The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-25
Thomas G.. Mcleod.

that In Its influence at least, Ii shall
be educational. That these questions
are to be discussed in order that any
views candidate may have may be
heard by the people. These are not
necessarily limited TO issues, but
all of those things which tend to the
development OF the country and its
citizenship come within the scope of
the discussion. 1 shall take IL for
granted that this Is what Is intended,
and the speech which / make today
shall be along the line of questions
which should claim the attention Of
our people for the better development
of our material resources. and for the
development and instruction OF our
citizenship. Naturally. the first ques-
tion which suggests itself IL that of
education. We are living in a time
when education is indeed a vital
question with all of our people. BY
education I do not mean in it's old
and antiquated sense, which limited
IL to few. but I mean in its broad
er and modern acceptance which en-
ters into the life and the life work OF
all TO broaden. brighten and enlarge
In the former or earlier days Of our
history. institutions for higher edu-
cation were established. There can
not 1e any question but what they
did great and noble work If we are
allowed, in the light of subsequen.
history. TO criticise our predecessors,
IL would be to say that they failed
to establish a proper basic foundation
for our educational system, thus, we
have had to deal with a top-heavy
educational system. / wish II under
stood that 1 am in favor Of higher
education In liberal. but not extrav-
agant spirit. and the maintainance,
o, tA .- ..r .s..'nr ;7rtitutions OF
higher 'rarn..E. lne um, past when
e r ur.rs. .rI o. ~rt' el arugment
g. sustain this '.situu. -h, are i'm
pcrteEt rH .-. i4pJ.,.u. as great
ences come. They are important as
places OF preparation for teachers and
Indeed for men in all vocations of
life.
Public Schools.
The last ten years has witnessed
marvellous development In our pub
nNQf t. xtrtt rNlA
i state that / was among the first TO
favor the direct appropriation by the
State government to public schools
Not so much for the amount Of
money they should receive. but for
the reason that II would be the en-
tering wedge and recognition on the
part OF the State that the public
schools were the basis of our edu-
cational system. The particular mas
ure TO which 1 allude did not pass
but II was the entering wedge follow
ed by the enactment OF the high
school bill whereby high schools were
established all over our State. Con-
sequently also. the State has gone
further and now makes direct appro-
priation whereby the terms OF schools
too poor TO employ teachers are pro-
longed. Every boy and girl In South
Carolina cannot go TO college. and
the time will never come when this
will be the case. Every boy and girl
In South Carolina U mean every
white boy and GRID have the right
and should have access to the advan-
tages OF a high school education. Not
only in the movement of education,
which has so happily prospered in
our State. have boys and girls been
educated, but on every side one sees
that the spirit OF education Is abroad
In the land. 1t has seized even those
who are unfortunately unlettered and
unlearned. and they receive It's bene-
first glhdly. The man who goes forth
with a message OF advanced ideas In
any vocation I'm life now finds ready
listeners. Particularly has this influ-
ence been felt on the agriculture of
our State. and any man now who has
advanced ideas. new methods Of
cultivation. OF plowing. OF growing
prona in anV rnannar rao1,, IL.