USA > South Carolina > School history of South Carolina > Part 20
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21. By act of the legislature, approved December 23. 1891, there was established, as a branch of the South Carolina Uni- versity, an institution for the practical training and education of white girls, known as "The South Carolina Industrial and Winthrop Normal College," and into this school was to be merged the Winthrop Training School. A board of trustees was appointed by the legislature and authorized to secure
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bids from different sections of the state for the location of the school. After taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of the different offers. in money and sites, made for the purpose of seenring the location of the school. the board decided, in the spring of ISO9. to locate it at Rock Hill. York County, and a few mouths thereafter work on the buildings was commenced.
22. The buildings of the Orangeburg Female College (white) were bonght in 1'09 by Rey. A Webster, D. D., and Z. Wil. lard Lewis, and. in December of that year. a charter was obtained from the legislature and the name changed to Claflin University, in honor of Hon. Lee Claflin, of Boston, Mass .. through whose aid, and that of his son, Hon. William Claflin, the university has been enabled to do much that it has accom- plished. While it is a sebool for the colored race, its charter is very liberal. makiby no distinction as to race, color. or religious opinion. The professors may be either white or colored. This school was, in 1500, by act of the legislature. made a branch of the South Carolina University. The attendance was in 1593 nearly 1,000, with a fall corps of teachers and assistants.
28. Not least in importance and benevolence of spirit, is the school for the education of the deaf, and dumb, and blind at Cedar Springs, Spartanburg County. This was at first, and for several years a private enterprise, inaugurated by Rev. N. P. Walker several years before the war. He had some family connections and relations who were deaf and dumb, and the parents not being able to send them from home to be taught, Mr. Walker determined to prepare himself to in- struct these unfortunate children. For this purpose he went to Cave Spring. Ga., where there was a school for the deaf and dumb. He there prepared himself for the work he had laid out to do. He returned home and at once began his labors teaching those children, connections of himself and Mrs. Walker, who were deaf und dumb. As his school became
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known other children were sent in from other districts and different parts of the state.
24. After awhile Mr. Walker applied to the legislature for help. He was at first refused, as the state at that time had money invested in a northern school of the kind, Mr. Walker persevered and succeeded after awhile in getting an appro. priation made to aid in the education of these unfortunates. Finally the school was adopted by the state, and it continued a state institution. Rev. N. P. Walker remained principal, and his son followed him in the work and is as successful and zealous as ever his father was. Thus from the benevolent zeal of a private citizen grew an institution to benefit the children of many generations.
25. For some time prior to the year ISSC, there had been a feeling that the agricultural and mechanical annex to the South Carolina University did not meet the requirements of an agricultural and practical education, and about this time' the establishment of an agricultural and mechanical college. separate oud distinct from the South Carolina University, began to be agitated by B. R. Tillman and other leaders. On April 20, 1SSS, a farmers' convention met in Columbia and passed a series of resolutions, urging the establishment of such an institution. In the year INSS. Hon. Thomas G. Clemson died leaving the old Calhoun homestead. containing about 500 acres of land. and about $50.000 in other securities. to the state for the purpose of founding an agricultural and mechanical college. In December 1958. the legislature passpel an act accepting the bequest of Mr. Clemson aud providing for the establishment of an agricultural college in accordance with the terms of his will. The governor did not approve the act and return it to the general assembly until the second day of its regular session in November, 1559. The college was opened on July 6. 1'0%, with an enrollment of 301 st dents, representing thirty three counties, all the counties in the state being represented except Beaufort and Union.
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QUESTIONS .- I. What is said of the interests of education :
2. What does Mr. Dawson say of the birth of colleges? What is said of the Mt. Zion and Ninety-Six schools.
3. Give an account of the 3It. Bethel and Willington schools ?
4. What was the "United Fraternity'?
5. What provisions has the state from the earliest times made for edu- cation ? What provision was made for a free school at Charleston as early as IZTO ?
