Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-04-03

tnasseS OF Tue people arise iii thaiT
Nigh: and majesty and Pre-
tect the public TREASURY from plundor,
and 70 wrest the reins Of power
from the hands of the concentrated
few. Retrenchment and economy in
the management Of the Government
is what we seek. Iwant it distinctly
understood that l am not one of
those who charge corruption in high
places in South Carolina. I utterly
repudiatc any such charge. But I
do say that there has been extrava-
gance, and that we must unload it..
Wo must remember, however, tn at as
gentlemen, freemen and Democrats
we are all on one ship, and that the
Democratic ship must not sink. l
now declare this convention pcrma-
nently organized and ready for bust
ness.
The above, of course, is only a
brief outline of Senator Tolbert's
splendid oration, for it was an ora
tion. He was frequently applaudcd
during it's delivery, and especially at
those passages where he declared
that he, for one, repudiated any
charges of corruption against the
Democratic State officials.
The Convention having been or
ganized, recess was taken until 8
O'Clock, p. NJ. On re-asscmbling,
MIR. Patton, of. Spartanburg, moved
that the first business of the Con
vention, after tho report of the COM
mittee on credentials was received,
should be the nomination of State
ticket from Governor down. This
was a premature movement, and on
the motion of several delegates was
tabled.
Mr.. Burn, Of Darlington, moved
that the Convention consider plat
form of principles before any other
business. Adopted.
MIR. Mcqueen, of Chesterfield,
suggested that some rules be adopted
for the government of the Conven
tion. He proposed the rules of the
House of Representatives, and they
were adj pied.
Mr.. annamaker, Of Orangeburg,
moved that the Chair appoint ono
delegate from each county to serve
rs committee on resolutions.
Adopted. Mr.. J. r. Earle, Jr, rep
resented Oconee on this committee.
Mr.. Tindal, Of Clarendon, from
the Committee on Platform, appoint
ed by caucus Of members of the
Convention, reported the following
- PLATFORM.
Whereas, it is tho inalienablc right,
inherent and constitutional of citizen
ship, to meet in any orderly manner, to
propose and discuss measures, to adopt
platforms of principles and appoint, if
cxpcdlent, champions of said principles {;
and whereas, experience has shown the
value of agitation inside of our ranks,
and we feel that w must devise some
plan by which differences of opinion as
to measures and men may have scope to
bring about needed reforms, therefore
this Convention of Democrats, assembled
in Columbia, this March 27, 1890, unite
IN issuing the following platform of
principles and measures, upon which we
intend to strive for supremacy in party
and State:
1st. We recognize tho imperative nccos-
sity OF Anglo-Saxon unity in our State,
and pledge ourselves to abide by the
arbitramcnt of tho Democratic party, re-
upOl OllC SctlSc vi JuStlCc ullu
enlightened Sclf-intcreSt of Il majority of
our white fellow-citizcns to secure all
needed reforms. We will make our issue
inside the party lines, and, differing as
brethren who must make a common
cause against common enemy, VIC will
bow i'll submission to the bchcsts of the
party fairly expressed through the regu-
lar channels.
I'd. The nominations of the Demo-
cratic party arc virtually elections. Be-
lieving in the Jcffersonian doctrine that
"the people are the best cOnscrylt ors of
their own rights and liberties" and that
"Sclf-government is the only free govern
mcnt," we demand that all nominations
for Office in the party, other than State
offices, shall be by primary elections,
conducted under the State law enacted
in 1888.
3d. We demand the rc-appointmcnt of
representation in the Democratic Con-
ventiOn upon the basis of the census of
1880, and that it go into effect this year.
We demand that the delegates to the
State Nominating Convention shall be
chosen by primary election on the same
day that the other officers are nominated,
and that all the counties shall hold their
primaries on the same day, to wit the
last Tuesday in August in each election
year.
4th. We demand that the Board of
Agriculture be abolished; that the privi-
legc tax on fertilizers, and everything
pertaining to agriculture, or mechanics,
or industrial eduction, including the
agricultural stations, be under the con-
troll of the Trustees of Clemson Agri-
cultural College, and upon said Trustees
shall dcvOlvc all duties now performed
by the present Board and Commissioners
of Agriculture, except the control of
the State phosphate interests.
9Th. We demand that the South Caro-
lima College shall be literally supported
as a classical and literary institution.
9th. We demand that the school dis
trirts in the various counties i'm the State
shall be rs nearly square as practicable,
and an area to allow only one white and
one colored free school in each district,
and that the school trustees he elected
instead Of appointed.
It'll. We demand rigid economy in pub
lie expenditures, the abolition Of useless
offices, reduction Of salaries and fees of
all officers, State and county, to conform
to the increased purchasing power Of
money and decreased ability of people to
pay taxes; that the public officers shall
bo paid in proportion to their labor and
responsibility.
9Th. We demand that the railroad com
mission shall be given all needed power
to protect the rights and interests of the
people without injuring the railroads,
and that the commissioners he elected
by the people after nomination by the
Democratic Convention. 1t is the sense