The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-17
READ AND LEARN.
FEARFUL ARRAIGNN1ENT OF TILLMAN

FEARFUL ARkhlGNMbNl w 11hhnnAi''
Facts Clearly Stated that Have Not
Been Successfully Answered.
Because the speech of Hon. +. B. Murray
has been so much discussed in Aboeville
County We reprint it i'll these columns, in Or
der that all fair mirded people may read II,
and see what he really said.
AS far as we know, no sufficient answer has
been made to it. and believing that II iSa
document which the leaders of the Tilman
faction consider as dangerous to be put in the
hands OF the thinking voter, it is reproduced
for the benefit o all voters who arc not un-
der the domination OF leaders who will not
allow their followers TO read anything from
from the other side.
Mr.. Murry Is a courteous gentleman in his
personal habits, and his speeches are respect
ful, without the use Of any offensive lti'-
guage and as far as we know, no speaker has
been able TO refute single point which he
makes.
The fact Of his ability as Il speaker, and the
Justice of his cause furnish, as we think. the
true solution of the bitterness Of speech with
which he is assailed, and furnish the
Williamson. Not being able to meet him in
teilectually, therefore the mob resorts to brute
force to prevent his speaking at Cedar Grove,
near Williamson.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
In approaching the discussion OF The issues
ot the present campaign, / feel that we are
entering upon the consideration o. the most
important canvass that has ever been upon
our state. Viewed, as view it. the crisis
hinh, ,,,,, frnt IL n iS =
tous in the history OF South CaroIina
There have hccn crises which were TO deter
mine questions @! war or pcace-io deter
mine whether the white man or the negro
was 10 rule this State for Il Tune, out thlS
campaign involves the confidence or Inc peo-
pie in South Carolina III one another. ana Is
10 determine whether our people are rent IN
TO classes distrustiul OF and hostile 10 each
other.
come here simply asa private citizen. feel
ing deep and abiding interest In Inc we'll
fare of south Carolina TO present TO men,
who l know are patriotic and sincere in their
wish to do that which Is best for our common
State certain reasons why / think Il change
OF administration is desirable in South Caro-
lima.
/ wish to present these views to your reason
and to have your calm and deliberate JudS-
ment upon them, feeling satisfied that you
will, as true citizens, act as you believe to be
best for the common good, and for TINS rest
son shall say as little that is harsh as | can
and shall endeavor to use no epithets tow;u ds
any man or set OF men with whom may dll
fer for there Is no argument in an epithet-
calling names will convince no one. A..
If what say shall reflect severely upon inc
present Chief Magistrate OF this Stale. ! am
determined that it shall be the force of the
facts of the case, and not simply the words o
the speaker.
CLASS ARRAYED AGAINST CLASS.
TO begin with. Governor Tlllman and his
friends have sought to array one class OF oul
citizens against another class, and has there
by produced a division and distruSt In this
State which has been most Injurious. IT. has
arrayed brother against brother, neiShhol
against neighbor and friend against friend In
this little State which Is small enough tC
make our in terestS one.
Our people ought 10 know each other III
South Carolina from the mountains to the
sea so well by character and reputation that
we would appreciate and sympnthiZc with
the motives and purposes OF all our people
and not be hostile to one another.
Our interests are the same thr0ushout tht
State, and the classes OF our citizens in south
Carallna are SO dependent one on the 0thrr
that 1t is great wrong for any man toseek tc
produce dScord and diStrusi where there was
harmony and unity before, and yet Governor
Tilman has done this under the plea that he
is the laboring mans friend.
THIS GOVERNMENT MORE HOSTILE TO THE
POOR MAN THAN THE REPUBLICAN,
GOVERNMENT
propose TO speak to you plainly and can.
didiy to-day and at the risk of astonishing
yop by the proposition, l arraign this ad'
ministrat ation as the most hostile, IN the meas.
ures proposed and advocated, 10 the lahoring
man of any administration this State has
ever had, not excepting the darkest Repuhli-
can nd mi n niStratiOnS OF our State.
want You TO understand me clearly. 10
not believe that this administration has
stolen money from the people, but | say IT'S
attitude towards the laboring man in South
Carolina is more hostile than thatof VI oses
or Scott.
They robbed The State but in order TO do 1t
they taxed property and stole only irom the
property holders.
THE POLL TAX-rHE ISIQUITY OF RAISING
In adopting the present constitution which
has been much abused and objected to
man must bear In taxation at one dollar per
head, and never sought to rails" IT. They tax
ed property To run the public schools, retain
ed the lien law and enacted the homestead
law, but ii Is reserved tor this administration
flieen years after this party OF corruption
and oppression were driven from power, 10
come forward, and aS the proieSSed friend OF
the laboring man, as the arOwed champion OF
the wool hat crowd 70 propose 10 change the
provision of the constitution relating TO the
poll tax and raise this tax from one 10 three
dollars per capita or 10 place three timcS the
burden of taxation upon the poor mans head
which the Republicans themselves put on 1t.
The plea for this is That IL will make the
negro pay his share Of the school tax and run
the schools longer.
In order To Cypress the negro they propose
TO oppreSs the poor white man too. and !:
they could run The schools longer there are
hundreds and thousands OF poor white men
who would have 10 pay this tax that could
not send their children, for III making all
honest living for themselves and their itni-
lies they are compelled 10 take their children
in the busy times OF the crop to the fields.
and only the men who do not have to put
their children In the field could get The hene-
tit of these schools run by the tax ON The poor
mans head.
GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE SUPPORTED DY
TAXATION OF PROPERTY.
This basis OF taxation is wrong.
People ought TO be taxed to support the
govern nmeut according 10 their ability to pay,
10y an equal tax in proportion 10 the proper
~ they own,
Amy scheme OF taxation which seeks to tax
the poor man heavily Is unjust, aud cannot
see how one protesting To be The poor mans
friend could be willing to permit such a tax
qpon him, much less 10 advocate II. rs Gov
ernGr Tillman does.
TIE EVIL OF REpEAIlNG TIE LIEN LAW.
Again, Governor Tillman has expressed
himself as favoring TO the repeal OF tile lien
law.
There may have been time in the history
OF our State when crops were abundant and
prices good that by giving timely Office il
inight have done to repeal this law. but in the
last two years when crops were short and
prices were going down, down until the SLil-
pie crop of our country reached point be-
low what many persons believe to be the ac-
tual cost of production when the landlords
taave been scarcely able 10 make ends meet,
and when the tenants have been barely able
TO Support themselves and their families. Of
ten eiiduring many privatiOns. there has GER