The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-02-25
For THE HERALD.

MEssRs. EDITORS. has been long
time since we have pencilled you line,
and tonight we viii give you few
"dots.n Duties have been such that we
could not get time to write, and not on
" this, but Items" were scarce. 1t
may be interesting to you and Your
readers to know something abou. saxa-
ton in Virginia. From the HERALD"
we see that you are dreadfully taxed in
South Carolina; that the people no
longer willing to see imposition, have
called a convention. We sincerely
hope that good may be accomplished.
Fifteen cents on the dollar" taxation
The very idea is enough to drive the
taxpayer to distraction. This was but
q single instance, yet if all the land in
South Carolina were forced into market
would it be much better? Here it is
about eighty-fye cents on the hundred
dollars, and is considered pretty high
at that. The assessments are all made
fairly, the revenues collected honorably
and disbursed honestly. When such is
the case the taxpayerneed not complain.
We all know that the emancipation of
the slaves has robbed the South of her
wealth, and that the tax on landed pro-
perty must be greater, but should we
not try to frame our laws, so as to les
sen the expenses Of the government?
The soil of the South is just as produc-
tive as it was in days gone by. The
same sun still shines, heaven still drops |
her gentle dews, and the winds still ride |
over tie land rs chariot-king. The !
climate, the water, and the people are
still the same. Why then not make the |
South the great emporium of the world?
It can be done; then let it be done
Some of our beloved States are rising,
advancing. Why then should the mon
ster skeleton, RUN" stand in the
midst Of one Of the most beautiful States
in the Union, and stare her trembling,
fearing people in the face? Why should
ANARCHY" with his iron heel, press
so hard upon these poor, down-trodden
people? This should not be, yet it is so.
Reform is needed. Revolution will not
do. Reform is. the word. Reform must
be. Reform will be. Without it all |
will be lost. The South, the beautiful
South, will become as the Sahara unless
there is Reform.
A word now about the "Ppblic School
System" Why is it, that South Caro-
lima pays so much tax for the support
Of Public Schools, and there is COM
plant that the teachers are not paid?
We are not informed as to how the sys-
TEN is working outside of this County,
but we know it is doing well here. The
County Superintendent is an enter
prising man. None are employed but
competent men, who are subjected to q
rigid examination before school is
given them. They get their pay regu-
larly, and are rs prompt in the dis
charge of their duty.
There is considerable excitement up
now in the County upon the Liquor sub
ject. "Refo1n," is at work among the
people on whiskey. Petitions are in
circulation, and are being freely signed
by the people, begging the withhold
ing of license. The assurance has been
given by the authorities, that if it is the
desire Of the people that no more license
shall be granted in the County. they
shall be satisfied. Many "old topers"
sign the petitions, thus showing that
they are anxious for Reform. After
March, we hope that farewell will be
bid to the social glass" in old Roanoke.
Her three last Legislators Were teeto-
talers, and The present incumbent is
also q teetotaler.
This has been an unusually mild win
ter for Virginia. The 18th was like Il
May-day. Every bird seemed to sing
its sweetest song, and all nature was
alive. There has been but little snow
fell, and none very deep. Only two
spells ofcold enough to get ice TO put up.
The ice then did not get over three or
four inches thick. The weather pro-
phet up in the mountains" says this
will be good crop year" We don't
like to depend upon him. as he is some
times a. false prophet. He said we
would have snow fifteen inches deep
and it did not fall With these hastily
written lines, we close.