The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-07-25
Our Next Legislature.

the next Legislature from this County
to answer these questions
If elected, do you solemnly promise
to cast your votes to stop the proAigate
expenditure Of public funds? Do you
promise to vote to reduce the expenses
of the legislative branch Of the govern
ment to S150,000 per annum, including
printing and all the othor contingent
expenses OF whatever character Do you
promise to use your abilities for a sharp
transaction Of business and short ses-
sion !? Do you promise TO say to corrupt
democratic lobbyists, and others, "stand
behind lae, SntanY Do you promise
to stand by the Executive in the at
tempt to redeem the State and reform
the party, and show to the world that
if the government of South Carolina is
corrupt, that the stigma shall be wipe d
out, and an honest and economical gov
crnment firmly established on the broad
principles of equal rights to all men un-
der the Law?
We believe that If the Hon. D aniel
II. Chamberlaia is elected the next
Governor he will use every effort of his
vast and sound intelligence to accom-
llish all that can be desired by the Re
publican party in it's thorough rcgenera
tion. But, even elect Mr.. Chamberlain ;,
while he could do much towards check
ing bad Legislation, and. could to Ger.
tain extent shape the dcstinios Of the
State, yet, in the language of contem
porary, she would be powcrlcss for good
with legislature that was against him
such as Gov. Scott had during his last
Gubcrnatorial term"
But We want you to 80 further than
this.
Tho Legislature is not the only
branch of the government which makes
lavish use Of the public funds, al
though responsible, primarily for all
funds appropriated. There is scarcely
an Office in the State, or an institution,
penal or charitable, but that could be
managed just as we'll on a much smaller
sum Of money than is now annually ex
pended for those purposes. With a
proper reduction of official expenses in
every county in the State in tho General
Assembly and the Executive Depart
ment, Mt least quarter Of million
of dollars could be saved annu.
ally, and matters con Quoted just as we'll,
If not better than they arc now. The
axe must be laid at The root, if we ex.
peot permanent cure. There is no
necessity for paying officials twice rs
much salary as their service would COM
mand in private positions, for a govern
mont is not sinecure retreat for idle
ahiftless men who are lncanahle of earn
ing a livelihood outside of public
Office. This is matter which must be
brought home to the attention of the
party if We hope to preserve our organ
ization intact for any considerable time.
We cannot violate, with impunity every
established law of business: for FIVE
place bad men in Office mon who are
untitled by experience or education for
even the commonest places in ordinary
basines life--the party must sooner or
later pay the penalty, as the Republi
can party of South Caroiua is doing to
day. The way to do this is to COM
mence at the bottom Of tho structu re
and build to tho top. 1t will not be
sufficient to put fair capstone on tho
top Of rickety structure and we will
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