Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ON COMPULSORY Kfll. REPRESENTATIVE VERNER ELABORATES HIS EDUCATIONAL VIEWS. "mm m_ FMDIENCY" Two Head? 'nder Which He Bases Opposi tion to UL cation by Command. [CoUit Ma 8tato.j In a recent it i e of your paper I am invited thron. . its columns (1) to state my reasonb for opposing tho compulsory school i w ; (2) to jus tify my statement, r? < >ntly mado ou the floor of the House f Representa tives, with reference o the condi tions prevailing in Ms 'aohusetts, in .entrust with those o this State; (3) to be more specific ii my declara tion that a certain odu. ated olass, ??from the exeoutive down,1 is largely responsible for the non-en orcement of the law ; and (4) to state whether I am opposed to eduoation. While, Mr. Editor, I am naturally a\ )rse to becoming involved in a now ?aper controversy, still I wish to than you for the opportunity to give a i ore extended ontline of my remarks m the floor of the Rouse than was put lished in your paper, because I fee. that I am giving expression, not merely to my own sentiments in the matter at issue, but also to the senti ments of a considerable majority of thc zueuubers ot that House, as well as the people of '.he State. I wish to preface also the remark that it seems to me rather unfortunate that the opponents of compulsory educa tion should bo classed indiscrimi nately as "fools and demagogues" by those who happen to differ from them. On the contrary, I feel that that appelation is both unfair and unjust to men who are as honest and sincere and patriotic in their devo tion to their duty and their Stato as any of their opponents." ' It might also bo well to add that by no process of logic can it be inferred that the opponents of a compulsory school law aro opposed to educatiou ; be canso I feel perfectly sure that tho cause of education can find no better champions or more sincere advocates than among their ranks. But to the subject: (1) My rea sons for opposing a compulsory law. I oppose it (a) as a matter of principle, (b) as a matter of expedi ency. As a matter of principle, I believe this government to be founded on and resting in tho v iii of the people, and that it derives ail of its powers from the consent of tho governed. Seeing, then, no indication, either ex pressed or implied, that they desire such a law, I hold that until wo have an expression of the will of a majori ty of the people we havo no authority for enacting a law Which touches every home in South Carolina. Al though I know the constitutionality of such legislation has been main tained by thc courts, still I am of the opinion that legislation of this kind frequently does vastly more harm than good, for it invariably breeds dissatisfaction and opposition. Laws that touch personal and family rela tions, before their enactment, ought to bo the object of tho maturest thought and deliberation, because the greatest care ought to be exercised not to infringe or abridge any of those sacred rights which tho Anglo Saxon people have, sinco time im memorial, regarded as dearer than lifo itself. South Carolina, be it said to her honor, has repeatedly refused to follow the lead of other States in enacting divorce legislation, but it seems to me quite as unsafe to force tho child from the homo as to sanc tion the. separation of husband and wife. It is also rather^ remarkable and pertinent that divorce laws and compulsory school laws aro found sido by side in thc samo States. Al most every State ir. the Union that has enacted ono has enacted the other. Legislation to take tho control of the child out of the hand? of tho parents, however, I hold to bo per nicious in principle, becauso at the same timo the State would hold thc parent responsible for its support and conduct. The right of the parent over his child is tho most sacred of all rights, and henoe abovo all other rights. The Stato is but the crea ture of the people, and such legisla tion would tend to make thc rights of the people secondary, and the thing created, therefore, greater than the creator. It has a tendenoy un doubted!