The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-13
GEN. GARY,S POSITION.

GEN. GARY,S POSITION.
His Speech Before the Edgefield Demo-
cratic Convention.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention:: am at all times ready to re-
spond to any call from the Democracy Of
this State. The ties that should bind us
together are greater and should be
stronger than those of ordinary party as
sociations. With US it is not only con-
test for the enactment of favorite meas
ure or the adoption of particular prin-
ciple, but it is struggle to preserve the
civilization of our race. 1t was from
such an appreciation of the Democracy
of this State that I, in obedience to the
unanimous voice of the Convention and
from sense Of duty that I owed to the
county and State, accepted the leadership
of the Democracy of this county in the
campaign of 1876. Before that year our
party had been invariably defeated, but
after our exciting and brilliant campaign
we won a grand victory.
As your State Senator ] have advo-
Gated the policy of white supremacy, and
the principles Of Straightout Democracy,
as received from Jefferson; Madison and
Jackson, the great leaders of the party.
/ opposed the secession of the Demo-
cratic Senators from the Senate, against
the wishes of the leaders of the party, on
the ground that such a step would be in
violation of the Constitution of the State,
would be revolutionary, and would be in
effect to throw away the fruits of our
splendid victory at the ballot-box. Time
has vindicated the wisdom of those of
US who refused to recede, and thereby
saved the State from lapsing again under
Radical rule.
I favored restoration of the usury
laws in order to protect the poor and
needy from the unlimited usury of the
money lenders. l opposed the amend:
ment to the Constitution which levied
annually not less than two mills on the
dollar for educational purposes, as, being
without precedent, in conflict with other
portions of the State Constitution, and
against the spirit and letter of the Con-
stitution of the United States, and for
the further reason that this iniquitous
measure was conceived by the leaders of
the Radical party.
strenuously opposed the education Of
the children of the whites and blacks in
the same schools and colleges. favored
the passage of the act that prohibited the
intermarriage of the whites and blacks.
/ approved the passage Of the act that
gave to the Governor the right to not
pros. indictments found against Radical
violators of the law. I was in favor Of
putting into the hands of every honest
man a whip to lash the rascals naked
through the world"
Iopposed the pay of either the prin-
cipal or interest Of the fraudulent bonds
issued during the eight years of Radical
rule in this State. I favored retrench-
ment and reform in all,the Offices of the
State. I advocated the election of new
judges, and the throwing ont of Office all
Judges who held Office under a Radical
administration. ]. advocated the reduc-
ton of county and State taxes within five
mills on the dollar. I am satisfied that
prudent and economical administration
of the finances of the State will reduce
our present enormous taxes, which are
about one per cent. on $120, ,551.624, the
amount of the present taxable property
of the State. Before the war the aggre-
gate taxable property of the State was
1885,, $50, ,552. Our taxes then for State
and county purposes were from three to
four mills on the dollar. The valuation
of property under the present Radical
system is an unjust, unequal and ficti-
tious one; the value given to property
by the auditors is not upon the present
standard of the value of the property,
but it is referred back to what it was
worth before the war, and is usually val
ued at twice the amount it will sell for in
open market. at the present time. The
practical operation of this system is to
cause the taxpayers of the State to pay
about twenty-four mills on the dollar in
stead of eleven and three-quarter mills,
the amount of the tax imposed for the
county by the last General Assembly.
The system has driven capital out Of the
State, and has prevented capital from
coming into the State. This is dread
full and oppressive evil upon the poor
taxpayer, for the last analysis of taxes
makes those who cultivate the soil pay
the taxes of the Government. This hid.
den and insidious system of taxation can
but alarm all who are acquainted with
the laws that should regulate taxes, for
they can but see that it will absorb the
property of the taxpayers and ruin every
interest of the State. Within the last
three years the shrinkage in the value of
the taxable property of the State has
been about fifteen millions of dollars.
Unless proper and wise remedy is ap-
piled, it will continue to decrease in this
Unprecedented manner. Instead of put
ting men who cannot manage their own
small finances successfully in charge of
the finances of the State, you must place
practical, level-headed men in the Gen
eral Assembly, who will be able to solve
this ve1ed and important question of tax
alton. IF a man cannot manage his own
business successfully, you may rest satis-
fed that be cannot comprehend or man.
age the aggregate business of the people
of this State.
In my capacity as State Senator I have
labored for all these measures, and l
have met with opposition in the party
and out of it. Some of the measures
that have opposed were the pet meas
ures of the Radical party, and they were
boldly and eagerly advocated by these
men. who are known as the Fusion
element in the Democratic party.
The question of Straightout Democ-
racy is to be fought again in this cam
paign; the battle Of 1876 is to be re-
newed. 1t will be the great issue of the
canvass. If the Straightout policy and
party should fail, the civilization of this
State will be again imperilled, peace and
prosperity will be unknown, the great
agricultural and commercial industries
will become paralyzed, and gloom will
again settle upon us, and the dark
shadow of misfortune will envelope the