The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-16
LETTER OF DR.. MAXWELL.
His Definition of the Situation. and
His Stirring Of the Political Pot.

To the Editor Of The News and Courier: In
reply TO your circular would say That the
chances VI Governor Tilimans reelection are
TO lIe unconI fortIbly promising.
What should the conservative people OF the
State do? In my opinion we should have an
early call for county conventions To send del
egales to a Stale Convention at Columbia.
The action OF this convention should be a0d-
ed by the Conservatives. In my opinion this
convention should nominate Stale ticket,
these nominees to make the race strictly With
IN democratic lines and under the rules (as
biased and uni just as they are) prescribed ny
the Democratic Executive Committee. The
unity and harmony OF our people are indis-
pensaue to Democratic government ana 10
the financial status OF our State government
The unfultlled promises made In the last
campaign, the dictoIial assumption Of the
Governor, his desire and effort 10 be the exec
utive, judicial and legislative power; his
biunueiing mistakes; the work OF his "ltal-
ian hand" in electing United States Senator,
q Supreme Court Judge and the officers Of tile
General Assembly; his dictatorial policy as TO
the work done by the General Assembly and
his denunclation of It's members because They
differed from him his failures 10 Clemson
College; his Recommendation and nction as 10
the WUman's College; his bluster about the
Edgefied lynching and then his tame policy
In shifting the responsibility upon the Legis-
lature; his opposition to extending time for
pay menL of taxes and yet dodging the 4espoii-
slbility by letting the bill become an Act
without his signature; his refusal TO accept
MIR. Adger's proposition 10 allow The Coosaw
Company To continue It's work until the decls-
ION OF the Courts; his unjust reflection upo"
our most learned and uurIght Judges; his OlE-
oted parliallty IN making appointments TO Of
flee MS b!tler dcuunclaliOn of preceding ad-
illustrations and his utter failure 10 estab-
lish his reckless charges; his utter antago'
nistn 10 those opposed to him, these ana other
errors have driven the opposition farther
from him and aienated many OF his follow-
ers. Yet with all these mistakes he Is strong
and popular, and II will be no easy task To de-
feat him.
him II Il convention will adopt platform not
aboundlng in high sounding. meaningless
promises OF reform, but pledSlhg speclnc
changes. The Democratic State government
since 1876 has not been exfraVagant or cor
rupt, nor have its salaries and appropriations
been high. But our people are poor, and the
conservative element should make some con-
cession 10 meet the wants ana demahus vi our
i'm impoverished condition.
This could be done by specific promise 10
moderately reduce all salaries, beginling with
our Judges and Governor ana extending W
our official clerks, State officers and members
of the General Assembly; By an effort upon
the part OF the State officers and General As
sembly TO reduce the expenses OF the Asylum,
TO make the Peuitcntlary not only seii.sus-
tainng but source OF revenue 10 iiake
wise use OF our phosphate rock ana SINKING
fund assets, and 10 abolish such olnces as
could be dispensed with.
But the conservative element can do most
ON nominating OONcluOI sViJC
and financier like Earle. Sheppard, Orr. CoKer,
McCrady. Murray, Mauldin, or McCaughriiL
whose financial reputation at home anu The
North wonld give credit to our Stale ana IN.
sure the placing Of our SIX millions Stale ueot
at per cent. interest instead OF o. TINS
would save the tax payers from III to ~ mills
taxes per year. c.,.o
We cannot defeat Governor Tilman by false
charges. AS an Instance he is not responsible
for the present price Of State bonds, He has
enough true sins without these. lie may
have acted hastily and illegally in closing Ag-
ricu!tural Hall. but our cpeople Will sytnpa-
thize with him In this rasa effort To dispose ol
revenne scrip that has been rejected by a
strong legislative committee, by special
Court of three of our ablesl Judges, and L be-
llcvc by both the State and United States Su-
preme Courts.
BY some positive and specific course hope
there Is q possibility OF the success OF Con
srrvailves. In .AbbevIle am sorry To mink
the chances are against US. The personal pop
ularity OF Phosphate Inspector Jones and the
Hon. J. Z. Bradley. the conservative course oi
Lieutenant Governor Gary and the audarinus
and misleading appeals of the Aohevllle Me
dum to the prcjudices Of eur people, make
the con test u hard one in this county. >,
]. G. Maxwell
Greenwood, Abbevile county, Feb. 20.