The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-28
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
A Larger School Term Urged and More
Attention to the Training Of Teachers.

Attention to the Training Of Teachers.
Amid the clash of coutending politi-
cal factions, the unrest Of financial i'll
terest, and the elements OF uncertainty
which enter SO largely into all Of our
calculations as tothe immediate future,
we are brought face to face with a
problem, which. like BAnquo's ghost,
will not down; ii. e.) the preservation
of the prestige of Our commonwealth.
1t is fact, established beyond the
uttermost realms Of the confines Of
doubt, that no organic body is, or can
be, stronger than the ma erial Of which
it is composed; and it is al equally in
disputable proposition, that every con-
stituent part of such body should con-
slider it its highest duty to bend
every energy to the one idea Of foster
ing every issue looking to the success
ofprinciples upon which, and the pur-
poses for which such organization is
effected.
History never repeats itself with
such unerring accuracy in regard to
any other fact as it does when threats
of the unsuccessful efforts Of the differ
ent peoples to perpeIuate institutions
founded upon basis that WAS wanting
in Intelligence; and it is the height of
folly for US, in this century of progress,
to suppose that an invidious distinc-
ton will be made in our favor, and
that we will be exempt from the COM
mon lot of those who have been un-
mindful of the obligations that they
owed to posterity-obligations that de-
mand q conscientious Interpretation Of
the higher definition Of the terms
honesty and policy.
The name of South Carolina has been
inscribed among the proudest upon the
scroll of fame. "South Carolina" has
ever been q passport to popularity.
This would not be so without valid
reasons-reasons written on flood and
field by her soldiery, imprinted on sci
ence, history, romance and song by her
authors, and proclaimed from the foru %
by the most courtly gentlemen that
ever held within their magic grasp the
destinies Of nations; reasons, inter-
woven warp and woof with the lives
of their sons and daughters, and de-
manding the sacrifice of everything
save honor, for their maintenance,
pointing with the finger of prophecy
to still greater heights, If we are able
to appreciate our possibilities; or, on
the other hand, draping with the man
tie of shame the structure of Statehood
if ne fail. What offering are we bring
ing to the altar of sacred memories?
What material are We raising with
shoulders broad enough to bear the
mantle of Calhoun, McDuffie, Preston,
Hayne, and host of others whose
memory will shed fragrance DER the
past OF our State It'll the annals of time
shall have been filed among the
archives of eternity.
Is it sufficient that a small minority
are endeavorlng to elevate their chill
dren to plane which will confer upon
them the capacity for the enjoyment
of the highest privileges of citizenship?
Is il not rather cause for humiliation
that the great mass of the people are
content to plead the indefensible pre-
text of poverty in extenuation of their
failure to come up to the full staure of
manhood and womauhood that is de-
manded of them by the impor, unate ex.
igencies of the times? The cry, that the
rich are growing richer and the poor
poorer is but a concession of the supe-
rior intelligence of the rich. This state
of affairs will never experience change
until "Greek meets Greek" in the
marts of trade, in the prescribed arena
Of science aud art, and in the broad
fields Of journalism and literature.
There is no disposition on the part
of those who are acquainted with the
true inwardness Of the financial state
of our country to deny the ex-
istence of hard times; but, to admit
this as an excuse for the want of inter
est in the educational advancement OF
our children, is but to fly in the face of
the equally well known existence Of
an indulgence in minor eXtravagances
that might not be considered as such,
were it not for the fact that the amouht
per capita, spent in their indulgence,
would roll up schoo! fund that would
be the marvel of the age, and would
60 down to succeeding generations as
an example OF sacrifice worthy to be
ranked as the inception of the Angus
tine era in the statehood Of the land Of
the palmetto.
The State, in its collectivelca pacity,
has wisely made provision for the in
auguration OF this effort in the passage
of law permitting the erection OF
school districts and the levy Of supple
mental taxes for the maintenance of
longer terms, which will, Of necessity,
guarantee the raising the grade Of such
schools as come under the provision of
the act.
When it is considered that the sup
elemental tax will only amount to two
dollars on the thousand dollars worth
OF property, it is hard to realize that
any one can be found so bliud to the
interest of posterity, as well as to the
enhanced happiness Of the declining
days of his own existence, as to op-
| pose the progress of this latter day
reformation, and when. upon further
! consideration it is found that larger
majority pay taxes upon less than half