The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-06
THE STATE CAPITAL.
THE RECENT COURSE OF EVENTS
POLITICALLY AND OTHERWISE.

THE RECENT COURSE OF EVENTS,
POLITICALLY AND OTHERWISE.
How Different People View the Different
"Scheme mes"--Unusual Interest in the Va
rious Movements--Local News of Gener.
al Interest.
COLUMBIA, March Especial: This
has been a week of discussion among
those who take an interest in matters
political. Last week was fairly crowd
ed with things about which people had
exercised themselves is, people
who take an. interest in politics. The
statement of Senator Tillman about
the plan of an equal division in the
Constitutional Convention was re-
ceived with genuine surprise. Its
proposition and its counsels, coming
from the Ex-Governor, have been
taken as a decided change in his tenn
per and policy. There are those who
think that the Senator might well
have omitted some of his statements.
There are others who think it would
have been better if the recent "confer-
ees" had united in a statement to the
Democrats in South Carolina-such
joint statement, it is thought, would
have had more the appearance of uni
ted effort from the start, rather than a
distinct recognition of the factions as
such.
The appeal of the Conservative COM
mittee, headed by Mr.. Thomas M.
Raysor of Orangeburg, is especially
commended for its calmness and clear
ness. and it has smoothed away some
of the irritation left by some of Sena-
tor Tillman's statements. The selec-
ton of Mr.. Raysor as the spokesman
of the Conservative participants in the
conference was peculiarly good one.
Mr.. Raysor commands, in very high
degree, the confidence of the Conserv-
atives of whatever shade of opinion.
The address is itself stamped with the
calmness of statement, coupled with
GOODNESS of judgment, which contribu-
ted, in the past. to make Mr.. Raysor
one of the most respected and most in
nuential members of the House.
The letter of Chairman Irby is uni
versally regarded an emanation of the
ill temper of an aspirant who feels
that he has been ignored when he
should have been recognized and con-
suited. Opinions greatly differ as to
the extent to which Chairman Irby's
views will be adopted by the Reform
ers. On this point, everybody is
awaiting results.
The declaration. of the Forty" of
their purpose to carry out their pro-
gramme as originally framed, does
not seem to be regarded positive
faction in the situation. Among the
Forty" are some Reformers whose
course has commanded the positive
approval of the Conservatives, and
who are believed to be actuated by the
desire to bring peace to the people. 1t
is thought that, whatever the details
of the plan which shall be adopted,
the "Forty" will assist in a reconcilia-
ton. Their convention on the 18th
is anticipated with much interest. We
shall see what we shall see.
COEDUCATION OF THE SEXES.
DR.. VIM. R. Atkinson, the president
Of the South Carolina College for Wo-
men, thinks that the advocates of the
higher education for young women are
greatly indebted to Governor Evans
for securing to the young women of
the State the advantage of education
at the South Carolina College, hitherto
enjoyed exclusively by young men.
When Senator Governor Evans intro
duced and championed bill, two
years ago, to open the College toyoung
women upon the same terms as to
young men. Opponents of the meas
ure so far defeated it as to open only
the Junior and Senior classes to those
young women who could pass the Or
deal of the matriculation examina-
tions. Senator Evans contended earn
estly against such limitations, and
sought to have the South Carolina Col
lege at once put fully abreast of some
of the first colleges in Europe and
America. By the last Legislature ev-
ery such restriction was removed, and
the unsurpassed advantages of the
South Carolina College, at time
when it has attained its highest stand
ard of excellence, are open alike to
young women and young men.
There are already number of young
ladies attending the lectures of one of
the professors, and their presence in
the recitation room with young gentle
men excites no more comment or
makes no more of a sensation than
their coattendance at an opera, or a
concert, or a popular lecture. Our
summer institutes throughout the
State, especially at the South Carolina
College, during the past summer, have
prepared the way for the change, and
the results of these brief experiments
of coeducation make one wonder why
any objection was ever raised against
it. The president and professors of
the College approve of the Innovation,
and are willing to do all they can to
encourage the attendance of such
young women as arein earnestin seek
ing the higher education.
THE COLLEGE SOCIETIES.
At joint assembly of the Euphra-
dian and Claricsophic literary societies
at the South Carolina College on Sat
urday night, Mr.. H. L Spahr, of
Orangeburg, was elected editor-in.chief
of the College Journal. The assistant
editors elected were as follows: From
the Euphradian Society, Messrs. H. A:
Moses, of Sumter: Z. w. Wilson, OF
Rinhland and s X ParrOtt. of Darl-