The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-08-03

there is two mills tax on property for
| this purpose. We are also almost certain
of the fact that there is an income to our
! State from our phosphate mines which
belong neither to the rich nor to the poor,
but to the whole people, and which, if
applied to our public schools, the two
mill tax on property could be reduced
without injury, and which would leave
the mai of property with but poor
claim that he is helping to educate the
poor. Now, ne think the Governor is
familiar with the fact, and if be really
thought that the toiling masses had been
imposed upon by the ''ringsters" and free
pass riders, and the poor needed
some more schooling in order to have 8
higher appreciation of their rights, Why
did he not advise the Legislature to levy
tax on property equal to the income
from our phosphate mines for our public
schools? Then the masses would have
received what belonged to them, and the
rich would have done something for the
maintainence of our public schools, and
Governor Tillman would have sh own
some consistency. From the best infor-
nation we can get the amount collected
on our property for the benefit OF our
public schools is about 100000, and the
amount of income to our State from our
phosphate mines is about 100000.
Now, it is clear to our mind If there Was
no constitutional difficulties in the way,
all tax on property might be removed ex'
cept about I of a mill, and our schools
suffer no injury, provided, however, that
which belongs to the masses and from
which they receive no benefit could be
substituted in its place. It will be seen
at glance that this is quite small sum
to balance against three dollar poll tax
At least, it looks 80 to us. When the
three doll poll tax vas frat brought to the
attention of our people, it WAS hard to
make some believe that the Governor had
advised such measure, but when it was
ascsrtained that it was sure fact, then
the opinion was expressed in kind OF
graveyard whisper that it was done to
"catch the nigger," and we heard one
man say that it caught him where the
hair was asvery short. Now, let US show you
that it catches the white man where the
chair" is still shorter. If this law goes
into effect, three. dollar poll will be lev.
led on both whites and blacks. The
whites will pay their tax but many the
negroes will escape it, just as they do the
one dollar poll. But when itcomes to the
division of this money, it must be divided
out per capita as though all had paid.
Now, is it not clear that the peor white
man, instead of getting any help from
the three. dollar poll tax, would actually
be paying to help educate the negro, and
that, too, fiom his hard esrnings7 This
wodld be poor "catch" indeed, and we
challenge the world to dispute it. As the
law now exists anyone has the right to
invest rs much money ss he plesses 10
the education of his children and re.
ceiviug its whole benefit. We would not
accuse the Governor of trying to "cstch"
anyone, nor Of any unfairness whatever,
except that it is an unreasonable Tax on
labor, and should be resented IS an insult
to those who placed him in power.
Mr.. Editor, you remember that when I
approached you few days ago and told
you that couldn't vote for Gov. Tillman,
you asked me "if I could afford to vote
for drunkard and gambler7" Now,
what / want to know is this: Did you
mean to say by this that Gov. Sheppard
was drunkard and a gambler? We have
been told that he is a deacon in the Bap.
tist Church, also a Sabbath School
teacher, and withal an honorable, high
toned man. he is also President of q
Bank at Edgefeld, S. g., and these insti-
tutions require men of the highest order
of integrity, and we must believe that
Sheppard is just that kind of a man, un'
less the contrary can be proven. Will you
be kind enough to throw little more light
on this subject? When We asked you few
days ago if you would publish commu.
nication from us, you replied, ut would
do no good and that Tillman would be
elected, unless the Day of Judgment
should come off first" Of course, the
day nor hour of that great and notable
day no man knoweth. Good men, how
ever, tell US that it is near our doors, and
who knows but what it might come off on
election day. Should this be the case,
what do you think would become of Till
man and some of his most devoted fol.
lowers9 It might be worthy our while to
study this problem little. As fol
our own part we can say in all candor that
if that is the day upon which ne will be
called upon to give AN account of our
stewardship We had rather be found with
ballot in our hand for man of integ.
rity than for one whose principal stock in
trade is slander. I am perfectly willing
for the Lord to see our ballot on election
day.
In conclusion, ne would say We are
farmer and favor all men, means and
measures that will help the toiling masses
We will also say that We had nothing to
do with the candidacy of either Tillman
or Sheppard, but inasmuch as We either
must support the one or the other we will
take the latter, because ne believe him