The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-27

ed by the authorities of Clemson Col
lege.
In this great work of educating the
masses I pledge my unwaverlng sup
port and sympathy.
To our higher institutions OF learn
ing the public schools must look for
efficient, we'll trained teachers. De-
stroy or cripple our colleges and you
destroy or cripple all hope of better
public schools. AS stream cannot
rise higher than the fountain head, so
will teaching in the public schools re.
main low and unsatisfactory until
those who are to engage in this work
seek the better to equip themselves in
the higher seminaries of learning.
Nor is this all. The primary school,
it is said, has right to live because 1t
fits people for the duties of citizenship.
But for what duties2 To read, to
write, to cipher9 Does this fit for the
duties of citizenship For the lowest,
perhaps, but what of the highestS DO
not the highest duties require the am.
plest scholarship, the highest and
noblest training that can be given?
Can the free school fit for the high
est duties of statesmanshlp2 Assured
ly not. For the solution OF great and
oftentimes perplexing problems, in
volving peace and prosperity OF all
the people, the State stands in con-
slant need of men of the highest schol-
arship, of the profoundest knowledge
of law men whose mental grasp is
large enough to sweep the whole horl-
zon, men able to rise above local or
even State interests, and to act for the
common good of the people of all the
States.
It is the chief pride and glory of
our State to claim for her sons men
whose names sre forever inscribed In
the history of this nation.
Such were legare and Sims and
Timrod and Hayne and Preston and
McDuffie, and the great Calhoun.
From her hills and valleys may there
still 20 forth men who shall not only
bless their State and nation, but hu-
manity itself. Again does the com.
mon school train men for the profes--
sions of law or medicine9 Does 1t
equip for scientific pursuits9 Does it
send out expert chemists and geolo-
gists and engineers and scientific agri-
culturists3 It can never train men
for the manifold pursuits and
professions open to the ambitious
youth of the State. For these we must
furnish needed training in seminaries
of learning, or look to other States to
do for US what we should do 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 ed
ucation at the North. But we are told
that higher education in South Caro-
lima costs too much. Does it not cost
less than anywhere else in the world9
Harvard, with her three thousand
students, has an annual income OF
more than million-a cost of $4OO
per student, and this, too, with no
account taken of the millions already
invested in buildings and books and
scientific equipment. And yet who
will say that the vast sums invested In
this great university fail to bring in
adequate returns2 Does Virginia COM
plain of the 100000 annually spent
for the five hundred young men at
her Universitya Have not Michigan
and Wisconsin and Minnesota and
Nebraska and California been amply
repaid for the millions in recent years
devoted to higher education9 A tax
of 100000 for higher education in
South Carolina means but little more
than so cents for every thousand dol
lars of taxable property. Such tax,
even were there no adequate returns,
is no burden to anyone. But it does
bring adequate returns in manhood
and womanhood. It does. I believe
in the long run, pay for the invest
ment in actual dollars and cents.
There can be, there must be, no con-
flict between the Church and the State
colleges. There should be generous
rivalry, but open or covert antagonism
is disastrous to the interests of both.
Colleges founded by the churches
and by private benefcence have per-
formed and are still performing
great and patriotic service, but no
State should surrender to private
philanthropy or UNCONVENTIONAL zeal
its sacred, inallenable right and sol.
emn duty of placing within reach OF
all her children the bread of knowl-
edge. Zeal in educational work is
contagious. The Church school flour
ishes best in those States where public
spirit rallies to the support of the State
colleges, or to speak more philosophi-
cally, wherever the Church is health
lest there are public Institutions for
the good of man find their warmest
support.
Genuine Christianity enkindles in
tellectual life, arouses man from leth-
argy and creates within him public
spirit and patriotism and an unfailing
interest 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 de-
nomiuational colleges and you take
from our civilization it's strong, up.
lifting force, but destroy or cripple
our State institutions and you take
the road which has carried Spain,
once the leading Power, and natural.
ly, the richest country of Europe, to
the rear in the triumphal march of
civilization. There should, of course,
be no waste in our educational re-
sources.