Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-06-10
! THE SOUTHERN BOY.
Address Delivered at Reeders Ford Picnic
by Prof. Manuel, OF Fair Play.

. + ~eN~J ~ SNsS ~. AN' t1s - a.
The graces taught in the schools,
the costly ornaments and studied
contrivances of speech, shock and
disgust men, when their own lives,
and the fate of their wives, their
children and their country, hang on
the decision of the hour. Then
words have lost their power rheto.
rio is vain and all elaborate oratory
contemplate. Even genius itself
then feels rebuked and subdued, as
in the presence of higher qualities.
Then patriotism is eloquent, self-de-
votion is eloquent.
My friends, / regret that 1 am not
able to say something to you on edu-
cation-the subject of the day.
However, have chosen a subject,
which, if properly considered, will
solve the problems and Danish the
difficulties arising to-day. / have
chosen, for subject, one upon which
depend the welfare of our fathers,
the safety of our mothers, sisters
and homes-one eloquent in itself.
l beg leave to announce that my
sucject is: s'The Southern Boy of
To-Day"
AS the thoughtful youth of the
South looks at the many disadvan-
.tages surrounding him, he sees
plainly lack of means. Means is
necessary for the accomplishment of
an end, and, as every one must ad-
NIT, upon slight reflection, that the
average Southern boy does lack
means. 1t is obvious that those who
have means, have the advantage of
him. Born but two decades after his
fathers home was devastated, reared
amid. the difficulties of the rebuild
ing period, at the age of twenty he
not only lacks means as to money,
but be is uneducated, ignorant and
poor. His condition is due in great
measure to the Strengthened circum-
stances which have surrounded him
from his childhood until the present.
He needs money, encouragement and
opportunity. When we compare the
average boy of the South with the
average of New England, as to
actual attainments, the former is far
surpassed; hence, I say, the South
ern boys lack of means is a disad-
vantage to him.
The Southern youth of to-day is
surrounded by very embarrassing so.
cial conditions. Never in our coun-
try's history was youth threatened
by such seething clouds of social en-
barrassment and confusion. The
clouds are lowering, and downpour
may be expected. Not only is So
ciety limping upon her crutches, try
ing to preserve and protect few of
her favorite children, but two dis.
tinct races live on the soil
which the Southern boy calls
his own. Never in the his
tory of the world have two races
lived on the same soil long at the
same time. A level must be found.
The one must rise and the other fall.
AS water rises and falls in search of
common level, 80 the one race
rises ard the other falls until COM
mon level is established. They
amaigamate and a race of half
breeds follows. Good Heavens! Is
it so that in the near future our i'm.
mediate posterity is to 90 hand in
hand with that of the now kinky-
headed, thick-lipped, conceited, su-
pereducated son of Ham? Is it so
that his blood must be mixed with
mine ? God forbid Let this body
of mine be trampled under foot
ground to dust by ravaging army
let this body be burned piece by
piece; let life's blood escape drop by
drop, but never let me live to have
to endure the torture of seeing no
white, no black--a mongrel race
dominating this fair, sunny South of
ours.
Nor are sore lack of means and
perilous social condition the only
disadvantages which confront and
discourage the Southern lad of to-
day. The present state of politics is
discouraging to honesty of effort
and sincerely of noble purpose. II
is to be observed that it is generally
the shrewdest rascal who figures
most prominently in politics. 1t
matters little whether they possess
ability or not, if he be one of the
boys, If he belong to the ring, he
can win nine times out of ten, and
the able, honest man must resign
himself to the flood OF difficulties
brought about by fool-hardy and
unscrupulous politician.