Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Hon. J. J. McSwaln's Speech. Education is a mixed resultant of many forces. The term is merely relative; no man is entirely unedu cated, and no man is ideally educated. But that education would be palpa bly imperfect which, in this country, and especially in a school supported by the State, failed to furnish sonic direct preparation for the duties of free citizens. In the first number of The Carolinian, the exponent of both societies and the college, during the editorship of your speaker, March, 1897, you will find my immature but earnest ideas thus expressed: "We note with pleasure thb increased inter est in the work of the literary societies. This, too, is one among the most im portant features of college education. A State institution can pose only as educating for citizenship, in the broad principles of pure democracy, in cold ald correct reasoning on economic phenomena, and in the clear and force ful expression of these ideas and rea sonings. The literary society is the only means in our college for training the power of oral expression." These embryonic sentiments are the ba!.is of the more mature convictions I speak tonight-matured by nine years of ex . perience in the school room and at the CJ bar, and a somewhat wide observation c0i of, and experience with, men and e affairs. Though many convictions and sentiments I then entertained have been radically surrendered and others 6 accepted, though time may have soft 5 ened and mellowed many, these feel ings of the boy have fathered the thoughts of the man. HeInce, we now not only advance that the literary society is the best agency in our colleges for instructing in the rights and duties and inspiring with the ideals of citizenship, but we also propose the reasons why such is of necessity the case: 1. The literary society is a voluntary association for mutual improvement. 2. It thus enlists the spontaneous and natural activities of the student. 3. It is free from the repressive in fluence of imposed authority. 4. It is a self-governing body, en acting its own laws, and electing its own officers. 5. Its exercises are marked with legally enforced courtesy and deco rum. 6. It is a constant and impressive school in parliamentary rules and usages. 7. It gives the first and most lasting lesson in the ways and means of cor porate action. 8. Its honors and services are en tirely without monetary value, and monetary motives never prompt or in fluence its action. 9. It couples academic learning to actual living, and bridges the chasm between school and life. 10. It forever fixes iii' memory those maxims of political and social wisdom which historians have culled from the world's.experience. The collegiate course proper is neg ative andh receptive, committing facts, ascertaining and reproducing the thought of others; the work of the society is positive and creative, using the facts of history and experience, making deductions, forming analogies, and drawing distinction's by independ ent processes. These debaters treat academic questions in a practical way, and treat practical questions in an academic way. The test the theories of school in the crucible of common life, they pierce the sophistries of pedantry, they tear from the face of falsehood the mask of hypocrisy, they turn the search light of criticism upon the wordy creations of men, oft re vealing the play houses of fancy. The exercises in the literary society reveal the student's proper perspective of life; lie sees himself not alone as the interested spectator, or even the diligent student of the condition and affairs of men, but as a participant, as an active, responsible, self-governing factor ; lie sees the part lie is play ing and greater part lie is to play in the drama of life. Here he is not constantly met by the superior and more mature, trained powers of the teacher; here his contest is with his equals; here lie feels that lie "counts one" in this affair, and thus his own unknown powers are revealed to him self. In the class room his acquaint ance with his fellow students consists in a mere knowledge of their ability to answer; but here lie conies to know their feelings, their motives, their de sires, thdir ambitions, their ideals, and thus lie comes to know himself. He is strengthened by contact with theit powers; lie