The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-01-24
GOV. R. A. COOPER'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS

spirit of sacrifice and disinterested-
ess of purpose which characterized
our people in time of war. Let US
maintain the psychology of war in
time of peace. Only in this way can
we approach every question with
that breadth of view and singleness
of purpose necessary to enable us to
COOPER'S ADDRESS, Galley 2
see conditions as they really exist
unobscured by selfish or purely To-
cal interest. Our. aim must be to
give, and not to receive. The COM
mon good, and not personal inter-
est must be our concern. Do you
have a feeling of anxiety about the
immediate future? Do you expect a
league of nations, so much talked of
today, to give US permanent peace?
Every right thinking persons want
a peace of this character. Will we be
able to establish it is the vital ques
ton of the hour. Representatives of
the principal governments of the
world are now in Paris to agree on
peace terms. But the question of
permanent peace depends on the at
titude of the governments of the
world towards one another. The ten
dency throughout the world is ce
tainly toward the American idea that
all power and authority is vested in
the people. We cannot doubt the
patriotism of our people. Their will
'ingness to sacrifice and serve has
been recently demonstrated that no
suestion can arise along this line, but
he preparedness of our people to
meet the issues of the hour may be
questioned. The serious problems of
today can be traced directly to the
neglected duties of hte past. Could
we have realized ten years ago that
a world war of immense magnitude
was a real danger, we would have
been so well prepared to meet the
issue that no war would have come.
If we can now be made to realize tn,
dangers that threaten us in time of
peace, that Bolshevism, anarchy and
commercial greed which naturally
follow in the wake of war are not
confined to European Nations, but
is real issue in America as. we'll, we
will no longer delay the adoption and
execution of program of prepared
ness which should have been carried
ut years ago.
Education First.
During the canvass of the stat
last summer I stated repeatedly tina
South Carolina could no longer post
pone the adoption of an educational
program which meets the demands of
tre presnt,' and adequately provides
fo rthe future. This 1 regard as the
one essential thing for this General
Assembly to do. am aware of that
this has been the favorite theme of
politicians in all of our campaigns in
he past, and that it is expected of
The Governor in his inaugural addres
to have quite a good deal to say on
This important subject" But gen
glemen 1 beg you to believe that
am not approaching the subject as
I matter of form, or as following a
custom. | wish to submit to you some
very definite propositions, and urge
your most serious and thoughtful
consideration.
l recommend the passage Of an &C;
providing for a minimum school term
Of seven months for every school
district in the state, and an .cmen6-
meat of the present compulsory at
tendance law so as to require the al
tendance at school of all children be-
tween the ages of eight and fourteen
years during the minimum school
:erm. This age lint should be rails
ed to sixteen years within the near
future. 1t is useless, however, to
provide for a minimum school term
md a compulsory attendance law
without adequate provision for en-
forcement. 1t must be made the duty
someone in each county to see that
the compulsory attendance provision