*/ to give strength to the building at the expense of the builder, when we all know this to be a philosophy that is false, both in theory and in praotice. I am opposed to such legislation | again, because it would tend to) lessen parental responsibility and cause dissension and strife in the home, the place where, above all others, there should be peace and concord. I am opposed to it because it substitutes force for reason, dependence for independ ence, and would seize upon the most sacred right, the most precious gift from the hand of a gracious God. To reason for a thing is better than to fight for it, to lead a people than to drive them. Tolerance, patience, reason are far preferable to intoler ance, spite, malice, vindictiveness, hate, force. I hold to freedom above all things in our domestic life, and would cultivate that everlasting, God given longing in every human soul to have something of its own to do ns it pleases with. Any legislation which interferes with domestic rela tions and tends to abridge the rights | of tho parent invariably breeds dis satisfaction and distrust of the gov ernmental authority. Again the training and control of | tur children bas already, to an ai "ming extent, slipped from the ham. of the mother, and the ten dency t ima more and more to sad dle the te., -hers with such grave and unnatural rt *?onsibility, and this, it seems to me, L S had m nob to do with cultivating u d inculcating dis regard and disrespiut on tho part of j the child for parental rule and gov ernment. It is at least certainly apparent to all that children nowadays are far more disrespectful and unruly than formerly, and seem to regard them selves as possessed of certain privi leges of speech and conduct which do not comport with their age and posi tion. This trouble would be greatly augmented by any law where tbe parent would bo forced to send tho child from home, whether he is able properly to clotho or feed it or not. No, I conscientiously fear and believe that the tendency of such legislation is very unfortunate, and that in its I enactment it would cause vastly moire harm than good. I heartily subscribe to that wholesome old re publican doctrine that our govern ment is of tho people, by tho people, and for the people and by thc family and for the fnmily as the foundation of all good gov ernment, and not of the news papers, and not by tho school teach ers and for the office holders. The above appears to mc sufficient reason for the faith that is in us ; and per mit me to gay in concluding this part of the subject that I believe any man or set of men who would take the j control of the children out of the hands of their parents would, if the opportune moment over came, take the control of tho State out of the hands of the people. (2.) Of course if such legislation be wrong in principle, then nothing more need be said, but as there are many of us who are opposed to and voted against it as a matter of ex pediency, I need not apologize for stating that we are satisfied that the most potent factor that seems to prevent regularity in school attend ance is not an indifference and indis position on the part of the people to send their children to school, but a lack of means. Wc have moro confidence in the people of the State than to believe that there arc any great number of thom who are so mean, and neglectful of their own interests, as not to send their chil dren to school when they are able to do so. There are many other causes that operate to keep children from school than tho mere indisposition on the part of their parents to send them, l'ovorty, a sparsely settled country, lack of a sufficient number of school houses, poorly constructed buildings, inefficiency of teachers, all of theso causes are at work. Self-preserva tion is tho first of nature's laws, and whore poverty is there is frequently need for the active assistance and co-operation of every member of the homo to keep the wolf from the door. It is only too wei! known that in many of our rural sections it is neces sary for the schools to dose in order | that the children may assist in plant ing and harvesting the crops. If all of tho people were above the reach of poverty, if the population wero suf ficiently dense to support a school bouse within reach of each home, if ill of the school houses were proper ly constructed to keep out the win ter's blast, and if the teachers were all efficient, then there, would be no necessity for compulsory eduoation. Although, Mr. Editor, indifference may be, and doubtless is, a factor operating to keep children from school, still we maintain that it is but insiguifioant in oomparison with those I have just enumerated. No. It ap pears to us that the defeots of our educational system needs a