The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-17
hospitable people in the County than
those Of this neighborhood.
Due West.

Saturday, and many Of them drove from
Antreville to that place on Friday eve
ming.
The meeting was held in Lindsay
Hall, and presided over by Mr.. r. S.
Galloway, who made q neat introductory
speech and introduced the speakers in a
happy style.
Con. r. r. Hemphill was the first
speaker. He said that it was the first
speech he had made during the cam
paign. That his position on every cues
ton was so well known and especially
at Due West that he felt that it was al
most unnecessary for him 10 say any,
thing. There were something's, how
ever, that he would say something
about. EFe thought a constitutional
Convention ought to be called, and the
present instrument, which was the
child Of fraud and corruption changed
in many particulars. With regard to
the University, all that was asked of the
friends Of the institution was that they
would conduct it according to law. The
law never contemplated free tuition and
it was a violation Of the constitution to
allow it. He was in favor of doing away
with the Office of Supervisor Of Regis
%tration, and imposing his duties or the
Auditor, and had introduced d bill in the
last General Assembly to that effect, but
that body in it's wisdom had failed to
pass it. They however, reduced the
salary of the office which made i. less
OF a burden. His views on the Canal
and the Citadel and the Militia were so
we'll known that he would not take up
the't'me OF he audience to express
them.
Other Candidates.
The candidates for the Legislature
then expressed their views, which were
about the same rs those expressed ut
Antreville the day before. 1t will not
DC necessary to give them again:
Hon. L. G. Graydon
however, did not speak ut Antrevillc on
account of tho rain anu we give q syrop-
sis Of his speech. lie spoke Of the com
plant Of high taxes and showed that
our taxes were not as high now by half
as they were in Radical times. in rs
-'76 We paid 20 mills now we pay only
TO-. There was not much chance to re-
duce the State levy. The greatest bulk
of the levy was to pay the interest on
the State debt. If a number Of the mi
nor appropriations were cut off the effect
would hardly be appreciate. He was
in favor of maintaining the South Caro-
lima College, but thought q reasonable
tuition fee ought to be charged those
only who were able to pay. The poor
boys ought to be allowed TO 90 there
and not pay n tuition fee. He thought
the appropriation of $4,000 to the Mi
litia a useless expenditure and ought to
be cut off. He had always opposed the
Canal and Citadel. He had served this
people for the past two years as faith
July as he knew how, and il reelected
would continue to do so.
The only candidate for School Com
missioner present was the present in
cumbent, Mr.. Hodges, and we give his
views on the school question in full.
Speech of Geo. G. Hodges.
Ladies and Gentlemen :: appear
BEFORE you as a candidate for r%c-elec-
ton to the office Of School Commission
er. l desire to say that | am not run
ming against any one. | have nothing
TO say against my competitor, who is a
good man. But as the leader Of the
present administration of your common
schools. L claim to be the representative
of certain principles and ideas-issues
that are vitality important to every pa
+ mt and'to every true lover of progress
and improvement. Upon the triumph
Of these principles and ideas of progress
depend in large measure the efficiency
and ] may say the very continuance Of
of the common school system.
During our term of office we publish
ed those principles in the county papers
we now quote from those statements
to-indicate to you what we ropos to
DO towards Improvement.
"We desire to iufuse more life and.
vigor into Dur languishing public school
system, to arouse the torpid energies of
teacher, to correct, as far as possible. .
the carelessness and Indifference Of
parents. and so to administer the school
as to gain a vantage ground which
Will insure the greater efficiency Of NIL
our educational forces. II the present
Of our public free schoolss l.
upon which our people mainly depend
for the education Of their children is not
improved. I predict that, within a few
decades, the records Of illiteracy and
will startle us with lust fears s
of our freedom, safety, and tranquility, !
and bring q blush Of shame to all intel +!
[igent and patriotic citizens Of this
grand old county of which we and our r.
fathersin the past have been so justly !
I
These, fellow citizens, are the ideas .
pr.Rciples which We have kept =
steadily in view, in spite of the malie. =
nifty, abuse and violent opposition of =
persons who are the avowed enemies Of .
common schools. and hence enemies of y
! live and progressive administration. =