The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-06-26
into practice on account of. The States

into practice on account of. The State
poverty, and 2. The negro IN our midst.
ITO the first suggestion It IS replied:
"'FirSt-Stop these extravagant appro-
priations for higher education until the
masses have at least the three lis OF MI
education and give more money 10 the
common school, Better tear down these
massive buildings and sell the debris Tor
firewood than have an ignorant and conse'
quently depraved citizenship.
Second Make the attendance upon
the common schools compulsory.
"To the second suggestion 1t is replied
that The regro and his friends are taking
care Of his education.
DIR Currie, agent of the Peabody fund.-
startled the Georgia Legislature few
years ago by telling it that the negroes
were making more rapid strides in the at
tainment of an education than the same
class of whites and other thoughtful 90,
servers confirmed the opinion expressed
by this eminent authority.
Besides, Northern money has been and
is being poured into the South to educate
the negroes. Dr. Mayo IS authority Tor
the statement that at least fifty million
dollars had been spent in the South since
the war to educate the negro.
1T is well known that there is not city
of any considerable size in the Sonth but
has one or more institutions for the edu-
cation of the negro supported wholly or IN
part by Northern money, and many OF
tbem-such as Clafin in this State-are
dong fine work SO it is needless to malt
longer in extending aid to common scnool
education. because it will aid the negro,
even if it were ccnceded-and 1t Is not
that the negro should not be educated
The policy have indicated would not
only improve our citizenship, but give
fresh impetus to every institution IN the
State Argument Is not needed to enforce
the statement. Every boy and girl VINO
has the desire for an education once
awakened in them-though born in log
hut--will shake off their surroundings as
the lion shakes the dew from his name.
Higher education, however. has not
been dealt with so unkindly. 1t has had
and still has friends in the halls OF leSls'a-
ton and on the LuStingS.
when the white people returned to
power in 1876 the South Carolina College
and the Citadel were reopened and money
flowed freely out OF the State treasury tor
their support.
The South Carolina College took on the
university system, anu an effort vas made
to popular'ze it by making its curriculum
embrace every study that It was thought
wonld run current with popular favor. 1t
had at one time, as remember, 26 pro-
feSsorS and about 200 students. 1t then
became an issue il politics on account OF
the free-tuition feature aud because the
farmers c2Dten;led they wanted q college
Of their own, where applied agriculture
and mechanics might be taught.
a new order OF things came about. The
Soath Carolina College WAS emasculated,
but its appropriations continued. The
Citadel was criticised and threatened, but
its appropriation continued.
"Ihe bequ1St of Mr. Clemson was made
the nucleus. the name Of Mr.. Calhoun was
used to conjure with. the prejudlces OF the
farmers appealed to, large appropriations
of monev-inciudi;,g the phosphate roy
alty-and an unlimited number Of con-
victs resulted in that magnificent lnstltu-
ton with capacity for 600 students, To-
Gated under the shadow of the Blue Ridge
Higher education, it seems, had now be-
come fad
The State had three institutions includ-
ing the Winthrop Normal School; besides
there were seventeen other private male
and female institutions for higher educa-
ton in the State, Notwithstanding the cry
of poverty was heard Throughout the State
and the tax -gatherer was literally grinding
the faces OF the poor.
"In all the liberal provisions made for
higher education in the State woman S
interests had not been provided for and,
with a unanimity of political sentiment
rot hitherto manifested for years, it was
decided to establish great industrial
school for women, which is now about
complete.
Last year $4,000 and all the conrlets
needed, and this year $4,000 and all the
convicts needed have been appropriated
to complete this institution.
"a citys increase consists not alone III
heaping up great treasures, in building
solid walls, or in multiplying artillery.
But this is the best and richest increase,
prosperity aud strength of city, that 1t
Shall contain great number OF polished,
learned, intelligent, honorable and we'll
bred citizens who, when they have become
all this, may get wealth and put 1t to good
use. Since, then, we must have citizens,
we are not to wait until they have grown
up. We can neither hew them out OF
wood no: carve them out Of stone. We
must use the appointed means, and with
all cost and care rear mp and mould our
citizens.
There is no such thing as satisfactory
and enduring structure without so!ld
foundation. 4 healthy plant must have
vigorous root.
The primary school is responsible for the
! success Of higher education. The least
valuable teachers are frequently employed
IN the primary grades-cheap teachers
for infants minds.
Primary teachers should be the best
teachers, the most experienced teachers,
iaad the best paid teachers in the profess
siou
High school and collegiate work is more
Interesting and less laborions, but why
1t is the painstaking primary teacher who
prepares the foundation.
4 shrewd old German once said that ne
charged double price for those pupils who
lad learned under any other master, say
ING that his labor was double in unlearn-
lug and learning.
Educational results wonld be far III ad-
vance of what they are if he funds We're
sufficient to engage the best talent for the
vonne minds and not employ inefficient
teachers simply because they are cheap.
T.. c. ALsBEoos.