far more radical treatmeut than that afforded by a compulsory sohool law. The system should be so perfected, so developed, so manned and thereby be made so attractive and inviting that every individual in the State would be drawn irresistibly by thirst for knowledge to the Bohools of the State. Where force is necessary to or?ate a desire for education then aducation is, and always will be, a failure. The two cannot go together. Moreover, with such conditions prevailing, the law if enacted would be but a dead letter. Unpopular in itself, and meeting with such in mperable obstados in the way of its mforoement, the result would be in- : svitable. This view, indeed, ?B con Srmed by the report of the United , States Commissioner of Education, who in nearly every report of recent fears has had to make thc comment Amt the law is not and iudeed oan 10t be enforced in States as sparsely populated as this ; but the best ex imple of its enforcement is to be found in the more densely populated States of the North, and even some if these, notably Massachusetts, (ind it necessary to make exemptions in favor of certain thinly populated counties. Of course it is unnecessary for me to elaborate the argument that laws when unenforced, whatever the cause, arc positively harmful in their effect, tending as they do to breed a disrespect for all law and authority ; it is well known that our statute books already contain too many laws that invito defiance. In fact, I know of no one thing that has Baused more disrespect for the law than that of enacting such legisla tion. (3.) I am asked to justify or ex plan my remark about tho devil ment in Massachusetts." The state ment I made was brought out by tho claim that "the schools, the churches, Ibo small per cent, of crime, and the wealth of that State were the result :>f compulsory education," and I spoke in substance as follows : Massachu jetts is not the State for us to copy awe from, a State that burned witches, that tratlicked in slaves, jelling them to us, and then being foremost to take up arms ?b*r their freedom and placing upon us the greatest burden the South ever had ; i State that has never lost an oppor tunity to enrich itself at our expense. South Carolina and Massachusetts lave always occupied antipodal posi tons on matters of public policy, and [ am yet to learn that South Carolina s wrong. Of course I would not be io ridiculous as to argue that an edu ction does not increase a man's ?arning capacity and better equip rim for discharging tho duties of 3itizenship, but at the same time none of us are blind to the fact that the laboring classes of the South, iespite its lack of compulsory school awB, is to-day and always has been happier and better satisfied than those of Massachusetts. Our labor ing classes aro contented and happy, those of Massachusetts are restless ind wretched, involved in strikes and *iots and labor agitations. Massa ?husetts has always taught tho doc omo that the citizen is not bound to lo anything for bis State or render my service to it unless he is paid for t, and that tho Stato is an institution, lot for thc protection of life, liberty ind property merely, but an organi zion that can be used to put money n tho pockets of those who can con sol it. Teaching this doctrine, ac iording to "Frenzied Finance," it , ias become thc most corrupt State n the Union and tho prey of cor porations and greed. The opposition , ?eld up and emphasized our poverty, mr ignorance, our orimes and claimed i hat illiteracy was at tho bottom of t ai!, and that education was the mly remedy and compulsory eduoa ion the sure panacea for all our ills ; \ md I held that there was no more ense in that claim than in the ? ?laim that the advantages of Massa- j b lisette over this State were at- i ributable entirely to eduoation, or I ,hat our disadvantages como from i TOCCOA, GA. 28-inch Bellows 30-inoh Bellows. 32-iuoh Bellows. 84-inch Bellows 30-inoh Bellows. 