The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-01-26

: sup, the highest and noblest training
: that can be given?
Can the free school fit for the highest
duties OF statesmanship? Assuredly
not. For the solution of great and Oft
times perpleXing problems involving
the peace and prosperity'of all tho peo
pie the'State stands In constant need of
men OF the highest scholarship, of the
profoundest knowledge of law ; men
whose mental grasp is large enough to
sweep the whole horizon /; men able to
rise above local or even State interests
and to act for the common good OF the
people Of all the States.
1t is the chief pride and glory of our
State to claim for her sons men whose
names are forever inscribed in the his
tory OF this nation. Such were Legarc
aud Sims and Hayne and Preston and
McDufie and the great Calhoun From
her hills and valleys may still go forth
men who shall not only bless their State
and nation, but humanity itself. Again,
does the common school train men for
the professions Of law, OF medicine ?
Does 1t equip them for scientific pur-
suits Does it send out expert chem
lists and geologists and engineers and
scientific agriculturalists ? 1t can never
train men ~" RE m""''N' '>u"s Its and
p"N!cS. na pen w We ,,,uuiCiudj youth
ieeded training in seminaries Of learn
ing or look to other States to do for us
what we should do for ourselves, and
spend money abroad for what the State
could supply. Against such fate State
pride and patriotism alike rebel. Such
disaster would fall with crushing
weight upon the sons and daughters OF
the poor, who would be unable to meet
the expenses OF an education at the
North. But we are told that higher
education in South Carolina costs too
much. Does it not cost less than any
wherc else in the world ? Harvard,
with her 5000 students, has an annual
income Of more than 81, 900, ,000-a cost
OF S4OO per student, and this, to), with
no account taken of the millions al
ready invested in buildings and books
and scientific equipment. And vet who
will say that the vast sums invested in
this great university fail to bring in
adequate returns? Does Virginia com
plain of the 100000 annually spent for
the 800 young men at her university.
Have not Michigan and Wisconsin and
Minnesota and Nebraska and California
been amply repaid for tho millions in
recent years devoted to higher educa-
tion? A tax Of 100000 for higher edu-
cation in South Carolina means but
little more than 80 cents for every thou
sand dollars Of taxable property. Such
tax, oven were there no adequate re-
turns, is no burden to any one But it
does bring adequate returns in manhood
and womanhood. 1t does, | believe. in
the long run, pay for the investment in
dollars and cents. There can be, there
must be no conflict between church and
State colleges. There should be gcner-
Gus rivalry, but open or covert antagon-
ism is disastrous to the interests Of both.
Colleges founded by the churches and
by private beneticence have performed, :,
and are still performing, u great and
patriotic service, but no State should
surrender to private philanthropy or
denominational zeal its sacred, inaiien-
able right and solemn duty of placinp
within reach of all her children the
bread OF knowledge. Zeal in cduca-
tional work is contagious. The church
school tlourishes best in those States
where public spirit rallies TO the sup
port of the State colleges, or to speak
more philosophically, wherever the
church is bealthiest there all public
institutions for the good of men find
their warmest support.
Genuine Christianity cnkindles intel
lectual lie, arouses man from lethargy
and creates within him public spirit
and patriotism and an unfailing inter
est in the welfare Of others. In Mexico,
In Brazil, in Spain, wherever in short,
Christianity has become stagnant,
there all public enterprises languish.
Destroy or cripple our denominational
colleges and you take from our civilian
tion its strong, unlif:ing force; but de-
stroy or cripple our State institutions,
and you take the road which has car
ried Spain, once the leading power and
naturally the richest country OF Europe,
to the rear in the triumphal march OF
civilization. There should of course be
no waste in our educational resources
CONCLUSION.
Fellow citizens, the political cam
paign OF 1896 Is over. You have hon
ored me as few men in South Carolina
have ever been honorcd and far more
richly than ! deserve. You gave me, |
say it in no spirit Of vain glory or Of
boasting, but in profound appreciation
OF tho honor bestowed you gave me in
the Democratic primary the largest
majority ever given a candidate for
Governor. Both factions of the Demo.
cratic party, as the vote cast indicates,
gave me warm and enthusiastic sup
port, such as necessarily could not have
been given to any factional candidate.
My constant anxiety shall be not to
prove unworthy of your confidence.
| am your Governor tho Governor of
the whole people. Our interests are
mutual. 1t will be base and treacherous
and ungrateful on my part and unwise
and unpatriotic on your part, longer to
fan the fires of. partisan hatred. On
questions of public policy we cannot all
agree; but when issues are settled at
the ballot box, we can and ought to sub
NIT to the will of the majority honestly
expressed.
| beseech you to resolve on this occa-
sion to bury all factional feelings and
to join hands and hearts in your efforts
to develop the resources Of our beloved
State, to build up her institutions, to
promote her every inter, st. In assum-
ing my Official duties, | pledge you my
best services. With all my strength Of
head and heart | shall labor for the
common veal, and in my official capac.
ity shall treat both friend and foe
with equal consideration. rid myself
OF all sectional and partisan feelings and
hail you all as Caroinians. | love my
native State. | love her people. am
proud OF her grand and inspiring his
tory; OF the names Of her illustrious
sons: OF the thousands of her honorcd
dead who sleep upon every great battle
held OF their country. | rejoice in the
hope our future inspires in the patriot
ism OF our young manhood and in the
self-sacritcing devotion Of our young
womanhood.