The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-28

sPonslDle IOr the disasters which befell
the South. jeff. Davis was the man who
ruined the Confederacy"
Horse Racing at the State Fair.
The last Legislature appropriated
$1,000 "for the aid of the State Agricul-
tural and Mechanical Society,"" This
was nothing strange, for the same thing
has been repeated year after year. The
whole thing is wrong and contrary to
true democratic principles. This Society
has no right to subsidy from the State.
IL IS private Incorporation, and if any
money IL made by it the State does not
reap the benefit, and the taxes of the
people are not reduced. The incorpora.
tors have right to pocket the money.
Ihls Society has no more right 70 the
money than that at Grecnville or Andcr.
son. 1t is taking money from one claes
OF citizens to pay tribute to another"
which is Numerically in conflict with
tue time honored principles of the Dem
ocratic party, as will be seen by reference
to another column. There is no Justice
in taking money, under the form of law.
from John Smith, who perhaps is in dis
tressed circumstances, and paying it over
to B. +. Crayton, President Of this So
cicty, for his own use and profit. To
make our meaning plain, suppose this
society should make, clear Of all expcns-
cs, the sum OF $500 at its next cxhibi.
ton. What becomes Of it? Who is to
divide it? Is it handed over 10 the State
Tor the reduction of taxes? Don't the
President and stockholders take the
money and put it into their own mock
cts? So, here is William Jones. who
has wife and nine children, with not a
dollar ahead, working rented nd and
getting what he eats under q "licn," !"
compelled to pay a tax to keep up a set
Ut fancy farmers, who wear kid gloves
and swallow tailed coats and don't do n
lick of honest work from one years end
to another.
The argument that this Society could
not get along without help from the
State is no Just reason why money should
be given it in charity. One of the prin.
ciples laid down by Thomas Jefferson
and since held by all true Democrats,
was this
"The money collected by taxation
should be expended only on the objects
specified in the Constitution. 1t NAV
not be distributed to favoritcs in the
form of bountics or of subsidies. nor
given away in charity"
The appropriation must be on the
ground Of charity. The Society does
not help along the government of the
state. !he money paid to it does not
protect life, liberty or property. It
don't pay the salaries of pI our Officers or
keep up the Courts. No man gets any
per centage from this expenditure unless
it be the managers of this Society, which
since the day Of It's organization has not
been able to pay ita own expenses, but
ally crying, "Give! give n
The worse feature about this choyity
is yet 10 be told. If the money was
wasted in buying blue ribbons to put on
the good mules and fine milch COWS ex-
hibited, it would not be throwing away
money for an immoral and sinful purpose.
There might be some profit in a good
plow on exhibition, and there might be
some sense IL testing steam engines, gins
and threshers at these annual fairs"
But to ask the people of this State to
pay money out to sustain horse-r racing is
an example of check not equaled in this
age. Still this thing is done every year,
anu 'hohCy 10 NOtCu ouU III tu6 people
pockets to keep up the sport of horse
racing, which is deemed immoral by the
majority Of reputed Christians. The
last premium list sent us contains pro-
grammc for racing which will be kept
up for three days. A regular committee
has been appointed by the Society to
supervise the races. Purses are offered,
for the whole affair will be conducted
according to regular horse-racing rules.
The people pay for the whistle. Horse.
racing is gambling, and the people Fay
for it. Preachers denounce It, and re-
puted Christians oppose it, but are forced
to keep it up. What connection has q
race horse with farming or mechanics ?
| Speed does not recommend plough or
wagon horse. If speed is wanted why
don't the Society offer prize to a fast
mule or OK?
Voting money for this Society is clay
ing tribute on the people to keep up Il
sport of questionable kind. Or it is
giving money raised by xation away in
charity. 1t is radically wrong and un-
justifable. A stop should be put 10 it
or Christians should cease to denounce
such things. We don't wish to do the
Society an injury, but we desire the peo
pic to know what becomes Of part of the
money they are working for this hot
July weather. 1t is wrnngfully and i'm
providently given away for the benefit
of certain class of citizens in paying
for their amusements.--AbJ Medium