is ennobled by a revela tion of their better and truer selves; he is inspired by the evidence of their ambitions; and his love of country is enlarged by their patriotic fervor. Here he seeks the cause for all facts; the reasons for all institutions; the justification for every custom. He comes to regard and reverence law for its reason and spirit, and not merely to observe blindly, or disregard rash ly, its form and letter. He finds her seat in the bosom of God, he hears her voice amid the harmonies of the universe; lie sees all things in heaven and earth obey her, the very least as' feeling her protection, and the great est as not exempted from her power. With the premise that human nature is ever and everywhere the same, the debater subjects existing institutions, laws and customs to the analysis of reason, and tests them by the stand ards of experience in other ages and countries. He takes all knowledge, all philosophy, all experience for his field. He is stimulated by an exercise of imagination, memory and reason not afforded -elsewhere. Here his debates become vital issues and real contests. The closest attention and the most ac tive thought are enforced, in order to dletect incorrect or misappliedl facts, fallacious and illogical reasoning, and to shiow the evil consequences of the princip)le contended for by the op) ponet. He encroaches upon the terri tory of international relations, and measures the conduct of world powers by the standards of good conscience. The association and contact of num hers gathered in one p)lace for a com mon putrpiose undler a common name, independent of exteriial authority, but mindful of the high obligation of self government, awake to activity the better impulses of youthful iiature. The dignity of manhood's estate, the obligations of power, the privileges o'f voluntary exercise, the exhilaration of expected victory, the ambition for of ficial station in the society, all are -NOTCH 6E9.ONT The "Ara-Notch" makes the "Belmont" ARROW COLLAR Sit Perfectly f5c,21o,25c. CluCtt. Peabody & Co., Makers ARROW CUFFS 25 cents a pair GEORGE TOPSHE'S College Fruit Store Is where the Carolina Boy's hang out. He carries a full line of the Nationaf Biscuit Company's dainty Cakes and Crackers. Cigars, Cigar ettes and Tobacco BEST SOFT DRINKS AND ALL FRUITS IN SEASON GIVE "THE SENATOR ' A CALL "THE RENDEZVOUS FOR YOU" Gonzalea Book Co. ALL KINDS OF BOOKS AND STATIONERY FOR THE CAROLINA MEN it P aS P .S 1Vir. C. K. Dillingham Campus Rgent ABBOTT'S CIGAR STORE Headquarters for Carolina GIVE US A CALL Cor. LADY and MAIN STS. MANUFACTI HIGH GRADE FERTILIZER1 IMPORTERS OF POTASH Al WORKS ON ASHLEY RIVER Frank E. Taylor, V.-Pres. and Gen. Mgr. ETIWA$ FERTIhil Diamond Soluble Bone ani Also Etiwan Cotton Compound an WARITE US F When you get money from hon Checking Account. Sti j'ational Loan & , COLIUIB2 " h Stirongest Ban EDWIN W. ROBERTSON, Prest. EDWARD EHRLIH V ine.Prent E. D. E A LIS 10 BIS IOTT Represents the C. C. Laundry. Ask him for special rates to Students Suits Cleaned $1 Our equipment for Good Printing is up-to-date, and we solicit a part of your business. Our motto: PRINTING WHEN YOU WANT IT Edward C. DuPre, Proprietor 1816 MAIN ST. PHONE 118 How About Mechanical Drawing Instruments. I have a full line of Instruments, Pencils, Rules of all kinds, Ink, Paper, Drawing Boards, and in fact can give you a complete outfit very cheap. . No use to go up town, I sell as cheap or cheaper than any one in town, and am only a few steps from your room. Tiy me. J. S. DANTZLER No. 5 Elliott. UNDER NEW 1ROAGEMENT I wish to notify my customers that after November 1st our studio will be ready for business. We have thor oughly renovated, - refurnished and equipped our studio with all modern instruments known to the photographic art. The studio will be prepared to produce work second to none. Lady in attendance. W. A. RECKIING CO. PHOToGRAPsS LJRERS OF 3 AND ACID PHOSPHATES TD NITRATE OF SODA Office: 141 E. BAY STREET CHARLESTON, S. C. OF CHARESTON, ZEIR CO. SOUT11 CAROhINA TOB WELL-HNOWN I Plow Brand Fertilizers d High Grade Trobacco Fertilizers 'OR PR1CES e deposit it with us and run a a.rt right now with the Exchange Bank [A, S. C. k in the Cau'olinass" T. B1. STACKHIoUSE, vice-Prest. GILBERT M. BERRY, Cashier. E. C. CATHOART, ABat. Cashier. I4+++ +++++ +444+&agn.4aa