Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-14
The state in Reply.

p
Senator McLaurin's third and final
letter in defense Of his opposition to
compulsory education is presented to-
day. it's publication having been de-
layed by exigencies OF the inaugural
ton of a Democratic president.
Mr.. McLaurin disclaims having re.
cited Browning or quoted king Lear
to his 75-cent-a-day white tenants
True. What we desire to impress up
on him is that his manner OF consider
ing the needs of the poor people come
as near reaching them as would g. dis
course on the classics. They need
bread and meat, and he suggests q DIT
Of angel cake.
Mr.. McLaurin argues that poverty,
not ignorance, Is responsible for the
want of his tenants. But why does
he not show us that ignorance is the
result Of poverty? Why does he not
point us to intelligent men, capable OF
reading about, understanding ana ap-
plying modern methods Of agriculture
as taught by the various agencies, who
are nevertheless poverty-stricken ten
ants? II Is reflection upon the INTEL
ligence Of our readers to call upon US
to reiterate that poverty Is, the world
over, the child Of ignorance and not
its parent.
Educate that tenants son, Mr.. NC
Laurin and you will Immediately lose
that young man as tenant willing TO
work for SIS month. Give him even
a little education and he will move up
and better his condition.
II the education Of the people can
not change "hard and fast financial
conditions" how are they going to be
changed, Mr.. McLaurin? Educate the
their rights and how to get them, and
they will be the less readily bamboo
zled than debauched.
We do not agree with Mr.. McLau-
rim that the case of the literate clerk
in a store Is worse than that OF the
lilliterate farm hand working for the
barest living. The farm hand, carry
ing the burden Of ignorance, can nev-
er advance, while the way Is open TO
the clerk. Thousands OF wealthy mer.
chants today began as office boys ana
clerks. A millionaire Columbia mer-
chant began his business career by
sweeping out the store-but ne couio
read and write and multiply and sub
tract, and intelligence and energy did
the rest Had he been illiterate he
would have remained a laborer with
his hands.
We do not, Of course, object to the
Introduction Of Christ into the argu-
ment." What the editor wrote was:
why introduce Christ into any sort
| of argument against any sort OF edu-
cation when his life on earth was CIV
en- to teaching and he commissionedi
his disciples to 60 forth and teach.
The line against any sort or educa-
ton" was dropped" and 80 changed
the meaning.
ELOQUENT when I discuss the rights of
man" says Mr.. McLaurin. What a
pity he starts backwards! What a
pity his view Of the rights Of man" Is
SO painfully narrow. He can be elo-
uuent over the rights Of a parent to
keep his son in black ignorance, but
he is tongue-tied when 1t comes to de-
Tending that defenseless boy from
lifelong humiliating bondage to ig-
norance! ASK him." said Mr.. Bryan,
when told Of this controversy "wheth-
er a parent has the right to cut on
one Of the arms Of son before send
ing him into the world to compete
with those having two arms? In ad-
dressing the Alumni association OF the the
University Of South Carolina In 19OS,
Harry N. Edmunds, ESQ.,, Of Colum-
bia, reminded them as follows:
but already the words Of Danton,
uttered in the assembly shortly after
the French revolution were taxing
root. It was he, you remember, VINO
among the first, advocated public in
struction and compulsory education.
Fired with the Righteousness OF mis-
cause, he reminded the French assem-
bly, that after bread the first need OF
the people was education; that 'after
having given liberty to France. after
having vanuuished her enemies there
could be no honor greater than to pre-
pare for future generations an educa-
ton in keeping with the liberty and
said he: When I consider my rights
relative to the general good I feel ell
eyated. My son Is not mine. He be-
longs to the republic. Let her dictate
his duties that he may best serve
her."
That, senator. is eloquence; that Is
patriotism.
Imam, Thomas Jefferson referred to
proposed amendment to the constitu-
| ton Of Spain in these words:
I'm the constitution of Spain, as pro-
/ posed by the late Cortes. there was
/ principle entirely new to me, and moi
j noticed in yours, that no person, born
| after that day. should ever acquire the
rights of citizenship until he could
read and write. 1t Is impossible sur.
lficiently to estimate the wisdom of that
| provision. OF all those which have
been thought of for securing fidelity
in the administration of the govern
ment, constant reliance to the prlncl'
ples of the constitution. and progress.
live amendments with the progressive
Advances of the human mind, OF
changes in human affairs. 1t is the
most effectual. Enlighten people gen.
orally and tyranny and expressions OF
body and mind will vanish like evi
spirits at the dawn Of day."
That, Mr.. McLaurin, Is statesman
ship; and that statesman's vision was
Il from the mountain top.