The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-13
GgN. GARY's POSITION. n
His Speech before tho Edgeneid Demo
cratic Convention.

M te
Mr. President aud Gentlemen ofthe Con-
venfion: am at all times ready 10 re-
spond TO any call from the Democracy of
this State. The ties that should bind us
together are greater and should bs
stronger than those Of ordinary party as
sociatiDns. With us u is not only a con.
test for the enactment of favorite meas.
ure or the adoption OF O particular prin-
cipie, but it is a struggle to preserve tile
civilization of our race. It was from
such an appreciation OF tho Democracy
or this State that I. in obedience to the
unanimous voice ce the Convention and
from senss Of duty that owed to the
county and State, accepted the leader5hip
4 or 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
won grand victory.
AS yohr State Senator I have advo-
Gated the policy of white supremacy, and
the principles of Etraightout Democracy,
rs received from, Jefferson; Madison and
Jackson, the great leaders Of the party.
opposed the recession of the Demo
cfatic Senators from the Senate, against
the wishes of the leaders of the party. on
The ground that such step would be in
violation of the Constitution of the State.
would be revolutionary, and would be in
effect TO throw away Che fruits of orr
splendid victory at the ballot-box. Time
mas vindicated the wisdom of those of
us who refused to recede, and thereby
saved the State from lapsing again under
Radical rule.
favored restoration of the usury
laws in order to protect the poor and
needy from the unlimited usury of the
money lenders. ] opposed the amend.
ment to the Constitution which levied
annually not less than two mills ON the
dollar for educational n.!rnnsen az 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.
Z strenuously opposed the education of
the children of the whites and blacks in
the Same schools and colleges. I favored
the passage of the act chat prohibited the
lntermarriage Of the whites and blacks.
approved the passage Of the act that
gave to the Governor the right to s7ol
pros. indictments found against Radical
l.
putting into the hands Of every honest
man whip to lash the rascals naked
through the world"
opposed the pay of either the prin-
cipaio interest of the fraudulent bonds
issued during tho eight years of Radical
rule IN this State. favored. retrench-
ment and reform in all the offices of the
state. / advocated the election of new
judges, and the throwing ont of office all
Judges who held Office under Radical
administration. advocated the reduc-
fion 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 $12O, ,651.6 the.
amount of the present taxable property
OF the State. Before the war the aggrs-
gate taxable property of the State was
1892 $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. :s en- ::Gjji;st, unequal aud o ficti.
tious one; the value given to property
by the auditor= is not upon the present
standard of the value of the property,
but it Is referred back to what it gas
ued at twice the amount it will sell for In
open market at. tho pr ,ent 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
fnl and oppressive evil upon the poor
taxpayer, for the last analysis of taxes
makes ttiose who cultivate the soil pay
tile taxes Of the Government. This hid.
den and insidious system of taxation can
but alarm all who arc acquainted with
the laws that should regulate taxes, for
they can but see that is will absorb the
property of tie 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, lesel.headed men in the Gem
eral Assembly, who will be able to solve
this ysxed and important question Of tax
atiDti. If q: man cannot Snansge his own
business auceessfnlly, yon may rest salts.
hUd that iie iie oeifi0t tom or man.
age the aggregate business Of the people
of this State. 4 =
In my capacity as State Senator have
labored for all these measures, and i
have met with opposition In the party
aud out of 1t. Some Of Che measures
that have opposed wera the pet meas.
uresyof She Radical party, and they were
5lT1iay aud e5Tsy atav05sttela. 5 Il .!aes es
. men, who are known as the Fusion
alamnnt in tha DamGcratic marty. -
The question of Straightout Democ.
racy is to be fought again Ia this cam
paign; the battle of 1876 is to befFe-
newed. 1t will be the great issle Of the
canvass. 1.-THE Strnightont policy and
parly should fail, the civilization of this
State viii be again imperilled, peace and
prosperity will be unknown, the great
agricultural and commercial Industries
viii become pRralyzed, and q gloom win
again eettlc upon Sus, aud the dark
shadow ef f&misfortune viii envelope the
entire State. The Iliad Of woes that will
flow from it cannot be enumerated or an
ticipated; our women and men will
again bemoan the Radical rule that will
min and desolate the country.
Ttta !, 90 ~ sS,-,,., &c ~ !, T5,.Sr,, t,,,1