The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-26
OPENING THE CAMPAIGN.
GOV. Richardson and Farmer Iillinan Have
a Discussion states Finances
The Agricultural College.

ant Governor an expression ol tncll
views on State politics was held to-day
1t Hodges, Abbeville County, the
electors present representing the voters
of the 3d Congressional district. There
WAS no evidence from the attendance Of
candidates that there would be any
opposition to the denomination OF Gov
efnor Richardson and Lieutenant Gov
ernor Mauldin, these gentlemen being
the only ones who appeared to give an
account of stewardship or present the
principles upon which they seek cleo
ton.
The speaking began at 1880, when
DR.. Jones, who was the chairman OF the
meeting, presented Capt: Cochran, who
handsomely introduced Governor Rlch,
artlson. The Governor was Ill good
voice and was armed with Il Formidable
array of carefully prepared statistics,
which were the only notes he used. He
was accorded a respectful hearing,
although not al enthusiastic one, by
the audience, which was palpably con-
trolled by the TiIlman influence.
GOVERNOR RICHARDSON SPEECH.
The Governor said that he was here
bv direction Of the Democratic party,
in accordance with the expression from
the recent State Convention, and to
address the people as had been arranged
bv the State executive committee. Be
fore he touched on other matters he
desired to answer certain vague and
irresponsible charges which had been
made in regard to the conduct OF the
State Government. 1t had been stated
bv some newspapers and politicians
that the burden oftaxation WAS to-day
as heavy on the people as it was under
Radical rule. This assertion was not
true and he would proceed to prove 1t.
He quoted from 4 tahu!ated statement
issued by the Democratic state commit
tee in 1882 and slowed the taxes exact
ed each wear Of Radical rule. One
example here sutfices for the contrast.
In the fiscal year 1874 the total
State tax was II mills, yielding S2,o33,
Coz, and the aggregate county taxes
were 81 ,037 900, making a total taxation
Of So, II, 900. On the other hand the
total State tax under Democratic rule
in lSS6-S7 was but $3.50 and the
county taxes were proportionately less.
The Governors figures will be given
hereafter. Hequoted from the records
to show that the actual and contingent
liabilities by the State under Radical
rule reached the enormous total OF
nearly S29, While the present
figures were only one-fifth as large.
Then the Governor, to use the Ian
guage of Mr.. w. G. Benet, dealt with
the figures of the States finances at the
present time with the felicity and
bower Of Gladstone. He took up
the Tillman comparison of taxation in
1S7S-T9 and lSS6-S7, and canvassed
item by item the points of increase and
diminution in the expenditures. His
table will be hereafter published in full.
1t is sufficient now to show that the
most important differences were as
follows: Excess in appropriations 1878
70 over lSS6-S7: South Carolina Uni
versity S2,l00, South Carolina College
and Mechanical Institute $500, penal
and charitable institutions $4,000, civil
contingent fund $1,000 State Agricul-
tural and Mechanical Society 1900,
Court of Claims $1,000 Bond Court
$1,000, claims passed 5000 deficiencies
ST., 800; total excess lSS6-S7 over 1858
Legislative expenses $1,000, tax depart
ment l,200, University and Citadel
S33, 800, repairs Governors Mansion
81, 100, public printing $4,000, artificial
limbs $4,000, railroad commission
$3.50, (paid by railroads,) supervisors
registration $500, transportation OF
convicts (cost charged from counties tC
State) 5000, completion State House
Sl6, 100, Charleston Medical College
$500, interest on public debt $3.50
| militia $4,000 experimental stations
| $4,000; total excess $1,000; net differ
ence in favor Of lS7S-79 S33, ,413. De,
| Quoting the payments ofinterest on the
public debt with the new appropriation:
| for the State House, the educationa
institutions and the militia, left hardly
| the appearance of all increase.
TheGovernor not only referred to, but
discussed, every item Of increased
expenditure, showing the reason for it:
existence and putting the question
| whether the public would forego thf
OUTLAY. The Governor did all that wa:
| possible to relieve the monOtOny of hi:
ranks Of figures and made them intin
itelv more effective than they might
have appeared when marshalled in dul
| array.
He presented a bright picture Of the
! present condition of the State as com
| pared with what it was ten years ago
| The progress was great for a poor people
in so short a period in the life ola State
It had been said, declared the Cover
| nor, that he was 4 straddler OH the qucs
ton OF the Clemson agricultural college
He was here as loyal son Ofthe State
greatly honored by her, to answer he
| inquiry as to his position. With all re
card for his friend, the editor of tht
Abbeville Medium, who was present
and who yesterday in his paper saic
that he lGovernor Richardson) haC
| refused to answer questions Us to thl:
college, he asserted that he never haC
proposed and did not now propose, t.
answer his interrogatories. His otficia
! duties did not allow him time to reply
to such questions propounded to him
But he was now here at the time an[
place appointed by the Democracy tc
speak his convictions. That was right
was it not: Then why put him in the
| pOSlllON Oh SlTdClllcl VI uouScl. LII
letter to The News and Courier before
his nomination in 1886 he had eX
pressed his opinion as to the agricultu
raj college question. 1t was a matter foI
the people, who would bear the burden
to decide He then said, and now re
affirmed, that he was now, as ever, fol
any school which would aid in th'
educating Of this grand cid State. HI
made a comparison between the educa
tional status of New England ant
South Carolina, and asked how he coult
oppose any educational advantage fol
his people. If the Clemson college wa:
accepted the State should support i
literally One,question for the Legisla
| ture was: 'NNill the will hold"
| There was no reason why it shoult
not, but it would be unwise for the State
to accept the bequest and proceed t
carry it out without being sure OF it:
legality. He was for all institutions o
learning, the free schools and agricultu
raj college, the South Carolina tniver
sity and the Citadel. 1t would be {
good thing to offer the youth Of the
| i