The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-08
Readine BetHeen the Lines.

| The same lack OF craftsmanship and fore'
sight that has carried folllcs and dangerous
and influences causes the folly and blindness
that sees nothing in this matter now but TIL.
man. 1t seems TO be the fact that great
many gentlemen think Tillman is doing all
this by himself. Their thought seems to be
| to crush Tllman to heap ridicule and abuse
on him; to load down what he says with
newspaper headlines and spoken insults.
row and sunk forty fathoms deep OIL Charles
ton bar and the movement he represents
| would not be checked any more than the leel'
| ing he tells would be ekilled.-GreenvaHe Nea0s.
we take no stock in the idea that Tlllman
is leader in any sense Of the world ; and we
would despise ourself If we were to acknowl'
edge that we were blind follower Of Mr..
Tillman but we do believe he, to an extent,
voices the sentiment Of large part Of the
people of South Carolina, as is evidenced at
the recent public meetings.
In all countries and at all times there are
people outside OF official or political influence
who are dissatisfied, with or without reason.
In the case of South Carolina the same
routine of conventions which usually select
officers out Of the office-holding class to the
exclusion of nearly all others has given rise
to dissatisfaction.
The fact that Charleston's influence few
years ago was sufficient to induce the requi-
site number Of country Representatives TO
sacrifice to Charleston their own political In
huence, under pretext Of economy in the
taking Of the census, has made perhaps rs
large q number of malcontents as any other
single act.
Charleston to-day is perhaps the only city
in the world which is legally entitled to dou-
BILE representation in the Senate, and we be-
lieve, without the shadow of q doubt, that 1t
is the only city in the world, which, under
similar circumstances. holds the seats in the
House of Representatives that legally and
rightfully belong to the Country Districts.
Charleston's selfishness in keeping what does
not belong to her, should put the people on
their guard, as to that city, at least.
Among many other matters which
may weaken the government in the eyes
of the people is, that no official statement can
be had as to whether the bills of the Bank OF
the State have been accounted for. Nobody
thinks that there ha been dishonesty, but
why is that the information cannot be had
either from the Comptroller's Office or from
his annual reports?
Why is it that the surplus Of the banks OF
the State is not taxed? The Ne,os and Cou-
rie,, speaking we presume for the banks, open.
ly and def1antly said that the law would be
evaded, while an unauthenticated rumor is
to the effect, that the Abbeville bank Is the
only bank which is making its returns &C.
cording to law. If we are in error In the be-
lief that the surplus Of the banks is not taxed
we would thank any better informed to
brother to give us the Information.
Another matter Of injustice and oppression
arises in the fact that the money.lender's
mortgage is not taxed-unless he chooses to
return 1t for taxation. Every mans land Is
taxed. Every mans money is taxed, until
he puts 1t out at interest on mortgage.
The rate Of interest in this State is too
high. Seven per cent. is as much as an agri-
cultural community can pay.
Our idea is this, that sufficient data has
been found upon which to inaugurate great
movement. In times Of emergency there Is
always leader. A leader, taking advantage
of the discomfort which has been made ap'
parent, will devise plans that will unite the
dissatisfied element, which Is now disunit.
ed majority. When such leader comes,
new men will be placed in power, and those
who have held Office for years will retire from
the State House, and it may be possible that
even Charleston will be made to act fairly as
to her representation In the General Assem-
bly,.