6. What is said of the management and the money expended for schools prior to the year 1821? How did the free school system differ from our public schools of to day ?
7. How did the number of pupils of school age and the number in the free schools in 1830 compare with the number in 1840?
8. How many children of school age were there in Isso? How many were in the public schools? What was the amount expended for the schools in 1860? How much in ISSo.
9. What can you say of the present school system ?
10. To whom was the founding of the South Carolina College mainly due? Why?
II. What was the condition of the state treasury in 1804? What dispo- tion was made of this money ?
12. Who first advocated the establishment of the college? What was one of the great objects the friends of the college had in view?
13. What did Pettigru say at the semi-centennial of the college in 1554?
14. What was the cause of this feeling ?
15. Why was it that the lower part of the state possessed the balance of power in the state government and held it for so long ?
16. Give a history of South Carolina College from 1555 to 1890.
17. What led to the establishment of the Military Academy and the Citadel ?
18. When were these schools established? What is said of the course of study ?
19. Give a short account of these schools from 1864 to 1890.
20. Tell what you can of the Winthrop Training School.
21. What is said of the establishment and location of the South Caro- lina Industrial and Winthrop Normal College ?
22. Give a short sketch of Claflin University.
23. What is said of Rev. N. P. Walker's efforts to fit Himself to teach the deaf, dimib, and blind ?
24. Tell of Walker's efforts to get aul from the State for his school ant the result.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
25. What is said of the agitation for the establishment of an agricultural college ? What did Hon. Thomas G. Clemson do? Give a short account of the establishment and opening of Clemson college.
CHAPTER LII.
DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS.
1. Besides the state institutions of higher education already mentioned, there are several colleges under the special care of the different religious denominations. The oldest of these is Erskine College. Due West, Abbeville County. This insti- tution was organized in 1539. and began its work with Rey. E. E. Pressly, D. D., as president, and three professors, N. M. Gordon. Rev. J. M. Young, and Rev. J. P. Pressly. D. D. Just before the war the endowment amounted to more than $70,000. During the war nearly all was lost and the school was closed. The school did not die, and since the war the endowments have grown to $50.000, and the school is now steadily progressing in usefulness. The president now is Rev. W. M. Grier, D. D., and to him the credit is greatly due for the success of the college.
2 It is curious to notice the beginnings of thought and the monuments resulting therefrom. First Dr. John M. Robert- starts a school on the high h'lls of the Santee, which was chosen by the Baptist convention for the education of young men assisted by them. In the hope of having the co-operatico! of Georgia, in a few years it was removed to Edgefield and called Furman Academy. Georgia failing to co-operate. it was removed to the high hills of Santee and shortly after- wards located at Fairtiokl. While here a manual labor depart. ment was added to it. and English and classical courses Were added to the theological department. to meet the wants w many Baptist youths who were not studying for the ministry. 3. The project failed and the largest building having been
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burned the institution was afterwards limited to theological students only. and the name changed to Forman Theological Institution. This school having proved successful. the denomi- nation was promptel to go further, and the ccavention voted unanimously to erect a college. Greenville was chosen as the place of location. A charter was obtained in 1550, and $150,- 090 worth of bonds having been subscribed. the school was opened in 1572. The intention of the promoters of the insti- tution was to Love an academic, a collegiate, a theological. and a law department. The school was practically closed during the war. It was opened after the war, and the experi- ment was made of offering free tuition to all students on the strength of the endowment which had been subscribed. The free tuition plan was a failure, and in 1951 the school was reor ganized and a moderate tuition fee charged.
4. Wofford College. This institution owes its existence to Benjamin Wofford, who by will gave a large amount of money to the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the establishment of a college for literary, classical, and salentific education. Mr. Wofford died in 1950, and in ISSi a charter was obtained. The faculty was composed of Rev. W. M. Wightman, president: Davil Duncan. professor of languages; James H. Carlisle. professor of mathematics: Warren DuPre. professor of natural science: Whitefoord Smith, professor of English literature, was added a year later. James H. Car- lisle, LL.D., is now (1893) president of the college.
