The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-29
THE CITADEL ACADEMY.

capped destruction at the hands OF ITS
enemies in the Legislature, and the
narrow majority voting in favor OF
the maintenance of the time-honored
old institution of learning has en-,
couraged those who oppose it to take
hope and look forward to the day
when the Citadel shall be but a
memory, ss one that is near at hand
The friends of the Citadel have rea-
son to rejoice that it has been spared,
but they should not de'ude them
selves that it is safe. Far from 1t;
the Citadel will be made an issue IN
the present Legislature when the
time comes to make the annual ap.
preparation for it's maintenance, and
if the institution is not seriously
crippled by a sweeping reduction in
he appropriation, we greatly mis-
judge the temper of the majority OF
the members of the General Assem-
bly, of South Carolina. The feeling
against the Citadel is stronger than
ever before. fully as unreasonable as
it ever was in past years, and there
are stronger arguments 10 be brought
forward for abolishing it than could
have been advanced when the fight
was on in former years, for they did
not then exist. This is the situation,
and those who are friends of the
Citadel and would have it continue
it's beni6cent work in South Carolina
must be up and doing in its behalf
The first argument against the
further maintenance of the Citadel
that is bel 6 used by those who op-
pose it, is that it is no longer needed,
and to abolish it would in no wise
destroy the symmetry of the higher
educational system of the State. 1t
is not needed because Clemson has
been established and is fully equip
ped to give the education and mill
tary training afforded by the Citadel.
Clemson, they say, is broader in
scope and more modern in equip
.ment, has all of the advantages
possessed by the Citadel and many
never claimed for it by the best and
warmest friends Of that institution
In other words, the establishment OF
Clemson and its moderate success as
"a military school is satisfactory rea-
son for dismantling an institution that
has the prestige Of scores of years OF
successful work and thousands OF
graduates, who are living monuments
of it's efficiency
Another argument is that as COM
pared with Clemson the Citadel is an
expensive school, and that the
amount expended in educating one
bow at the Citadel would educate
several at Clemson.
Still another is that the support OF
the Citadel is derived from direct
taxation levied on the property
holders of the State, while Clemson
is provided fo: in great measure by
the income derived from the Hatch
Fund appropriated by the National
Government for the support of agrl-
cultural colleges.
These are the grounds upon which
the enemies of the Citadel are
basing their case, and we rec'te them
simply to show what those who sup
mort the Citadel have to combat
We are fully satisfied that no
money is better spent by the State
than that which is appropriated for
the support Of the Citadel NO
money yields better return and &C
complishes more lasting benefits to
the State than the few thousands an
nually expended on the Citadel. The
boys who spend four years in this IN
stitntion leave it men with well-tran-
ed minds, fully developed bodies and
systematic habits that enable them to
succeed in business and professional
life wherever they may be placed.
Thev have not merely received lec'
!, :,tr,ot;On on the value OF