The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-12

the protection of boarded millions.
will not presume here to suggest 8
plan for the organization Of the agri
cultural and industrial interests of the
nation. I can assure you, however,
from the history of past nations, thai
no emergency has ever arisen, how
ever great, that some bold leader did
not come forth equal to the occasion
Let your memorial be prepared by
those who feel what they say and the
messengers of peace will bear it to the
sympathetic hearts and hands OF the
nation. A victory grander than that
by force of arms will thus be won
peaceably at the ballot box. Commu
nifty of interests must unite the South
and the West, and agriculture will be
rescued from slavery.
desire to call you attention to the
State Agricultural and Mechanical So.
ciety, better known as our State Fair
Association. This organization has re-
ceived aid from the State until a few
years past, when its management made
the mistake of introducing politics into
it. On this account the society has Ian
guished and almost died. You must
rescue it. Nothing is so beneficial to
society and good government as the as
sembling of the people to indulge In
friendly rivalry in the arts Of peace.
This fair has become an annual volks-
fest, where our people meet and know
each other, where the black eyes meet
the blue, and the State becomes for the
time being one happy family, with no
thought but for the common welfare
of South Carolina. I know of no State
in the Union where similar organiEa-
ton is maintained and this in a great
measure is responsible for the mainten-
ance of our striking individuality. A
small appropriation is all that Is need
ed to rescure. the society from death
and am sure the money will be well
invested and no true citizen will BE-
grudge it. I would suggest that the
society be incorporated, and that the
Governor and State officers be made
ex otficio directors, so that it may be-
come quasi State institution and at
the same time give the people a qua.
rantee that the money appropriated
will be directed to the proper uses.
I congratulate the people upon tho
fact that a Constitutional convention
is at last to be called in response to
their desire expressed at the ballot box.
This is victory which means more
than shall express to you. 1t is the
most important matter which you will
have to deal with, and should receive
your earnest though and attention. 1t
should be called at time most conven-
lent to our farmers. Remember the
stringency of money and the proverty
of our people and limit the number Of
delegates to the number of the General
Assembly. None but patriots should be
members of this convention, and the
pay of delegates should be 80 small as
not to make it an inducement for cam
didacy. Two dollars a day and the
same mileage as allowed members OF
the General Assembly is sufficient.
Less than this amount would not sup
port delegate in the city of Colum-
bia. I see no reason why the session
of the convention should last over forty
days. If this plan is adopted the cost
of the convention should not exceed
$25, 1000, small pittance indeed to pay
for eternal liberty and white suprem-
acy.
It has been truly said that the best
educated people are the happiest and
easiest governed. This principle has
always been recognized by our State.
Wespend more money today for public
education, in proportion to our wealth,
than any State in the Union. Our
higher institutions of learning equal
those of any State, and in Clemson COL
lege and the Winthrop Normal and In
dustrial College for girls, the system
will be completed. Clemson College is
the poor boys institution and its doors
should not be closed to single one
who knocks for admission. If its capac-
ity is too limited, enlarge it at once:
Economy in this respect is unjust and
niggardly, for the State receives hum
dreds of. dollars in return for every one
invested in training the brains Of her
children. The South Carolina College,
which is our higher classical institu-
ton, should be opened to young wo-
men from the freshmen to the senior
class. If our women desire to enter
literary fields, there is no just reason
why they should not be given the ad-
vantages of our highest literary institu-
tons md not be compelled to leave
the State on accent of q foolish, anti
quated sentiment. Co-education has
proved success in the civilized ma
tions of the world and the best and
highest institutions of learning, both
in Europe and America, are now open
to young men and women alike.
Gambetta has truly said THAT in Or
der to make hearts beat together souls
must be brought together" The pres
ent law of allowing women only in
the junior and senior classes is absurd
and ridiculous, and, while intended to
satisfy a demand for such education,
it is a makeshift and amounts to prohi-
bition. The brightest jewels of any
State are her literary and intelligent
women and they should not be depriv-
ed of the States bounty.
Our common school system is far
from satisfactory, but under our pres
ent Constitution it is impossible to i'm
prove upon it. It is encouraging,
however, to note that under the opera
ton of our separate school district law,
the average free school term for the
State has been increased from two and
half months to a fraction over four.
We have performed our duty to the
negro, possibly too literally, asa study