5. Newberry College. In 1856, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of South Carolina resolved to establish a classical and literary institution. They elected a board of trustees, obtained a charter, and in 1955 completed a large and attractive olitics at Newberry. at a cost of $20,000. The enrollment of stu- dents was in the second session 175. In 1900, the entire property of the college was valued at $75.000, and the endow. mont was $50,000. The war coming on. the college was prac-
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tically closed from 1561 to 1565. The professors and students old enough to bear armis went to the war. The endowment was lost by investment in confederate securities, and after th war the college buildings were sold for debt, and the insti- tution was removed to Walhalla. It remained there struggling. but living for nine years, when it was again removed to its old site at Newberry, where it has since remained. Rev. G. W. Holland, D. D., has been president of the college ever since its removal to Newberry in 1877.
6. The Baptist Female College, at Greenville, was founded in 1854. This is a prosperous school and has a large pat- ronage. The Columbia Female College, located in Columbia. was opened in 1559, but was closed when Sherman euterMil the city in 1865, and remained closed till the year 1ST3. This school is under the control of the Methodist Conference of South Carolina. The Due West Female College, whish is under the control of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, was founded in 1860, with Rev. J. I. Bonner as president. The Williamston Female College, at Williamston: the Presbyterian College for Women, at Columbia: and Con- verse College,, at Spartanburg. are all doing a good work for the higher education of women.
QUESTIONS .- I. Give a short sketch of Dne West College.
2. What is said of the school of John M. Roberts?
3. Give an account of the founding of Furman University? What is said of the free tuition feature.
1. To whom does Wofford College owe its existence? What is said if the faculty ?
5. Give a short account of Newberry College.
6. Name the more prominent of the institutions for the higher eduon tion of girls in the state.
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CHAPTER LIII.
ELECTION AND INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR TILLMAN. 1890.
1. Benjamin Ryan Tillman. of Edgefield County, was elected governor at the general election held in November, 1890. On March 27, of this year, a farmers' convention, better known as the March Convention, had been held in Columbia; a platform of principles a lopted. and the names of Captain B. R. Tillman. for governor, and of Colonel J. C. Coit, of Chesterfield. for lieutenant-governor, were suggested to the democratic conven- tion which met in Columbia, September 10, for the purpose. of nominating & state ticket. Colonel Coit declined, and Colonel Eugene B. Gary, o? Abbeville, was put on the ticket for lieutenant-governor.
2. B. R. Tillman. Joseph H. Earle, and General John Bratton made a canvass of the state for the purpose of securing the democratic nomination for governor. The cam- paige was the most exciting the state bad witnessed since 1976. It soon became apparent that Tillman would receive the nomination. and when the convention met in Columbia in September he was nominated with practically no opposition. Certain persons in the convention and others in the state, not satisfied with the action of the convention. met and nominated another full state ticket in opposition to the regular demo- cratic nominees, with Colonel A. C. Haskell as the candidato for governor, calling themselves "straighout" democrats.
3. The election was very quiet and only a light vote was cast. few colored people voting Tillman was elected by a large majority over bis competitor. The excitement was con- fined to the canvass for the democratic nomination, and the general election passed very quietly. Tillman was inaugu. rated December 4, 1590.
4. The following is a brief abstract of his inaugural address
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delivered on that occation: "The citizens of this great com- monwealth have. for the first time in its history, demanded and obtained for themselves the right to choose their gov- ernor, and I. as the caponent an'l leader of the revolution which brought about the change, am here to take the solem oath of office and enter upon the discharge of its onerous duties."
5. He spoke of the dismal experiment of universal negro suffrage. He reprobated in strong terms, the resort to lynch law to punish negroes, when every department of the govern ment is held by white people, and called it a blot on our civilization. He called attention to the necessity existing for the improvement of the common school system and recom- menled raising the poll tax from one to three dollars. If the system cannot be made more effective be alvised its entire abolition.
