The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-30

beautiful city Of Athens were thrown
wide open to receive this large number
of visitors and each guest was made
to feel that he was in the house OF his
friends. 1t was our pleasure to hear
addresses from some of the biggest
and brainiest men of this country and
while each one was made conscious OF
his own littleness, one could not help
from being impressed with their
greatness.
To me the most natural oratorical
outburst was that of Judge Emory
Speer-the famous orator of Georgia.
DR.. Alderman of Tulane University
was treat. DR.. Harris, U. S. Com
missioner of Education, pronounces
him to be one of the greatest OF the
worlds orators. Then there was
Hamilton W. N[abie, charming
speaker.
DR.. Edwin A. Alderman's address
on seThe Child and the State" was
one of the gems Of the conference. He
declared that the members Of this
conference had covenanted that the
fight to emancipate every child in this
country from the slavery Of ignorance
shall never cease until the victory is
won.
The northern members are not here
as aims givers, the southern members
are not here as aims takers. We are
all here to work as brethren for the
uplifting of the Ignorant.
DR.. Alderman said if he had boy
and wished to teach him patriotism,
he would not carry him to battlefield
but to just such meeting as this.
He reviewed the task Of the south in
educating two races that must forever
be educated apart, also the many argu-
ments advanced years since against
public education, but long since ex-
ploded. Every position against state
education was assailed and overcome
by the able speaker. The south has
reached the conclusion that no civil
ization can grow from poverty. that
they must know the industrial arts
and the people are learning them.
DR.. Hamilton Wright Mabie made
a most admirable address on "Co-ope-
ration in Educational Effort" His
easy, graceful style Of expression and
his chaste and sparkling humor caught
the audience from the beginning and
created fine efect. He spoke of the
deep significance of this great educa-
tional movement, that is to shape the
future history of this country and of
the world, calling the roll of the south
ern states, all represented here by
large and enthusiastic delegates, and
showing the interest taken in educa-
tional development.
The state of Georgia has best served
the country by serving not with its
hands but with It's soul: The state
that works with its soul and mind is
the one that lives Beautiful refer
ences were made to Henry Timrod,
Paul Hamilton Hayne, Sidney Lanier,
Richard Malcom johnson, Henry,
Grady, Joel Chandler Harris, and
others.
Mr.. Mabie expressed his regret that
he would be absent from the Confed-
crate memorial exercises on account of
being called north, regretted that he
couldn't help pay homage to the noble
dead. His remarks were received with
tumultuous applause and created
great effect upon all present.
One of the great men:of the confer
ence perhaps the man that awakened
most enthusiasm was Governor Aycock
of North Carolina. His manly fight
against powerful opposition has won
for him the title of the. Educational
Governor. When Governor Aycock
had finished speaking thejwhole con-
ference rose to its feet as one man to
express its admiration for a man who
is sincere and honest and who is. fight
ing for his convictions. Gov. Aycock,
spoke in part as follows:
/ bear greetings from the State OF
North Carolina, and next to that
State I consider Georgia the greatest
State on earth. L am proud OF our
State. We are fighting folk up our
way. We fought in the revelation
before it started we'll, before the
declaration was signed. We believe
in fighting first and declarating af-
terwards,
Having got through with our pis-
tolls, guns and sabres, we find that
an army Of illiteracy demands the
energy apd sacrifice of every man in
our State. We have taken up arms