The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-13
IS THIS A STORM CENTRE

We presume the opponents Of the old ticket
mustered their strength at the time, but they
furnish q nucleus for storm center whicn
may or may not gain force as time goes by.
There is nothing about which people VIII eS.
hibit more feeling than their schools, and
when their prejudice is once aroused very
small matters are sometimes magnlned lnto
great evils, and we think that the law which
authorizes the school trustees and the Town
council to withhold from publication full
and explicit statement Of their actings and
doings will be q fruitful source OF d1ssatls1ac-
tion. Even the chairman IN bis report, Where
1t costs nothing, groups assistant teachers as
1.-TWO assistant teachers and -four assistant
teachers" Why does not the report show who
the teachers are, even If we should conclude
to conceal from the public knowledge OF the
paw that was voted 10 them. No man can
read that report and learn who the teachers
are, and only by inference can we imagine
how many OF them there are. Are they SIM
ply treated as chattels, or as nameless persons
10 whom Si,340 OF the peoples money is paid
We insist that persons who are worthy 10 oe
elected teachers In our school are worthy OF a
name, and we insist that people who pay this
large amount in taxes have right TO know
where it goes. In these important and vital
parts the facts could not have been better con-
ceaed from the public.
The city OF Abbeville has raised the assess
ment on our property without assigning
reason-for it. The people see no special rea-
son for doubling their taxes, and they have
little opportunity 10 know where their mon
ey goes. Abbeville is perhaps tbr only city
in the world that advertises its financial re-
port for limited time on the Court House
door,
The Withholding from the public full and
explicit statements Of the expenditures in the
public money as well as in the school money,
put people on inquiry.
The members OF the old board undoubtedly
will ever have. We presume that even their
opponents will concur In this opinion, but
for all that there is implanted in the human
heart an unceasing desire for change, and
there can be no doubt that the people In their
assembly, or by their expression at the ballot
box. have a right to change their officers, and
nobody has right to demand their reasons.
Each individual is O sovereign over his own
ballot and he may cast 1t as he pleases
WE ARE ALL PROUD OF OUR SCHOOL HOUSE.
The old hoard was organized several years
ago, and they, as builders Of the most splen-
did school house in the up-country, deserve
the thanks of everybody, and we presume
that there are very few, If any, citizens OF Alb,
beville who are not proud OF our school
house.
THE BEST SCHOOL IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
There is nothing at Abbeville Of which our
people are as proud as they are OF their
building lin the up.cnuntry, but we have per-
haps the best school to be found anywhere.
The standard OF education Is not only suffl-
ciently high TO tit young men and young wo-
men for the practical duties OF life, but such
as choose TO enter the great colleges are pre-
pared TO enter the higher classes. The excel
lence Of this school Is so we'll known that
many persons have moved their families to
town in order TO give their children the bene-
fits of the school, while other parents are
boarding their sons and daughters at the
homes Of our citizens and paying tuition fees.
The reader will not forget that the school
privileges are absolutely free for all residen is
of the city. The editor Of the Press and Ball.
ner has lived in Abbevile for many years
and we have never known the people TO be so
united and harmonious on anything as they
are on the school All are proud Of 1t. and
they have reason to be proud OF II.
MOST EFFICIENT CORPS OF TEACHERS
No school ever had more efficient corps of
teachers, and we believe the opponents of the
old board have urged nothing againstany one
of them. 1t was only the price which is be-
ing paid for their services TO which they OBJ
ject.
SHOULD THE PEOPLE BE BARRED OUT OF
THEIR OWN HOUSES?
Like the other kickers, however, we had O
grievance and remained away from the meet
Ing because Of that grievance.
But unlike the other kickers, we had no de.
sire to put any body off the board.
If we had gone TO that meeting we should
have expressed our grievance with q hope
that the old board would give at least respect
full attention, even If they did not conclude to
grant the relief desired. While we have no
sympathy with the effort 10 oust the old
board or to cast odium on faithful and efti-
cicnt public servants, we complain
that the members of the school trus
tees bar the people out of their own
house. That fine school building Is the peo-
pies house, and we contend that Il any con-
siderable portion of the people desire the use
Of the auditorium for an evening In such way
and in such time as not to injure the building
nor 10 interfere with the exercises Of the
school that their request should be granted,
or at least the refusal of such request should
be fortified by the pronounced public express
sion from the tax payers, whose money built
the house.
In saying this we think the same injustice
is practlced upon the people in lock Ing them
out Of the Court House. That building. like
the school house, is the peoples house, and
they should he allowed to use IL, with proper
restrictions and reasonable Limitations. II
seems too near petty tyranny for the grand
Jury to ask the Court TO bar the people out of
their own house.