40-inch Bellows. Buggy and Wagon I Buggy Harness, $5.50 per Bet up to $ Wagon Harneas, $2.50 per set up to f Collars aud Collar Pads. Poultry Nettin 3- foot Netting, per 150 foot roll. 4- foot Netting, per 150 foot roll. 5- foot Netting, per 150 foot roll. Builders' Suppli Our stock of Builders' supplies is particular. Sash, Doors and Blin anybody. Qive us a call. MATHESON h lack of a compulsory school law. I said" furthermore, and say now, that J all the ills to which the flesh is heir cannot and should not be ?aid at the door of illiteracy, and that tho^n who would so charge them ought to sweep about their own doors ; that, they j should first cast the beam out of their own eyes, and then they would see more clearly to pull the moto out of their brother's eye ; that eduoation alone could not auswer for all things ; that character was paramount, and that a certain educated olass, from Governors and judges down, was; largely responsible for the non enforcement of tho law, the distrust of tho people, and a loss of conlV.ence in the Government. This brings me| to my fourth division. (4.) That the burdon for the re sponsibility for existing conditions rests with the educated class is evi dent to the most casual thinker. Jury duty is evaded, courts sus pected, and a prodigal uso made of the pardoning power. Again it is notorious that through the evasion of jury duty by the educated classes, and the shrewdness of educated law yers, the ends of law are frequently controverted and the criminal goes unwhipped of justice. I do not feel called upon to cite particular cases to justify this statement; they will occur to every reader. Moreover) the violation of our usury laws by [ the banks and money-lending cor porations is the subject of too fre quent comment and complaint to. need more than a passing refeicnce. j All of this surely is not to be laid at f the door of the poor and illiterate, and because I enumerate sulb viola tions of tho law by the educated olass, I am not surely to be classed as an opponent of education. There is a distinction between education and compulsory education. Such conduct on the part of the educated olass in this Sta e has done more barm in the last .wenty years than the illiterate in a hundred years. (5.) This brings mo to your fourth and last request-that I state whether I am opposed to education or not. While, Mr. Editor, I deem it un necessary, if not ridiculous, to com ply with such a request, I beg leavo to refer you to a recent 1. sue of your papor and tho News and Courier which contained tho following com ments on a speech made by me in favor of the university bill : "Mr. Vernor mado decidedly the mo thoughtful speech delivered on thc floor of the house this session." "Mr. Vernor made ono of the most elo quent speeches made this session." E. E. Vernor. To Extend Cotton Trade. Washington, February 22.-In ac cordance with his statement to tho delegation of cotton planters yester day, tho President to-day had a talk with Sonators Foster, of Louisiana, and Clay, of Georgia, concerning the oroation of a commission for the in vestigation of trade conditions in the Orient with tho viow to developing the trade in cotton goocls. Tho President regards it as important that tho far Eastern trade in cotton goods should bo enlarged, if possible. The Sonators thought it very proba ble that it would not be possible to provide, by legislation, for the pro posed commission at this session. At noxt session, however, they will press for such legislation as may be neces sary to promote tho cotton trade. E LEA OTHERS FOLLOW. -THREE STORES-^* MARTIN, GA. - W kCKSMITH .$4 80 . 4 60 .4 75 . 6 00 . 6 75 .7 60 larness. io. .6. .$2 25 . . 2 75 . 8 25 es. complete in every de oheaper than SUPPL 100-pound Cast A 100-pound Wroug 24-inoh Daoksmit Hi il id Steel LI am m Hui id Hf el Cleave Everything in BU Heymon Cirole Georgia Bateho Extra No. 1 Plo Bar Barb Wire, $2.00 Wire NnilB,|$2.50, It will pay you to Buggy Hickory Buggy R I. Oak One-Hor8e W P Oak Two-Horse V ?ARDWARE CO., " ?a#ip^WiJ<$i1W^d?y^^^T^? Shooting in Columbia. | Columbia, February 21. Jehu Hunt, of Hunt Bros., restaurant keep ers on Gervais street, was shot and probably killed this afternoon by Chas. Walker, said to be an employee in the Columbia Duck Mill. Some time ago Walker, with Ott Collum and Jim Collum, half brothers, entered the restaurant and created a disturb ance. They were put out. The three went to the restaurant again this afternoon in an intoxicated con dition, and they were again ejected. The three, returning later, Jim Cul lum called Hunt out. While they were holding a colloquy the other two came np and Walker, without a word, drew a pistol and, placing it on Hunt's stomach, fired. Hunt grabbed his assailant and held bim until others arrived. Hunt then collapsed. The other two men were also arrest ed. Hunt was taken to the hospital and physicians expressed