The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-03-31

The privilege Of the floor was ex-
tended Col. John &. Haskell, and he
made speech with rather fewer sting.
ing sayings in it than usual. The
farmers must be appealed to rise and
Vlndlcate the name and fame of the
State. He denied Colonel Youmans's
proposition that the two March conven-
lions were simiar-the first was q class
convention which excluded those who
had tor years served their State, while
III the other all classes were represented.
lie talked a little about the approach of
the time for refundnS the State debt,
and the decrease IN selling price of State
bonds, and the loss of revenue from
phosphate litigation.
After some other gentlemen had
spoken Gen. Hampton, as Chairman of
tho Committee on Platform aud Rcsolu-
ton, rel orted the following
PLATFonM:
This conf. renee, assembled in re-
sponSe to the address ito the Democrats
of South Carolina" declares its endorse
ment of the purposes and declarations
expressed in that address.
| We declare our fellowship with all
true and honest Democrats Of South
Carolina, regardless of factional differ
ences, and pledge our faith to the Dem
ocratlc party Of the State as now organ,
lied. We declare our unalterable con-
Vlctlon that all conflicts among Demo-
Gratis must be conducted inside the
party lines; that the Democratic voters
of the State constitute the only tribunal
to which we will present our grievances
and the demands arising from those
| grievances.
TO that tribunal we do now address
these declarations and appeals.
We have a just pride in our State.
Her history is the history Of the best
and most glorious parts of the life of
this Union; her soil is consecrated with
blood shed in defence Of liberty and
right; her people have developed heroes,
martyrs and statesmen, and have re
i sponded to every demand upon their
patriotism, courage and energy.
a new emergency Is now here and
must be met. We must adopt new
methods and rely on new sources of
wealth and bases of commerce. We
must accept the plain lessons of present
facts. We are a borrowing people and
our interests demand that capital be
invited here for investment, that COM
petition in lending may be developed
and money cheapened. Our one hope
for becoming an independent people
| with surplus money is to encourage
the coming of new population and in
Vestment in industries which will de-
yelop our natural resources and give
home markets for the production OF
our farms. We must do this or see our
young men and our farmers confronted
by hard choice between leaving their
native State forever or remaining here
in hopeless poverty.
10 undertake. this great and ncceS-
Sary work with hope of success the
people must be united in feeling and
purpose, our party must be solid SO
that there will be no possible fear Of it's
failure in control of our affairs; we
must have safe aud conservative gov.
eminent and safe and conservative
methods, Of government.
we Submit that the course of the
head Of our present State administra-
ton both before and since his election
has been in many respects unwise and
unjust.
We believe the tendency of his
methods and policy is to destroy the
credit of the State, to the injury of the
people, by making it impossible to re-
fund our State debt at a reasonable
rate OF interest such as Is given in SIS.
ter States Of the South.
10 involve us in long and expensive
law suits without proper cause, eating
the enrichment of the attorneys and
couIt officials.
TO keep alive discord and strife which
endangers the party (on which the
safety OF the State, her women and her
children depends) by constantly adding
to the number of the disaffected.
10 make seryile Legislature and
all intimidated judiciary and there
by to pervert what should be the re-
sponsibie and protecting government
OF a free people into an absolute dicta-
torshir with all power in the hands of
one man.
10 make the Governor the master
and king of the people instead Of their
servant.
We present to our fellow Democrats
for nomination for State Offices by the
next Democratic State Convention, or
by direct primary, men who represent
no factions, but all the Democrats of
the eState-cOnServativ men who will
inspire abroad confidence in the stabl-
ity and moderation of our State gov
ernment, while guarding at home the
rights of the people and holding just
balance between labor and capital for
the good of both, because the two must
work together If we are to prosper and
make progress.
We favor the speedy adjustment of
the matters now pending in the courts
between the State and various corDC ra-
tions on common sense and business
like basis, so that all may bear a just
share of taxation, all rights may be
clearly understood, all interests may be
guarded and enterprises for the good of
the State and people may be encouraged
without injustice to any.
We demand of the next General AS
sembly such legislation as will give us
a reasonable and equitable system Of
assessment for taxation, so that all
may pay honest shares of the expenses
OF government, and We will demand,
also. the continuation OF the work of
completing and opening Clemson Col
lege.
We pledge ourselves, if entrusted
with power, to protect the credit Of the
State by sacrcdly meeting every just
obligation.
We pledge ourselves to take no step
backward and to respect and obey the
will of the people as heretofore tx-
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