The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-28


our highest, our most sacred duty now
and evermore must be to improve the
quality OF our citizenship, to develop
tne mind and hearts OF the rising gen
Grafton, for upon their intnlltgencc,
virtue and patriotism tho destiny OF
our State depends.
In u monarchy, In an aristocracy, s.
few great and good men may. govern
the state wisely and we'll, but In Il gov
ernment Of the people, for the people |
and by the people, illiteracy is a shame
and q disgrace and constant menace |
to the safoty Of the State. All good |
citizens should unto in the effort to |
improve our public schools to lepg then |
the school term, especially in the |
country to encourage the foundation |
of public libraries; to inaugurate q
system of university extension that
Rh&l! cary science and culture to eager
minds grasping after better things to |
Increase tho number and efficiency Of
the farmers institute, now conducted
by tho authorities Of Clemson college,
In this great work Of educating tho
masses l pledge my unwavoring sup.
port and sympathy. TO our higher in
stitutions Of learning, the public schools
lnust look for efficient well-traiued
teachers. Destroy or cripple our col
leges and you destroy and cripple all
hope Of better public schools. AS
stream cannot rise higher than tho
fountain head, SO will teaching in the
puDlic schools remain low anu unsatis-
factory until those who are to engage
in this work seek the bottcr to equip
themselves In the higher seminaries Of
learning. Nor ia this all. The pri-
mary school, it. is said, has /. right to
live because it fl Is people for tho duties
OF citizenship. But for what duties?
TO read, to write, to cipher? Docs
this fit thcm for the duties Of citizen
ship? For the lowest perhaps, but
what Of the highest? DO not tho high
est duties require the amplcst scholar
ship, the highest and noblest training
that can be givon?
Can the FREQ school fit for the highest
duties Of craftsmanship? Assurodly
not. For the solution Of great and oft.
timcs perplcxing problems involving
the peace and prosDerityof all the peo
pie the'Saate stands in constant need of
men OF the highest scholarship, of the
profoundcst knowledge of law; men
whose mental grasp is large enough to
sweep tho wbole horizon; men ablo 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 tho his
tory Of this nation. Such wcro Lcgare
and Sims and Haync and Preston and
McDullie and tho great Calhoun. From
her hills and valleys may still 20 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 :?
suits Does it send out expert chcm-
lists and geologists and engineers and
scientific agricuituralists? 1t can never
train men for the manifold pursuits and
professions open to the ambitious youth
OF the State. For thcso we must furnish
needed training in scminariCs 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
cou,d supply. Against such q fate State
pride and patriotism alike rebel. Such
u disaster would fall with crushing
weight upon tho sons aud daughters Of
the poor, VINO would be unable to meet
tho expenses OF an education at the
North. Bat VIC are told that higher
education In South Carolina costs too
much. Does it not cost less than any,
where else in the world Harvard,
with her 3 900 students, has an annual
income OF moro than III GOT, ,0OO-a cost
OF S4OO per student, and this, too, with
no account taken of the millions al
ready Invested in buildings and books
and scientific equipment. And yet who
VIII say thnS the vast sums invested in
this great university fail to bring in
adequate returEs? Docs Virginia COM
plain OF the 100000 annually spent for
the 500 yonug men at her university.
nd
Minnesota and Nebraska and California
bccn amply repaid for the millions in
recent years devoted to higher cduca-
ton? A Tax OF 800, GOO for higher edu-
cation in South Carolina means but
little more than so &C ats fOr every thou
sand dollars OF taxable property. Such
tax, even wero thcre no adequate re-
turns, is no burden to any one. But it
does bring adequate returns in manhood
and wOmanhood. 1t docs, [ believe. in
the long run, pay for the investment in
dollars and cents. There can be, there
must be no conflict between church aud
State colleges. There should be gcncr.
Gus rivalry, but open or covert antagon-
ism is disastrous to the interests Of both.
Colleges founded by the churches and
by private benciiccnce have performed,
and are still performing, IL great aud
patriotic service, but no State should
surrender to private philanthropy or
denomtnational zeal its sacred, inaiien-
able right and solemn duty of placing
within reach OF all her children the
bread Of knowledge. Zeal in educa-
tional work is contagious. The church
school llourishes best in those States
where public spirit rallies to the sup
port Of the State colleges, or to speak
more phtlosophically, whorever the
church Is healthiest there all public
institutions for the good Of mon find
their warmest support.
Genuine Christianity enk indies intel
lectual life, arouscs man from )cthargy
and creates within him public spirit
and patriotism and an unfailing inter-
est In the "olfare of others. In Mexico.
in BraZil, In s"ai'. wherever in short,
christianity l. b"cono stagnant
there all public enterprises languish
ID !s:roy or cripple our denominations
colleges and y'u take from our civil;z1-
tion its strong, uolifsing force; but de-
stroy or cripple our State institutions,