The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-06
CONFERENCE FOR EDUCATION.
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lIsalsl slaEasUl I Uil aDUUAliUis.
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personal service, Mr.. Ogden paid this
hne tribute TO DR. Curry, so tenderiy
remembered in Richmond:
Tho appeal FOR personal service IN
shis holy Gauss Of popular education
comes with largely added force from
TIE fact so painfully Impressed upon
all familiar with our conference life
that Ms meet today with ranks sadly
broken. The Nestor Of this conference
g, L M. Curry, absent last year
on an important government mission
so foreign country, has paid the
debt to nature and viii personally ap-
pear no more at our meetings. An
other opportunity will be given the
conference 10 pay It's tribute OF respect
TO his character and public service.
Brt the solemnisy with which we
face The question OF the personal call
TO duty is made intensely profound by
the thought Of the inspiring example
off our leader. The massive and IN
tense personal ferce of his nature was
dedicated with uncompromlsing de-
yeSion 90 the work Of universal educa-
sion. TIE moulding power of his con-
sssuctiFs mind will remain permanent
Iy Impressed upon the education sys-
TENS Of our Southern States as an un-
ceasing bstterment. His last pubic
serFice was attendance Upon the
annual sessions OF the Education
Boards at New York IN January. 1t is
GRATIFYING TO know that from this con-
ference and Its cogna,5e forces he de-
rived much hope and satisfaction IN
sdsclining years. He courage In jan
nary was splendid and he confidently
expected 8 renewal of strength that
would warrant his resumption OF ac-
tire service But to the rest OF the
circle it vas plain that his hopes would
not be realized, and we felt, as dld
the Ephesiaa elders when parting from
st Paul, full OF sorrow that We should
see his face no more. His example IS
call to duty, his Legacy to US is a
beaussto OF labor for the cause which ne
and ne In common love. AS gne
standard has fallen from his hand, let
rs raise and carry it floating skyWard
nm5il we in turn surrender 1t TO otner
hands. And then may it be ours to
leave the same impress CT a noble task
well performed as q benediction to our
little world and challenge to the
services Of others. =
The address vas heard with keen
attention and every one regarded 1t a,
mastery effort.
DR.. EDWIN s. ALDERMAN.
One Of tie brightest and most
Charming addresses Of the session was
delivered by Dr.. Edwin A. Alderman,
of NeH Orleans. By way of intro
duction TO his discussion he said: I
desire to report to this conference to-
day the work attempted, the results
thus far accomplished and the plans
IN mind in the Southwestern field
since the list session of this conference
Ii ApriI, 1902. It should be clearly
understood that our great purpose IS
sc arouse an irresistible public opIn-
ION FOR the establishment and mainten-
ance of system of schools adequate
for the needs OF fires people. The
first achievement Of this public opin-
ion viii be the appropriation OF sufii-
cent money for such schools. This
money may be obtained by Stste ap-
nsopriatioa, by local taxation and COM
naunisg effort, and by appropriation
Of nnexpendsd balances by parish and
county boards. The next achievement
will be the consolidation OF weak
schools into strong central schools
and tho hauling OF children TO these
central schols. It is believe that bet
Ter school houses, the trained teacher
and ali other blessings viii follow In
she wake OF these achievements.
Much has been accomplished In these
directions By devoted men in the
Southwestern field for the last twenty
wears, but each new generation must
Fight for its Life and the life OF the
( generation to come.
TROUBLESOME MISSISSIPPI.
. sDemocEacies are not In the habit
Of being carried in a chariot Of en-
thusiasm TO height of civic perfec-
ton. The whole process is tollsone
process Of convincing and persuasion.
am not going to speak OF difficulties
here today; they are there, but it IS
onr business to get rid OF them. Per
! haps, however, may be pardoned for
mentioning the Mississippi River. 1t
costs Louisiana million dollars a
year to control that river in normal
times. It will cost it this year mill
Iion and 3 half in addition to this.
This is very grave difficulty indeed,
which the lower Mississippi Valley
should be relieved of by the United
States Government. It has been i'm
possible TO asremrG anything prac-
fical in the river region this spring.
Still I can say that it has not dim
;nished the zeal of these people in
educational matters. Indeed, it seems
to have increased their interest In a
way, as men are always more interest
ed IN vital things when they are IN
trouble.
THE FINAL WORD.
The last word I have to say to this
conference, therefore is distinct
word Of hope for the future and OF
praise to the citizens of Louisiana
rom Governor Heard to the simplest
ran among them. Their response to