6. In higher education he recommended the discoat nuance of the South Carolina University; the transference of th. mechanical lepartment of the university, with all its belong- ings, to Clemson College; that a complete reorganization be ordered, and that the South Carolina College be support J by a perpetual grant of thirty thousand dollars a year.
7. He told how Clemson College could be completed, and to that end he recommended that the legislature then in ses sion appropriate not less than one hundred thousand dollars. which, with other funds that he indicated, would do it. He recommended the endowment of an industrial school for girls. He spoke coldly of the Citadel Academy, and hinted, "that when the University be reorganized as proposed, and Clemsou College shall furnish the military training and practical scientific education, which now can be obtained only at the Military Academy, that school will have to show canse for it- existence as a charity school for military training."
S. He recommended that each county be made to bear tho
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TILLMAN'S ADMINISTRATION.
burden of the support of its own insane. and advised that all quiet and harmless lunatics without money be kept at home in the poor house of the counties to which they belong. In regard to the penitentiary he said: "I think the best results will follow when the directors of the penitentiary are allowed to contract for labor at so much for so many days labor of ten hours, the contractor having nothing to do with finding. clothing, or guarding the convicts. The state should retain control of the convicts to prevent abuse."
0. He recommended the formation and adoption of a new constitution for the state; that Charleston County be divided: spoke of the railroads, but made ho recommendation as to their management. He advised that measures be taken for the cqualization of taxes, and said: "I know land in Elge- field which sells readily for $25 to $40 per acre. and it is assessed at an average of eight dollars or less. I know other land, and it is very plentiful, that sells at six and eight dol- lais per acre, and is assessed at an average of four dollars: and I know other land that is assessed for more than it will bring in the market." He referred to other differences be- tween the actual and assessed values of property, and recom- mended that these be remedied, if possible.
10. He discussed the phosphate interests of the state, and advised that the royalty be raised to two dollars per ton. He recommended that every bank chartered by the state be required to invest a part of its stock, say 20 per cent .. in state bonds: "that all insurance companies doing business in South Carolina be required to deposit $25,000 in South Caro lina bonds with the state treasurer, as a guarantee of sol- vency, and as a fund that can be attached if the company does not pay its losses promptly."
11. In speaking of the University he gave as one reason for its abolition that "the people have decided that there is no use for a grand university at Columbia, but they are
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equally determined that the South Carolina College, as a school of liberal education in the classics, in the theoretical sciences and in literature, shall be liberally supported."
12. These are the principal recommendations in Governor Tillman's first address to the legislature and the people. On December 11. 1990. an election was held for United State- senator, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the expiration cf the term of Senator Hampton. There were three candidates: J. L. M. Irby. M. L. Donaldson, and Wale Hampton. The choice fell upon Mr. Irby. The senator-elect, a young man. a native of Laurens County, was born in September, 15:4. Wade Hampton, a man whose name was untarnished by a single unworthy act. the hero of 1876, was made to give way to a new and untried man.
13. The most important work done by the legislature of the session of ISSO, was the repeal of section 19. article +. of the constitution, which provides a board of county cour- missioners; reorganization of the university of the state: creating a board of phosphate commissioners: abolishing the department of agriculture, and the office of commissioner of agriculture, and devolving their duties on the trustees of the Clemson College: making it unlawful to sell pistols and pisto! cartridges without a license.
14. Appointing a special commission, consisting of the gov ernor and superintendent of education, to confer with the governors and superintendents of education, in the other southern states, as to the adoption of a uniform system .i text books to be used in the free schools; providing for the. sale of the lot and building known as the Agricultural Hall. the Fish Pond and other agricultural experiment station.s. and all the property connected in Columbia, and in Darling ton and Spartanburg Counties, and to appropriate the procon 1- thereof to the use and benefit of Clemson Agricultural Un' lege.
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OPENING OF CLEMSON COLLEGE.
QUESTIONS. - 1. Who was elected governor in iSgo? What is said of the March Convention ?
