The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-19

and has perhaps made some up
rountrylnen believe that they have
been wronged by the people Of the low
country, ne has mentioned but two
things Of any practical moment. And
] what is to be gained by these two
measures, he has failed to show.
He has raised Il great cry against tho
Department of Agriculture, and has
nsinuatcd many things to its discrcdlt,
but he has failed to show any dis
honesty or mismanagcment on the
part Of the Board or Of the Commits
sioner. He has shown but one thing
that he is ignorant Of the manner III
which that department has been con-
ductcd Yet he has the tenerlty to
demand Of the people that they shall
condemn that department and :il con
nected with it, simply hecause he does
not understand its Operations. AND
this blind devotion to his prcludIccs he
demands, though it carries with it the
charge of reckless unfaithfuness, if not
Intentional dishonesty, on the part OF
men who have for years been rocog-
niZed as among the most honorable and
faithful of our citizens. But why should
We have revolution, if all the charges
were true? The Agricultural Depart
! ncnt was established in the interest of
! the farmers Of the State, upon Their
demand, and under regulations framed
by the leading men in that vocation.
If il mas proved inefficient let it be
abolished; or if it can be made more
useful by a transfer of its duties to
other hands, let that be done. But arc
these questions to be settled by stump
speeches? Can any man master the
question upon any array OF hSures
which could be made in an oral argu-
ment? The closest reading Of the many
columns Of printed matter which have
| been laid before US in the newspapers
| fails to make the case clear; and 1t IS
utterly unreasonable to expect crowd
| to learn the details from Mr.. Tillman's
harangues A legislative investigation
| which shall exhibit the full account IS
the only method by which we can eX-
pect to be informed. 1t isamazinS that
| in "campaigi of education" any can
didate should have the effrontcry to
ask the people to back him in an attack
| upon department Of the government
and upon men of unblemished reputa-
ton, simply because that candidate does
| not see how the department has been
managed, or why it has been managed
as it has.
The other tangible matter is the re-
apportionment of representation IN the
House of RepreseE tatives. This, oy
the way, is not one of the demands OF
| the March Convention. The platform
| of that convention, 50 far as re-appor-
tionment is concerned, relates only to
the State Democratic Convention, not
to the State Legislature. 1t Is rather
curious that the platform which Mr..
Tillman wrote and carried to Columbia
in his pocket should have no mention
of the question in connection with
which he now makes his loudest talk
and elects his rankest personal abuse.
But there is no dispute, in this sec
ton of the State, in regard to the re-
apportionment contended for by Mr..
Iillman. 1t will not affect Newberry
County; for every scheme proposed
leaves us with exactly the representa-
ton which we have had for years. AS
Il measure for the up-cOuntry it has
now, rs it has always had, the approval
of our people. |, for one, have been
disappointed in the failure Of the efforts
for re-apportionment; and l. for one,
am not disposed to condone the action
of our former representatives, who re-
fused to join in the re-apportlonment
measures proposed in the Legislature
simply because Of the expense involved
in it. l think that small expense did
not Justify Legislators in refusing to
carry out the imperative requirement
of the constitution. Yet [ do not
charge those gentlemen with perjury,
nor with any wilful failure Of duty. |
acquit DR.. Pope, Mr.. Sigh, and all
others who opposed the enumeration,
Of any dishonesty or want of regard for
the oath of office taken by them. l can
resdily see the consideration which
affected their minds. But how is Mr..
Tillman to be justified in his argument:
He says that the failure to vote for the
re-apportionment constituted actual
perjury. He goes on 10 say that he
pardons those of the offenders who vio-
lated their oaths in order to save little
money. Who gave him the right to
pardon crime or sin? And why does
lie undertake to pardon? | presume,
because though he thinks they have
sinned much, they have loved much
that is, they have loved Tillman much.
This looks as if Mr.. Tillman were not
only posing as Moses, but arrogatlng
to himself the authority of the Savior.
And when this apostle of virtue goes
out of his way to insinuate against al
honored member of our Judiciary cor
ruption in his office, or the danger OF
corrupt practices by him in that office,
and this against man who has no
opportunity to meet him before the
people, tile incorrigible venom ana
malice Of the man is made clear to all
who are able to see.
And this is the campaign so far. No
word is said by Mr.. Tillman in favor of
Clemson College-probably because he
knows it to be safe. No showing is
made Of the manner in which taxes
may be reduced. No law is proposed
by which mems liberties are to be pro-
tected, or by which their property Is to
be secured. No measure is proposed
bv which our burthens shall be lighted
or our welfare advanced. Nothing IS
suggested which can at all help the
people of Newberry. Nothing tangl-
hle is offered except the re-apportion-
ment, in which all Of our people agree,
and which any man from Newberry
would feel bound to vote for in the Leg
islature. There is only this re-appor-
tionment advocated by Mr.. Tillman,
coupled with the abuse of the so-called
aristocracy and abuse of some Of the
men who voted against re-apportion-
.mcnt. What sort Of Il savior Of the
people is this?'
shall write you next week on the
subject of the so-callcd aristocracy.
J. +. J. CALDWELL.
June l7th, 1880.