New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-28
GEORGE FEED ~ SOUTH cARoLIyA.

At Democratic meeting in Charleston : e.,
on the evening If December - orciathcrS
Day-thc Hon. George Fred Williams, Of MasSa-
chuSctts was one of the speakers. The meet
ing was called tho annual dinner Of the Now
England Society OF Charleston. and was oStcn-
sIblv "A celebration Of Torciathcrs' Day. rs a
matter Of fact it was Democratic meeting rs
tho full report Of the speeches in "Thc Charles
TON News and Courier makes plain. The
entertainment began with the reading Of a let
ter of regret from President Harrison, accom-
panied by the exceedingly courteous and we'll
timed remark by the gentleman who presided
that the Presidents retirement from public life
" would cause few regrets in the south 1hiS
WAS followed by "A letter Of regret from preSi-
dent elect Grover Cleveland which was re-
ccivod with "rroongcd cheering ard caNrng"
" Gcntcmcn stood Up at the table, says the
report and chccrcd. and the applause con-
tinuod for several minutcs.' The Hon. George
Fred responded 10 the toast "ForeiatherS
Day" which was described in the ensuing
sentiment as Zone Of those heavenly days that
cannot die" The orator did not violate estab-
lishcd precedent by speaking to the toast. He
expressly discamcd any intention 50 to do at
inc OUTSET. u' Ill-'I NiiANu p'ihAf' HiN
thoughts would not tuIn backward, he said, but
rested irrcSStby upon the present and the
future"
George has not been feeling particularly we'll
toward tho prevailing state of things and man
kind in general since last November, when the
voters in his district after looking him care
fully over made up their minds u save him
for home use rclcgatcd him. a. it were. After
informing his hearers that if he read Alright the
thought Of the generation which he represent
cd neither the late Mr.. Jefferson nor any other
" So-callcd constitutional statesman was really
" in it that the time had passed when the
people would listen with patience 10 that kind
Of cattle and having disposed OF tho Constitu-
ton as a somewhat cffctc and worn-out inSt1l-
mcnt. he proceed d f. dip into the future"
The general trend of his remarks was to the
effect that the country is under the control Of
great combinations and trusts, in the interests
Of which the capitalists put upon the CJnsti-
tuition whatever construction suits them. Tho
human being" he says, has been superseded
by the corporation; immense aggrcgations OF
capital and labor have taken the place OF the
individual trade industries have come under
the cOntr.l Of trusts; the avenues Of trade are
governed by men who can iii AT u single table"
Further on he animadycrtcd severely on p9-
iiiical 30, s>m, and casually intlmatcd that in
tie matter Cf counting vote, the Southern states
were almost ~ open to criticism rs the North
en- ca tal SIS were for buying them. Then he
cxl rcsscd tn" hope that the south would aAop;
The principles Of Civil Service Reform.
The Charleston Democrats were not carried
away with enthu.ia IN over George Fred. "Vhc
News and Courier" SAYS i; was a remarkable
speech" but that there was little in il by
which he could be distinguished from the Re
publican BourbOnS and untcacl.all ." :
that he Knocked at the political theories and
beliefs which most of his auditors have held for
lifetime" and that lie made &c =; Thomas
Jefferson All of which must add b. tho
young Massac huse,ts statCsman's dependency
over the prevailing tendency of the times. No
doubt he meant well, but he ought to haze
thought twice before going down 70 Charlcs-
ton 10 make faces at Thomas Jefferson and
dsparage the constitutional statesmen ghicA
are the chief product of South Carolina poli-
tics. Indeed in his present frame Of mind it
was probably a mistake for him TO 20 to South