The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-18
PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE.
4 Erief Review OF the Administration
One Year Ago and Now.
IGreenyille News.

lOreenVllle News.
a year ago yesterday, June ION,
1890, the great Tillnlan campaign was
opened in Greenville.
Many people who read this remem-
ber the ,neeting-the enthusiasm, the
pride, the faith, the hope with which
the friends of the popular cause gath
cred to cheer the popular candidate
and to discountenance his opponents.
Some will remember it with sore
heart, for some who at that meeting
took pains to be prominent in their
hurrahs for Tillman were lett out in
the divide and found when the
votes were counted that they had
their labor for their pains.
Looking over the files yesterday, we
were struck with one or two notable
utterances of his opening speech and
the light thrown upon them by recent
events and developments. The assessed
taxable Of the State Of Georgia, he
said, had increased one hundred mil
lion dollars in ten years while those
of this State had see-sawed, sometimes
rising and sometimes falling. There
must, he said, be reason for this.
Some said the people did not return
their property honestly, but that
wouldn't do, for the same rule held
good in other States. He thought our
failure to increase like Georgia was
caused by the absence Of a republican
form of government-by ring rule.
The alleged ring rule has been over
thrown, but there has been no great
rush OF prosperity visible to The naked
eye. TO the contrary, Comptroller
General Ellerbee appears to be strong
ly of the opinion that our poor show
ing in valuation for taxation is caused
by the failure of the people to return
their property honestly and in that
opinion he apparently seess1ne sesesss 1ne Go,
ernor's Work has been begu
IN P9@gning up the bank and railroa
assessments, and We are promised tha
the same thing will be done with farl
land, mules and other property so 500
y as the officials can get at them.
A large part of that speech Of Jun
10th, 1890, was taken up in arguing fc
a primary election for State officer
We had no primary, although every
body but Captain Tillman's friends We
anxious for it.
In another part of the same speec
Captain Tillman complained that tn
department of agriculture had pal
Sl2,l62 in fees to lawyers who repre-
sented the State in suit for certai
phosphates by which the State re
covered $4,000. "Why," he asked
"did not the attorney general and th
solicitors who are State officers on bi
salaries prosecute the case for the Stat
and save this money ?" This poir
was taken to be a strong one-a dec
sive illustration Of the reckless extray
agance of the old State government
and was loudly cheered. Yet in tn
present phosphate suits against Coo
saw outside lawyers who work only fo
big money have been freely employed
} When it came to Governor Tillman
turn he did. precisely the same thin
be censured Governor Richardson 70
doing, and called in extra help for th
: States case.
Has there been any discovery of gen
eral rottenness and mismangement il
the old government? Two shortage
were found, amounting together t
about $4,000, We believe, and both wer
promptly made good.
Has there been any large reduction
Of expenses or taxes?
Have any offices been abolished
Have the laws been better or NOR
effectively administered =?
Have we been more peaceful or pros
porous or contented than before?
Let US from time to time keep II
view promise and performance, charg
and proof These are things to judge
man or government by.
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