The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-08-03
DON'T CRIPPLE.

DON'T CRIPgLE.
Without intending to tread On
the toes of any one, or to arralgn
anv candidate before the bar of pub
lie opinion for any views ne might
hold on the subject, We propose
to give our own individual opin-
ion as to the noble mission Of and
grand work being accomplished by
Clemson Agricultural and Mechanical
College.
Born in the midst of heated and
bitter political revolution, for which
its birth was above all other consld-
ations, mainly responsible, no other
institution of learning in our fair
Southland, has made such wonder
full strides on the road to success IN
so short a time as has Clemson.
1t must not be forgotten that the
great success won by this institution
has been achieved in the face of VIC
lent opposition. Itstands today pre-.
eminently above any similar institu-
ton in the South. It's equipment is
the best and most complete; its pre-
fessors are specialists Of recognized
ability and its course of study SO
thorough that it's graduates readily
find fatteripg positions Of honor and
emolument.
It has largely succeeded in break
ing away the barriers of prejudice
reared by its enemies and we only
hear now and then the complaint OF
it's expensiveness. Even some OF its
warm friends are grumbling about
the cost of maintaining it and are de-
manding a reduction of its appropria-
tion and retrenchment in it's expendl-
lures. A little thought will convince
them that in order to keep the College
up to its present high standard and
to develop its great possibilities OF
usefulness requires a considerable
sum of money, apd that to divide its
revenues would seriously cripple it
by impairing its usefulne IS and prob
ably work it's downfall and ruin. A
farmer, to run a fine large farm, is
necessarily forced to expend a large
sum of money to maintain the fcr-
t:l;ty of The soil and to increase its
productive capacity, but in the au-
tumn when the crops are harvested
the result proves the wisdom Of bis
Investment. He knows that TO re.
duce what appeared to a one or two
horse farmer an extravagaDt sum ot
money, would seriously and effe:tu
ally decreasethe productiveness of his
fertile lands, and if persisted in decay
and ruin would be The inevitable re
salt. So it is with Clemson. It is {
magnificent farm whereon your boy
can learn, not show TO run straight
furrow and to chop cotton" but how
to get the greatest yield from The
soil without impoverishipg it; to con
duct farm work on sound bushes:
principles; to elevate the condition O.
farm life. 1t is grand workshop il
which the son of that struggling me
chanic can learn and be trained il
the sciences of mechanics, art and in
dustry and thus successfully equiv
him to meet and successfully con
quer the stern realities Of life. The
lAwyer has his colleges ard UNIVERSE
ties in which to learn the tecbnicali
ties Of his profession; the doctor
has his higher institutions, elabo
rately fitted up with fine and costly
instruments and other paraphernelis
which he attends and hear lectures
and witness demonstrations and ex-
perimeuts. Then why not the farmers
and mechanics have a College where
they can send their sons to be taught
the higher branches Of agriculture
and mechanics? Don't cripple Clem-
on! Farmers and mechanics, di-
yorce the College from politics.