The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-01-22
"Twin Brothers." :

That seems rather a unique
characterization of the subject
now to be considered, yet true
one. I think. Ignorance and
Corruption are the twin brothers
referred to, and they are the
most dangerous mixture to be
contemplated. Mexico is a glar-
ing illustration of this fact.
There a very small per cent. of
the people can read OF write, and
corruption has become SO ram
pant and notorious that her gov
ernment and industrial affairs
have become SO rotten that it is
a stencil to all civilization.
Wherever and whenever the
mental and moral training and
Development Of people are neg
lected, then and there ignorance
is fostered and will soon have
full sway, and this in turn gives
vitality to corruption, which
sooner later will result in an
archy.
The greatest need of today is
the thoughtful consideration by
our wisest men of deyising some
rule, or plan, or law, whereby
the force and ultimate ruin
caused by these twin brothers
may be minimized if not alto
gether stopped.
And just here it might not be
amiss to remind our lawmakers,
who are now in session in Co.
lumbia, that reforms, like char
ity, should begin at home. The
way to keep a house from burn
ing down is TO put out the fire in
it's inclpiencY and not wait till
the flames have gained such
headway as to envelop the whole
building. The way to provide
and protect against future troub-
bles is to make the laws 50 they
cannot come.
The most important matters
to come before the legislature at
this time, in my Judgment, are
the compulsory education bill
and the reformation Of our cleo
ton laws. These are twin broth
ers, and if they are properly en-
acted and strictly enforced will
make it impossible for the other
twin brothers ignorance and
corruption ~ to succeed in this
state.
Let our people be educated by
all means and at any cost. The
children now will be the men of
tomorrow, and if we fail to pro
vide them with the equipment
Gan education) by which thew
can make the best and most usel
full men and women, they will
grow up and make the opposite
The ballot is a very danger us
weapon when used by the unin
formed. 1t is this class that the
demagogue and designing poll
tician caters to, for he knows he
can play upon their ignorance
and thereby engender prejudice
and strife.
There is a tendency along this
line in South Carolina, and the
only way to stop it is to have
compulsory education and strict
election laws.
If we are to continue the pri-
mary system the laws and rules
controlling it should be so rigid
that it would be impossible to
commit fraud without detection.
and when one is caught let him
be SO severely punished as to de-
ter others. Our lawmakers have
the opportunity now of prevent
ing a repetition of the occurren-
ces of two years ago, and if they
do not do something to purify
things and make the primary
system little cleaner there will
be worse trouble this year. Will
they do it? Have they the fore
sight to see it and haye thev the
backbone to try to correct it?
This is what we are Watching to
see.
Pass your compulsory educa-
ton bill, gentlemen, and then
the most stringent law possible
safeguarding our elections. and
it the governor wants to veto
them, let him do it. CIVIS.