Savannah morning news., 1886-06-17

An Interesting Review of the Situa-
tion as il Now Appears.


CHARLESTON, June 16.-The political
pot in the Palmetto state has just begun
to simmer under the influence of the fire
lighted by the Farmers Convention in
May last. In two months time there will be
the tiercest boiling perhaps that has been
seen in the State since the stormy times
OF 1876, when the peerless Hampton led
the unterrihed Democracy to victory over
the corrupt corpse of the carpet-bag Ra-
publican regime. The situation at pres
ent is decidedly mixed. The farmers,
carrying out the idea advanced by
Farmer Ben Tillman, are actively organ
iZing in nearly every county, and viii
doubtless become very important factor
in the campaign. The object aimed at In
their platform Is simply the establishment
OF an agricultural college and the crush
ing out of the State military academy at
Charleston. But aside from this it seems
to be generally understood that the farmer
convenuonists are after something much
bigger than this.
A NEW DEAL WANTED.
The universal cry is for ''new deal, >"
which, l take it, means no reelection for
any OF the State officers. Governor
Thompson, having served two terms, is
conceded to be out OF the race. lie is
spoken OF in connection with Federal
appointment of some kind. Governor
Thompson, 1t may be mentioned, is COM
paratively a poor man, and poor men
have no business to be Governors in South
Carolina, the salary being barely sufii-
cient to support man decently-$3,50
per arnum. Exactly who the coming
man will be 1t is hard to say at this time.
1t was thought that Farmer Tillman had
his eye on the office, but he has an
nounced that he will not ac-
cept office. Gen. Bratten, OF Fair
held county, was thought to be a
promising agricultural candidate, but he
has recently published a letter in which
he decidedly antagOnizes the farmers
movement. Lieut.. Gov. John l.. Shep-
pard. OF Edgefield, has GubernatOrial as
piratiOns, and it is believed will carry
the Edgeheld delegation with him, al
though he belongs to that despised pro-
fession, the law. Mayor Courtenay, of
Charleston, would make a progressive
and go-ahead Governor and his name is
frequently mentioned, especially in the
upper part Of the State, but 1t is doubtful
ii Mayor Courtenay could carry the
Charleston delegation.
OUT WITH THE MACHINE.
He is not popular with the machine
politicians who control things here and
who elected HIM six years ago. 1t is said
by some that Congressman Tillman,
brother of Farmer Tillman, viii resign his
seat in Congress and take the Guberna-
torlal office, with views looking to seat
in the United States Senate in the future,
but the rumor lacks confirmation. These
are about all the names that are at pres
ent prominently mentioned in connection
with the office, although there are num-
berless candidates posing in the back
ground in the character of dark horses.
OF one thing there can be no doubt, and
that is the intense feeling that pre-
walls in the up country against
the low country. The feeling was
very much intensified by the refusal OF
the last General Assembly to make pro-
vision for a new apportiOnment, which, it
is claimed, would reduce the low country
representation and increase that of the
up country IN the lower branch OF the
General Assembly. 1t is not at all i'm
probable that the nominee will be an up
countrvmau, and it is on the card that
Farmer Tillman may reconsider his de-
termination and consent to make the race.
Should be do so there Is scarcely a doubt
that he will get the nomination, for he is
organizing his forces very rapidly.
THE RACE FOR CONGRESS.
The race for Congress has brought out
an army of aspirants. All the present
members are in the field again except
district, whose i'll health will force him TO
retire. A dozen candidates are already
in the field, the most prominent ones being
Judge COthran of Abbeville, eX-GOv.
Perry of Greenville, Col. George Johnston
of Newberry, Mr.. w. g. Benet of Abbe-
vile, Mr.. T.. b. Murray Of Anderson, Col.
Thompson OF OcOnee, and others whose
names cannot now be recalled. In this
district the present member, Mr.. Dibble,
81
sition. Mayor COurtenay, who recently
had war of words with Congress-
man Dibble, and who actually de-
teated Dibble's candidate for the
Charleston custom house, was spoken OF
at one time, but there seems to be no
foundation for it. as the Mayor has gone
to Europe and will not return until late in
the canvass. The Charleston delegation,
of course, can dictate the candidate. be-
ing larger than all the others in the dis
trlct. but Dibble seems TO be in the traces
with the Charleston politicians and will
get the nomination.
As usual, there will be lively fight in
the black district, at present represented
by Robert Smalls, better known as Gullah
Smalls or Bribery Smalls.
TO OPPOSE sMALLs.
Rev. Bruce Ii. Williams, a very respec-
table, honest, capable and efficient col
ored preacher OF Georgetown, has an
nounced his intention TO contest the nomi-
nation with Smalls, bat Williams
qualifications are not recommend atiVe
for Office with the loyal Republican con-
stituency of the black district and he will
not get the nomination. Since 1876 a num-
Der of white scalawags and carpet-bag-
gers ousted from office have settled in the
black district, and a number OF these Will
doubtless come TO the surface and enter
the list against Smalls. Among them are
W. n. TAFT, late postmaster, /. H. Osten-
dorf and Lem Griffin, all white, and all
chronic candidates for Office. In Charles
ton county a new deal is very much de-
sired in the local offices, but the machine
has control OF the convention and will
doubtless divide up the Offices TO suit it's
own sweet will, throwing sops TO Cerberus
in the way Of legislative nominations to
the element in the community that is not
in the machine, but VI it.