Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-08-26
The State Campaign.

AS stated in our last issuse the Democratic
campaign will open in Columbia early in
September, nnd speakers will address the
people Of our county on tho 10th Of that
month. This will perhaps bc the only mass
meeting held in this county, and we hopo to
SEQ our citizens from every part of the county
in attendance. AS yet littlc enthusiasm has
been manifested and q feeling Of carelessncss
seems to pervade tho party. This should
not DO tho case when wo consider tho impor-
tant Issues at stake. Bad laws affect prcju-
dicially every interest ofa people and cripple
oil progress. Even wiso and just legislation
is Of little avail, if the administration Of the
laws fall into corrupt or incompetent hands.
But when we have unwisc and oppressive
legislation with corrupt and incompetent
ect of officials every interest lags. When the
only the declaration of prophecy, but it is
tho result Of the experience Of oil nations and
governments. Our people certainly need no
other reminder OF its truth than cursory
remembrance of our condition from 1868 to
1876. Every profession and nyoca,ion was
plundorcd and every industry crippled to
meet tho Unsuitable demands of n corrupt
crew of ignorant and incompetent officials.
Burdonsomc taxes were levied and our State
debt increased by the issue and sale Of bonds
without any benefit to the property owners
of tho State.
For tho millions Of dollars thus taken
from the people under the forms Of law, no-
thing in the way of public improvements can
be shown. Our public officers often failed
to get their pay. The schools wcro robbed of
largo portion Of tho pittancc levied to keep
them opcn. The public treasury was gene
rally empty, and often our penal and chari-
table institutions were kept from starvation
by tho patriotism of some fcw citizens. Tho
valuc Of property declined 80 that our people
began to fear they could neither live here
hor soil out and leave, us no ono desired to
sctlo in such n plundcrcd and tax.rddcn
Stato.
With good government for four years our
people have again begun TO prosper, and
property of all kinds is looking up. Immo
grafton is looking this way and manufacto.
rics and other now industries arc sprincine
up Shall wo from neglect or indifference
permit q return Of the evils from which wo
have escapcd2 Shall tho work of 187G-78 bc
lost by lukcwarmncss on our part? We hopo
and bcliovc not, and to this end let every
individual labor. Wo aro deeply interested
in both tho State and National elections and
with energy on our part wo will bo success,
fnl. Let us not, however, think tho Radical
party is dead and thus relax our Efforts. 1t
is alive and is manifcsting itself in cvery
part OF tho State, and in various forms, as
lndepcndcntism, Crccnbackism, &c. Tho
old leaders are ut work, and If the Radical
Convention to be held on the I'd Of September
should make strong nomination and opcn
on active campaign, aided by Northornlmonoy y
and speakers, 1t will again become formida
bic. 1t is apparent now to tho most casual
observer that the negro 10 moro bitter and
further removed from tho influence of reason
than no was four years ago. This is certainly
true in our county and whilomany may not vote
at all we fear wo will find very few who
will vote with tho Democrats. We should
begin at once to work for success and as q
etep to il wo should have full attendance of
the psoplo at our mass meeting
e. .tff -----~----s .-s----
Every Democrat in Oconee County should
belong to rome Democratic club.