies which inaugurate this agricultural
and mechanical college.
The clouds lower and the skies weep.
This weather is bat typical of the strug-
gle which preceded the establishment
of this college This college was not
established by chance, but after one OF
the most desperate conflicts IN political
history; a tignt for the emancipation OF
the common people and the providing
for them OF practic ! education. | con-
gratulate you that the struggle ended
triumpbantiy for the common people.
Around the cornerstone " hlch was
laid to-day many hopes and grand as
pirations are tWined The idea at the
root of the struggle for this college was
that men should not be trained simply
;.s men and then left to fight for u
knowledge of pursuits; but that men
should be trained IN the pursuits them
selves. This college is intended to give
practical education 1T such slight cost
that any boy in South Carolina, If only
he be diligent, shall be able to OBTAIN 1t.
The people of South Carolina are ag-
ricultural. and are to-day surrounded
by conditions almost terrible TO con-
template. The lands are old and worn:
brought in competition with the virgin
soil OF the West. The farmers Of this
state can see no. an iota of profit in the
raising of cotton. This college vii. do
more than simply to teach men how to
farm without diversitication. Any de-
preston like the present low price OF
cotton threatens unparalleled poverty,
even for the most Industrious. So this
college Will have mechanical depart
ment, where all branches OF engineering
and like trades will be practically
taught. The foremen OF our factories
were brought from the North because
they had technical knowledge. Our
own people working in our factories
are underlingS. Likewise in every ma
chine shop. Our people blindly fo!-
lowed agriculture and our leaders never
PREPARED for other education.
One million people are dependent up
on the fields; yet these people know not
how to recuperate their fields so as to
make them compete with the virgin
fields of the West. This college will
train men so that it will not be neces-
sary to send to Yankeedom for me-
chanics, and SO that they may know
how to strengthen our worn out lands.
How is all this to be done? BY practical
demonstration; first, it is to bv demon
strated to the students and the people
of the state that it is practicable to raise
supplies at home, and 10 it more cheap
" than the same could be bought. Then
rotation Of crops will be taught as a
means of improving the codltlon OF
farmers.
Stock-rajsing should be a source of
wealth all over the state. More atten-
ton should be given this by farmers,
and all reliance should net be placed on
cotton.
Military training will be given the
students, not only because it IS required
by the law, but to inculcate habits OF
order. Allthe boys will be clothed alike.
in uniform, so that no poor boy shall
feel ashamed because Il rich mans son
might wear broadcloth, and he only
poor clothes. Rich and poor shall fare
alike. The poor shall be lifted up and
the rich pulled down. if necessary to
establish that simon pure democracy
that we fought so hard last year to
establish.
Five years ago the idea of an agricul:
tural mechanical college was nroached
in the State Agricultural Sosiety. The
politicians Of the state wished to furnish
the semblance Of such an institution at
the University at Columbia. They
scorned our idea, and whipped us in two
campaigns; but we didn't give itup.
Last year the grand battle was fought
and won. The bequest of T. G. Glenn
son gave US the opportunity for Win
~ thl ,f-