The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-27

The Watchman and Southron.1 I

teen delegates who supported and voted
for Attorney General Earle for Cover
nor against his absolute refusal to allow
his name to he Used in that connection
III the State Convention on last Thurs
day. ln'thls demand and cry for Earle
for Governor there was nothing perso-
nal whatever. 1t was the very enlbodi-
ment of principle that grew brighter
and brighter and dearer and dearer to
the understanding of the delegates the
more it was talked over and looked at
in the true sense of a government Of
the people, for the people and by the
people, first, last and all the time.
There is no other way to look at it or
to account for it. Two and two make
four and so it is with equal accuracy
that the true inwardness Of the desire
of these delegates to make Earle Gov
ernor can be arrived at. But there are
none so blind as those who do not want
to see; and to this class we now ad-
dress ourselves III considering the ques-
ton. Where does the antagonism to
Earle come from? in order to show
that 1t comes from the Charleston
clique, a few points in reference to his
political course will have to be given.
In the first place, while in the Sen
ate he earnestly advocated an amend
ment to the Constitution whereby
Charleston would be deprived of one of
her Senators. In the next, he favored
a re-apportionment of representation
so as to give each county its just repre-
sentation. Of course Charleston op-
posed these measures. Then he de-
feated Mr.. Miles for Attorney General.
And during his administration of that
office, he has given two opinions
which have tended to increase this
feeling Of opposition to him The first
was iii reference to taxation of banks,
whereby he showed that what is
known as the bank surplus could not
escape taxation. The banks of Char
lesion had large means carried to their
surplus funds, and this had not been
required to pay a dollar Of taxation.
This opinion was right and proper,
both as a question Of constitutional law
and State policy. There can be no dis
pute among lawyers as to the law, and
the people understand that the COM
mon man should not be required to
pay Il tax upon his horse or COW while
the capitalist is enabled to hoard up
his thousands without contributing to
the support of the government.
The second opinion above referred to
was in reference to an ordinance passed
by the City Council of Charleston, per-
mitting the sale of certain articles on
Sunday. His opinion as Attorney
General was asked as to the legality Of
this ordinance. AS duty commanded
him, he advised that it Was contrary to
the laws Of the State and expressed his
regrets that such an ordinance should
have been passed in the face of the
Christian sentiment Of the State. The
above, We think, indicate the ground
of opposition in the City of Charleston
against Col. Earle. But this feeling
does not exist against him with the peo-
pie at large, but only with that class
that hold the reins of government.
Is Col. Earle a Tillmanite? AS he
has always stat ID for more than two
years past, he is in favor of a separate
Agricultural College and is further in
favor of devoting the Land Script Fund
| and the Hatch Fund to its establish
| mcnt. At the same time he has always
| been and now is an earnest friend and
supporter of the South Carolina College
and Of the Citadel Academy. There is
! similarity between what is known as
the Farmers Movement and his own
principles Us above indicated, and no
further. But he is opposed to the Char
lesion clique or 10 any other political
combination controlling the govern
ment of the State, except so far as con,
sistent with true Democratic principles,
Was Col. Earle candidate for Gov
ernor? He stated before the Convention
met, time and again, that he was not {
candidate, and it was so published al
his earnest request. The night before
the Convention he received telegram
asking his consent to put his name
in nomination for that high office
He promptly replied, declining the
honor. On the morning of the Con
vention he was called upon by numer
ous delegations and earnestly solicited
to run. To one and all he positively
declined to allow his name to be used
and he requested the Sumter delegation
to State, if his name was placed II
nomination that it was without his con
sent and against his protest. He hat
been asked weeks before the Conven
ton met that if there should be criSi
in which the people of the State slloul'
call upon him to serve rs Governor
would he under such circumstances re
fuse: He replied that he could not
consistently with his duty as patriot
citizen; but at the same time he sal'
that he did not anticipate that such
contingency would arise, and befor
the Convention met he admitted tha
he had made this statement, but agail
reiterated the same opinion. This h
had supposed would be sufficient t
have prevented the use of his name
but while the Convention was in ses
sion, a message was brought TO him a