Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-01-14
Colonel Keitt on the Situation.
EsoREE PLANTATION, S. c.,
January 2, 1892.

LNOREE L Ian LA 11O-S3 Ss O-t
January 2, 1892.
To the Editor Of the GreenciNe
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-are ablowing" the flames of
sectional and factional hate. Intel
ligent sld 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. Tillman made
his appearance before the public as
the advocate of an Agricultural and
Mechanical College, which was neces-
sary to place the farmers on an
equality with other classes and on
the road to prosperity. The farmers
met in convention in 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 a 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 and is with
everything looking to the advance
ment of the agricultural interest.
The convention bad not adjourned
thirty days before the press OF the
State announced as fact that Til:
man had sold out the Farmers Move
ment to Dawson.
When the State G6nvenc.on nlo5
in The summer Tillman he'd a caucus
of the Farmers Movement delegates
and tried to get them to vote for
Sheppard, lawyer, Dawson's candi-
date, against Richardson, 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 hin:
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. lie said: :sIf you elect me
Governor the first message [ send to
the Legislature l will ask them to
reduce the salaries Of all the State
officers" Earle said: "But you will
be elected and they can't reduce
yours" Tillman replied: 81 don't
care if they do Did he send that
message to the Legislature? No.
Why not? Was he sblowing?:"
He said: aFellow-citizens, you
know nothing about your State Gov
ernment. You have been ruled by
aristocrats since the days of the
Lords Proprietors. II YOU elect me
Governor 1 will ask the Legislature
to print ten thousand copies of the
Comptroller Generals report and |
will send them all over the State,
and you will hen know what is
being done.'' Did he make this
request of the Legislature? No.
What excuse has be for failing to do
so? Was he "blowing?
He said: ssFellcw-citizens, if you
elect me Governor l will save you
100000" Was he GLOWING" How
now stand matters? Instead of saw
ing the State 100000 he has lost
the State this first year of his admin
istration near S1,000,00C. He has
put us on the down grade. Matters
are serious and under his administra-
ton they are growing worse very
fast. By his bad management OF
the phosphate interest the estimate
is he will have lost the State $685.
900 on royalty at the end OF the fiscal
year March, 1892. When he went
into office the bonds of the State
were at a premium of about 5 per
cent; How they are worth only 90
cents on the dollar. By their depre-
ciation he has lost the State about
100000. The public debt, amount
ing to millions of dollars, is due next
year and will have to be paid or
refunded. Georgia refunded her
debt at 8 per cent and ours ought to
be refunded for the same or less.
The signs are Tillman administra-
ton cannot refund it except at high
interest, if at all. Capitalists have
no confidence in an administration
headed by man who recently said:
aI did . great deal Of blowing last