2. What is said of the canvas of the state by the democratic candidates? What did the "straightont" democrats do?
3. What was the result of the election ?
4. What is said of the voice of the people in the choice of governor?
5. What is sail of negro suffrage ? What of lyuch law ?
6. What recommendation was made as to higher education ?
". What was recommended as to Clemson College? What as to a school for girls ?
S. What was recommended as to the insane asylum? What as to the penitentiary ?
9. What was said about a new constitution? What about the assess- ment of property for taxation ?
Io. What was recommended as to the phosphate interests of the state ? What as to insurance companies doing business in the state ?
11. What was sall about the South Carolina University ?
12. What is said of the election of United States senator in mayo?
13, 14. What was the most important work done by the legislature at the session of rago?
CHAPTER LVL
TILLMAN'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION.
1. After a somewhat heated contest, Governor Tillman was re- elected in November. 1592. He was opposed in the preliwi- nary canvass for renomination by Ex-Governor John C. Shep- pard and a fall state ticket. There was no opposition at the general election. The principal measures of his administra tion so far accomplished have been the building and opening of the state scientific and agricultural college at the old John C. Calhoun homesteal. The college, however, was established before Governor Tiliman's administration, while John P. Rich- ardson was governor. Governor Tillman was a warm frient of the college, and did all he could be secure the acceptance of the Clemson bequest, and to secure the chartering of the college by the state. This institution opened on July 6, 1993.
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with 301 students in attendance It is called Clemson College. in honor of Hon. Thomas G. Clemson, who gave valuable property for its founding.
2. The South Carolina Industrial and Winthrop Normal College was established by act of the legislature at the sex- sion of 1901. Another very important measure was the pass. age, at the session of 1892. by the legislature, of an act known as the Dispensary Law. By this law the sale of all liquors of an alcoholic or intoxicating nature. by private per- sons, is strictly forbidden in the limits of the state. The right to import and sell is reserved to the state, and, for the purpose of selling. Dispensaries are established at the incor- porated towns whenever and wherever a majority of the free- hold voters may desire it. This law went into operation July 1, 1893.
3. The state has long had control of liquors through the operation of the license laws. A separate box was placed at the polls in the election of 1592 to test the sentiment of the people on the question of prohibition. A majority of those voting in this separate box voted for prohibition, but the total vote for prohibition was a minority of the white vote of the state. When the legislature met it was found to be impossible, or thought to be inexpedient, to enact a pro- bibitory law and the Dispensary law was passed as a com- promise measure.
4. The lawsuit with the Coosaw Phosphate and Mining Company, for the possession of certain mining territoy claimed by the state, and which had been leased to this company. and of which they claimed perpetual right in, was begun soon after the session of 1890. It was terminated in favor of the state. During this administration the state government entered suit against certain banks and railroads in the state to collect certain taxes which the state claimed to be du- and withheld. and which the banks and railroads refused to
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THE COTTON MILLS.
pay. as they claimed that the assessments were excessive. In the bank cases the suits were decided against the state. At the present time (1893) the railroad cases are still in the courts.
5. The population of the state as shown by the United States census of 1500 was 462,00% white. 555.934 colored, 31 Chinese, and 173 civilized Indians, making a grand total of 1,151.149: an increase over ISSO of 70.003. whites. 84,602 colored. 25 Chinese, anl 42 civilized Indians. A total increase for the ten years of 155.572.
6. Even before the War of Secession one or two cotton fac- tories had been established, but not till about Isto did the manufacturing industries of the state assume importance. Since that time factories for the manufacture of cotton goods have been established in all parts of the state, and South Carolina is fast assuming a leading position among the south- ern states in the manufacture of cotton fabrics. The "Manu- facturers' Record" of December. 1592. gave the number of cotton mills in the state at that time as 51, the number of spindles as 516,526, and the number of looms as 12.905. In the number of spindles in operation South Carolina ranks next to North Carolina among the southern states. and she bas more loomis in operation than any southeres tate. Vier. gia being next.
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