little hope of his recovery. With ten Circuit Judges and with eaoh Supremo Court Justioc provided with a fund for a stenographer, we may hope that tho legal business of the State will bo much more expedi tiously disposed of than heretofore. Tho State has incurred heavy ex pense to comply with the demands of the bar and bench. It is now for the legal profession to discharge its obligation to the commonwealth. Columbia State. imDovBrlsfted Soil Impoverished soil, like impov erished blood, needs a proper fertilizer. A chemist by analyz ing the soil can tell you what fertilizer to use for different products. If your blood is impoverished your doctor will tell you what you need to fertilize it and give it the rich, red corpuscles that tire lacking in it. It may be you need ti tonic, but more likely you need a concentrated fat food, and fat is the element lacking in your system. There is no fat food that is so easily digested and assimi lated as Scott's Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil It will nourish and strengthen the body when milk and cream tail to do it. Scott's Emulsion ia always the same; always palatable and always beneficial where the body is wasting from any cause, either in children or adults. We will send you a am m pis fi-ve. Bo sure that this nic turo in tho form of a label is on tho wrapper of every bottle of Emul sion you buy. SCOTT & BOWNE CHEMISTS ?09 Kan St., Hm Tort 60c. and $1.00. All Druggists. ESTMINSTER, S. C. IES. nvil.M 00 ht Anvil, $8.60 to. 10 00 h TOUR?. ?? - iere, 25o. and up. % ra and Hardios, 30o. and up. koksmitb Suppliea. Plow Stocks. Foot Plow Stocks, OOo. t Plow Stooks, 80o. w Handles, 25o, per pair. b Wire and Nails. per 100 poundB. Keg base, buy from xis. and Wagon Repairs. ?mn, 86c. per sot. ragon Kims, $l per set. (Tagon Rims, $1.26 per set. ,_ /ESTMINSTER, S. C. 4 What a Barrel of Whiskey Contains. A barrel of headaobes, heartaches, of woes, A barrel of ourses, a barrel of blows; A barrel of sorrow from a loving, weary wife, A barrel of care, a bro rel of strife; A barrel of unavailing regret, A barrel of cares, a barrel of debt; A barrel of hunger, of poison, of pain, A barrel of bopos all blastod and vain ; A barrel of poverty, ruin and blight, A barrel of tears that run in the night; A barrel of crime, a barrel of groans, A barrel of orphan's roost pitiful moans; A barrel of serpent* that hiss as they pass, That grow from tho liquor in the hoad of the glass. A barrol of falsehoods, a barrel of ories, That falls from tho mauiao's lips as he dios. WTPll After oatlng, persons of n bilious habit: will derive great benefit by taking one of these pills. If you have been DRINKING TOO MUCH, they will promptly relieve thc nausea. SICK HEADACHE_-. and nervousness which follows, restore the appetite and remove gloomy feel ings. Elegantly sugar coated. Take No Substitute. What is Sympathy? Sympathy is food to a starving heart. Sympathy is two hearts pulling at one load. I Sympathy is the staff on which trouble leans. Sympathy is thc cream that rises on the milk of human kindness. Sympathy in sorrow's hour is like the gentle rain to drooping flowers. Sympathy is the least the rich may give, the most the poor can offer. Sympathy is the blossom grown from the costly bulb called personal suffering. 1 Sympathy is a well toned instru ment that readily responds to notes of weal or woe. Sympathy is the most powerful humnn|? magnet for attracting and holding friendship. Sympathy is perfect forgetfulness of oneself in true feeling for the un happiness of others. Sympathy is love's healing balm sproad by pity's tende, hand on sor row's heart wound. Who Should Not Marry. The woman who expects to have "a good, easy time." The woman who wants to refur nish her house every spring. Tho woman who buys for tho mere pleasure of buying. Tho woman who thinks that cook and nurse can keep house. Tho woman who would rather die than wear last season's hat. The woman who expects a declara tion of lovo three times a day. Tho woman who marries in order to havo some one to pay her bills. Thc woman who thinks she can get *f>,000 worth of style out of $1,000 income. The woman who proudly declares that she cannot hera a pocket hand kerchief and novor made up a bed in her lifo. Grayce-They tell me she's not a bit pretty. What docs she look like, anyhow ? Gladys-Well, my dear, shu re sembles you as much as anybody I know.-Louisville Courier-Journal.