The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-08
A RETROSPECT.
A Review of the Past Year. The Results
of the Reform Movement.
News and Courier.

We are all familiar with the methods
which were adopted in the March Con-
vention to anticipate the Convention
Of the regular Democracy of the State,
and by which candidate was Sag
gested' for Governor. The plan upon
which the campaign, after the March
Convention, was conducted has not
been forgotten, and should not be for
gotten, by anyone who cherishes a pro-
per respect for the honesty and integri-
ty Of the men who have been honored
by the people Of this State in the past
and by those who believe that the
civilization of South Carolina has been
presented through the Democratic par
ty.
We do not care to recall any Of the
bitterness which existed during the
long and weary mouths when from one
end of the State to another all that was
highest and holiest and best, in the his
tory Of South Carolina, was kicked
about in the dust of the political arena,
as an unclean thing.
We simply desire, now that the
"change" has been made in the Gov
ernment of the State, to show that the
campaign was conducted by the domi-
nant faction Ofthe Democratic party not
as it claimed, to secure government
of the people and for the people, but to
secure the honors and emoluments of
official station for those who embraced
this opportunity to elevate themselves
by discreditipg the party aud the
State.
That there has been a "change," no
one can deny. That it has been made
''in the interest of few families, and
for the benefit of a selfish ring ofpoliti-
cians,'; is not a violent assumption in
view of the record which has been
made since the OLD "ring," if findeed it
ever existed, was turned out, and the
''new ringn went in. 1t was the cons
taut claim of the spokesmen Of the
dominant Democratic faction in the
campaign that the offices in this State
had been confined to "a few families"
In his speech at Spartanburg on June
II, 1890, Capt. Tillman, now Governor
Tillman, said : Heretofore the ring
run everything. 1t was heads I win,
tails you lose" On the same occasion
Col. Gary, now Lieutenant Governor
Gary, said: Don't let there be any
cornering of offices in South Carolina.
< = This is a contest of office
holders against the people," These,
or similar statements, were frequently
made by these Or other speakers during
the campaign, and it was as little, per
haps, as their supporters could have
hoped for that the new government
would indeed be a government of the
people and for the people, and that
there should not be ring any more !
What has been the result of the re-
cent campaign? Mr.. Tillman is Gov
ernor in place of Mr.. Richardson, Mr..
Gary is Lieutenant Governor in place
Of DR.. Mauldin, Gen. Pope is Attorney
General in place of Mr.. Earle, Capt.
Farley is Adjutant General in place of
Gen. Bonham, and so on throughout
the other State Offices in Columbia.
The State Government has been turned
over bag and baggage, and is now be-
ing run ''in the interest of a few fami-
lies and for the benefit of selfish ring
of politicians" There has been clean
sweep of the "Oligarchy,". and the
"Autocracy' is fully in control. The
new Administration has been safely
installed ia office. its policy has been
outlined, and so far as time allowed and
Governor Tillnan's influence went, it
has been carried out by the Legislature.
Whether this policy will prove benei-
cial to the State, or only to the faction
in power, time alone will show. To be
entirely frank, we do rot expect that
the "change' which has been effected
will promote the best interests of the
State and all its people.
The leaders Of "the movement who
claimed that they were moved only by
the highest political considerations and
did not specially banker after the hon
ors and emoluments of official station,
have nearly all been provided for at the
expense ofthe taxpayers, and those who
have not yet been rewarded for their
work are cooling their heels in the ante
room Of the Administrator while they
are waiting for something to turn up.
There now appears to be no doubt that
1.-The Movement" was designed prima-
rily for the benefit Of the politicians
who are reaping the rewards for which
they worked SO hard during the cam
paign. 1t will be interesting to note
how fully the yictors, in spite Of all
their patriotic pretensions, have ac-
cepted the Jacksoniau theory OF a
Republican form Of Government, and
have agreed among themselves that
they, and their heirs and assigns for
ever, are the people, and that unto
them pertain the spols Of office. The
list that we give is neither official nor
complete, but it will show that the drift
Of the "Reformers,' is towards the
public crib. The relatives, friends and
acquaintances of the Administration,
it will be seen, have been very we'll
piovided for in the short time since the
revolution was accomplished.
- Here is . part Of the record to which
additions can be made from time to
time as "the Movementn unfolds it.
self: