Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-03-10
w~ALHALLA, $. c.
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1892.
In Search of Light.

Our esteemed and honored frleno, 'he
editor OF the Greenville Enterprise and
Mouatoiaee1. has quite an inquiring turn
of mind. and when the political sky
becomes dark and threatening, 1t ire
ouertly affords him relief land, We hope,
profit. tool to search for light in the col
aims of the COURIER. In the issue OF
the 9th instant the search is renewed
with wonted courtesy. Our contempt
rar;rsss.
THE KEowEE CoURIEEi is a hee~sn!nsr
for which we have IN ABIDING respect
and its u~tterances most generally meet
with our hearty approval II has al
honorable record and is noted for a sound
conservatism in politics. But ever the
wisest may be mistaken at times, and we
bee leave to differ with our valued con
temporary in virtually claiming that the
o1cctiou OF any man is u necessary to accom-
plish whaeeyer the people may desire
Our purpose is not to debate this point,
however, and we venture to ask our
friend 70 favor the public with { 'eta-
logue of the reforms which are not yet
accomplished, and for which he contends
that the place TO make the fighti is III the
election Of legislators. What are the
conservative measures OF reform to
which allusion is made? Webcg pardon
for seeming inquisitiveness but the cues
ton is asked in good faith and with the
hope of obtaining a satisfactory answer
This is a candid question, and it shall
receive a candid answer, even though the
Information gained may not be 50 sat
isfactory'' as the inquirer may desire.
In the first place, u contemporary
seems to forget that it is a condition and
not a theory that confrontS us. This
truth, doubtless, is not very ''Satisfac-
tory" but the condition exists. whether
We desire it or not.
The movement for reform" is greater
and stronger thar TiDman or any other
man in the State, but SO long as he stands
as the exponent of the reform wing
the party his strength is commenss"se
with that of the movement. 1t teiAs
true that he is the choice of this gnS OF
the Democracy for Governor, all Pposi
ton to him is worse than uselSs; IT'S
positively harmful, for, as Cert. h'.le
says, Such opposition wonl3 intensity
the bitter feeling which g"n.of,'
natelv exists a"d cont, succeed ohiy .!
r-e.. n aid OF the negro vote. Vie
tory az such a cost would be too dearly
bought. Give me Tillman q thousand
times before a Scott or a Moses.
As we have said before. TiImanisonly
an incident of the movement. and the
ideas of reform or #Ai9h it's bottomed
~sl} -bazenacted ir:o law before they
~ allesience of the major
ity OF the Democratic party in Seath
Carolina.
the people demand and expect arcduc
son Of salaries 10 correspond witlrthe
increased purchasing power Of money.
This Was promised by TiIlman in his
campaign Of 1880. but II has not Been
done. Still this reform las notlostisS
hold upon the people. and they can eject
a Legislature that viii make a conserva
tive and proper reduction Of salaries.
Butitis true no great relief from=th
burdens OF taxation can be accomplished
without a chanse=in our organic law
The system OF government must sc
changed. and this cannot be done e%tfectu-
ally withouta constitutional convention.
Let us have a rev draft or the organic
law. framed by cur wisest and most con
servative statesmen, who know how TO
adapt it to our present environments.
The call, of course. must be madebs the
Legislature.
+, Again, our system Of county govern
ments is too expensive. Exactly what
should be the details OF this reform time
and space now forbid US 10 say. but
something similar to the systeulo Of boards
which obtained before The war#would be
practical and conservative.
These measures come readily 10 mind
as we hurriedly write. and while they
form not lengthy catalogue, yet they
are OF sufficient moment to hold the con
tmued support OF The people who DO the
voting. Give US conservative legislators
who#will make a proper reduction OF
salaries and expenses, provide a new
system Of county governments, AID
call a constitutional convention: bat
wio viii MOI grant Governor Ii9man the
autocratic power which he asked a the
hands of the last Legislature: and If
Tillman should be given new lease OF
the Executive Mansion for two years
longer, which we now verify believe to
be the viii of a large majority of the
white Democrats of South Carolina, our
condition two years hence viii be more
Satisfactory than can possibly be hoped
if a faetional fight is to be made on him
in the approaching campaign.
-