Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-01-14
Colonel Keitt on the Situation.
ENoREE PLANTATION, S. c.,
January 2, 1892.
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ENoREE PLANTATION, S. c.,
January 2, 1892.
To the Editor Of the Gyeeavi0e
Daily -Neacs::
The condition of the people is
deplorable and is rapidly growing
worse. On one side we are threat
ened with financial disaster. On the
other demagogues in their greed for
office arc sblowing" the flames of
sectional and factional hate. Intel
ligent and virtuous men alone can
save us. No. heed should be given
to unclean men-they are the lepers
Of society and bring disaster and
ruin.
Five years ago B. R. Tlllman made
his appearance before the public as
the advocate of an Agricultural and
Mechanical College, which was necee-
sary to place the farmers on an
equality with other classes and on
the road to prosperity. The farmers
met in convention iu Columbia in
April, 1886, under his leadership, for
the purpose Of taking steps to estab-
lish such acollege. Tillman declared
he wanted no Office; that all he
desired was to be Trustee Of such
an institution. The writer was a
member of the convention and was
in full sympathy with the movement,
as he always has been AID is with
everything looking to the advance
ment of the agricultural interest.
The convention bad not adjourned
thirty days before the press OF tie
State announced as a fact that Till:
man had sold out the Farmers Move
ment- to Dawson.
When the State Gonvenftslooni ll71 )
in the summer Tillman held a caucus
of the Farmers Movement delegates
and tried to get them to vote for
Sheppard, lawyer, Dawson's candl-
date, against Richardson, a farmer.
As Tillman had been taking delight
in abusing lawyers his course was
conclusive with many that what the
press stated was true-that he had
sold us out to Dawson.
The writer lost confidence in him
and reluctantly consented in 1890 to
support him. He did not do so until
he was assured Tillman was an ALI
anceman and after he heard him
speak at Newberry, where, among
other things, he made the following
pledges, not one Of which he has
kept. BE said: of you elect nee
Governor the first message ] send to
The Legislature / will ask them to
reduce the salaries of all the State
officers" Earle said: ssBut you will
be elected and they can't reduce
yours" Tillman replied: q don't
care if they do.' Did hesend that
message to the Legislature? No.
Why not? Was he ssblowing ?"
He said: sFellow-citizens, you
know nothing about your State Gov
ernment. You have been ruled by
aristocrats since the days of the
Lords Proprietors. If you elect me
Governor / viii ask the Legislature
to print ten thousand copies of the
Comptroller Generals report and ]
viii send them all over the State,
and you will then know what is
being done. Did he make this
request Of the Legislature? No.
What excuse has he fer falling to do
Eso? Was he Glowing y
He said ellew- citizens, if you
Eeleet me Governor / will save you
ls10o, ,o0o. Was he ssblowing 2" How
now stand matters? cad of saw
ling the State 100000 he has lost
the State this first year Of his admin
iistrati near 81 ,ooo, ,ooe: He has
put rs on the down grade. Matters
are serious and under his administra-
ton they are sg.oWing worse very
fast. By his bad management O
the phosphate interest the estimate
1 SIS he siI have lost the State $685.
1000 o. royalty at the end Of the fsca'
Iyear March 1892 hen be went
Into office tae bonds Of the State
were at premium Of about 5 PEI
feent now the. are worth only g
Heents on the DOL lar = their depre.
Eciias;on he has lost the State about
800, 900 The. public debt, amount;
i|ino to millions ofs lars, is due next