The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-23
Hon. W. &. Benet's Speech.

lOr you.
Hon. W. &. Benet's speech.
Chairman Mattison then introduced Hon.
W. G. Benei, candidate for Congress-
/. Mr.. Benet expressed the great pleasure he
had in coming before so large and intelligent
an audience. He was glad this was cam
nominations. He had been tho first To intro
duce resolutions in the State Democratic Con.
vcntlons calling for State pr lmary. While
as yet unsuccessful with regard to State prl-
mary, he had ut least managed to establish
the Congressional primary. IL was the right
of the individual voter TO influence the selec-
Il OF those who were to be placed in office
to represent him ; and this could only be pro.
perry done by primary.
Taking up the questions submitted to can
didates for Congress by the District Alliance.
Mr.. Benet said: hold here the "catechism"
prepared for us by our friends In the Alliance.
1t Is not the "Shortcr Catechsm', but while
1t is the shortest catechlsm have seen, IL Is
by no means an easy one. 1t is my purpose
to take up each of the questions and answer
them all to the best Of my ability, honestly,
frankly and fully.
DIFFICULT TO SIT ON A WIRE FENCE.
This Is not q time to dodge and evade and
change. The days Of fence-straddthIg are
over. -Ee7fescrily, ;;iicgh fences were made OF
i Did fashioned fnnce-rails, some OF which were
OF good size, 1t was not uncomiorlable 10 SIT
on iop Of the fence But these are the days Of
barbed wire fences, my friends. a man can't
sit on n bari ed-wire fence. He has to get
down Oh the one side or the other.
Nor shall ignore the words put In ndttcs In
the opening general question "Will you
commit yourself To support the following
propositions unuylucnccd by party caucus, II
elected TO represent the Third Congressional
District in Congress?' My friend, Mr.. Norris,
wish to ask him, If he Is fortunate enough to
be elected to Congress will he 20 there ms a
Democrat, or as a Republican. or as an lnde.
pendent, or as member Of the Third Party
| Mr.. Norris-Allow me 20 interrupt you.
These questions are not partisan questions,
and IL good Democrat can pledge hiinSelf 10
| them. My democracy Is as good and as sound
as that of the gentleman who Is addressing
you.
DID NOT QUESTION HIS DEMOCRACY.
Mr.. Bcnet-"I have not called his Demo
cracy In question bat If understand Irignt
the nature and the uses and powers OF the
| party caucus, / cannot sec how any Democrat
| |-egoecialIy any Southern Democrat-can
| commit himself 10 support any measure un-
influenced by party caucus. Any one OF these
eight questions might hecome n part,san
measure, and any true Democrat would be
ompelled to fall into line at the crack OF the
party whip. He could not stand apart from
| ihe Democratic caucus without being an In.
| dependent. AS for me, II your suffrage send
me to COngree, pledge myself TO be faithful
above all things to the Democratic party;
Therein lies our salvation. And must yield
my individual views and wishes TO the good
Of the party"
| DISCUSSING TIE QUESTIONS.
Mr.. Benet then took up seriatim the eight
| questions. He saw nothing Objectionable in
| the first six propositions and much 10 COM
| mend i'm some OF them. He was especially
emphatic in his denunciation Of dealing In
| futures, and pledged himself 10 90 nll IN MS
power TO effect legislation which should re-
move that evil.
lie believed that a great part of the burden
| from which the country was now suffering
| was due to the excessive tar III and TO the
stringency In the money market. win re-
duccd tariff, and free and unlimited coinage
| OF silver he believed the farmers would find
! themselves rclieved-SO far as legislation
| could rclieye them--from nearly all the
evils from which they now suffered.
TIE GovERHMENT SHOULD NOT own TIE
RAILROADS.
To the seventh prop0siton-that the Gov
ern1ncnt should own and operate the railroads
| and stcamLoatS-hc said he was most strenu-
ouSly opposed. 1t would be Il grevous mis-
| take to entruSt so great Il power 10 any party,
| and the party in power when such law was
| passed. giving tie Government control and
ownership OF the railroads and steamboats,,
could never be unsedtcd; It would be perpetu-
| ated and become Il hereditary tyranny.
Snch n law would add u quarter Of u million
Office. holders To The party In power. Suppose
| the Republican party had such measure
| passed, what would become or The railroads
| in the Southern StatCs? Every conductor
and baggage c-maSter and engineer would be
negro. No railroad would be built In the
South. The partisan Government would GOV.
or the North and West with network OF
| railroads, at the public expense, but not one
mile would they build down here.
WILL TRY TO GET TIE GOOD OUT OF TIE
sUB-TREAsURr BILL.
As to the eighth proposition, that referring
| to the ,'Sub- b-rreaSury Plan" Mr.. Rene: said
| he did not think this important subject had
| been fairly discussed or treated OF by the pup,
lie men who had. written about II. IL hiii
been the custom to condemn 1t, pronounce IT
| impractical and unconstitutional, and some
tines 10 ridicule 1t. lie was not prepared to
| support the Bill in its present shape. He him.
| sell believed it to be unconstitutional IN one
| or two OF It's provisions. Still he regarded the
| Bill us u measure looking IN the hight dlrec-
| ton. II was far from perfect. II might os
better to discard 1t and adopt substitute.
| But IT, was worthy the serious consideration
! of all thoughtful men and patriots, Tor IL was
a symptom of disease from which the coun-
| try, ami chiefly the agricultural classes, were
| now suffering. The enormous crops VI tie
| country are dumped upon the market q most
| in q mass, and there IS such gut That pro-
duces loses In prices, While money Is Iaru W
ret. The money Of the country can hardly
| move the coltOn crop. This was not the case
thirty or forty years ago. Then IL took year
| to- sell the cotton crop. But now, owing TO the
development of railroads, and teIegraphS, The
| whole crop Is handled in three or four months.
| In other words, money Is dear and the price
| of our produce suffers. The farmer Is forced
to sell when the money market is. most strin'
gent . . ,,,o. IA.
money market more elastic Is the purpose of
| the "Sub-TreaSury Bill" TO take it out or The
| power Of spectators TO gamble with the
crops Is a most praiseworlhy purpose.
| And for one will lend all my help In that III
rection. . .
| While do not think the Government can
lend the citizen money on his personal secur-
iry. | see no objection to the government
giving It's receipt for crops stored in Govern
meut warehouses;, on which receipt tile lar'
mcr can easily get money. The measure Is
one OF trnuscrnucnt Importance; there IS Il
crying need o; IL remedy for very Sub%taniia
evils the Bill may iurniSh The basis Ol very
wholesome legislation when pruneG oi all lis
Objectionable features. And am anHloiiS 10
aid the farmers OF the country In any effort 10
Iiberute themselves from The power of thr
Ispcrutnting and gambling nlIlionairea ana
syndicatCs.
RAIN FALLS.
About this time to the delight OF The lar'
n,nrv rain bcuau To fall. Mr. l}rnct said ne