The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-06-22

THURSDAY. JUNE %, 1898
RLINDED nY PREyUDICE.

Our correspondence Patriot" has q
good deal to say about Governor Tillman's
administration aud advises the Conscrva
tive press to shut up. We accord to every
man the right to think, speak and act as he
believes right, and think that people who
differ from us should allow us the same
privilege. We do not believe that Govern
orTillman has done or will do the pcoDlc any
good, and rs one Of the conservative papers
we voice the sentiment Of about thirtv.thrcc
thousand good, honest white people of
South Carolina, the majority of whom
arc farmers. We try to Il, al with men and
and measures in falr and fearless man
Dcr, and while we do not agree with the
policy pursued by Governor Tilmau and
his administration in the main, vet there
arc some things he has done which we
commend him for and which we have done
several times in these columns. We fear
however, like great many 9th.
crs, our correspondent is blind.
cd by prejudice and will not sec things in
their truo light. In his whole letter he
only mentions one act of the Governors
winch from his point of view has in any
way benefited the people and that IL the
refunding of the State debt; but in this we
lhink he is badly mistaken rs we will pres
cht'y SHOW. just here we want to digrcss
little. Since 1890 the great stock in trade,
with Governor 1illman and many of his
ardent supporters was appeal after appeal
10 the prcjudiccs Of the people. Tic ut.
tempt was to array class against class,
country against town. In many of his
speeches he would tell the farmers that
the town people did not think their wives
and daughters were ladies because they
dld not ride in fine carriages and wear fine
dresses. He ridiculcd the clerks and en-
ployccs about the State house as kid glove
dudes. lie abused former administrations
TOT taking free passes and dubbed the leg
lslaturc as rotten driftwOOd.. In all this
rhcrc was nothing which benefited the
people one cents worth. Lay aside prciu.
dice and think sOherly a moment and see
II Governor Tillman is not guilty of the
very things which he thought SO wrong in
others Docs he not enjoy all the luxurics
and comforts Of life? Did he not cnioy
them even before he was governor? Did
ne no! accept free pass No. l. on the Rich
mond q Danvillc railroad from Bunch Nc
Zee! So We say that the people have been
blinded. We believe the time has past
when they will be swaycd by passion, at
least we hope so.
Our correspondent says: $50 the best
thing for you and the State is to step down
and out from among the corporations and
get among the great common class of our
people who have fought our battles and
gained Our victories and made turtle with
Their blood in every battle field from Lex
in3ton, Mass. to the city Of Mexico"
ihat IL really pathetic, but we arc at a loss |
10 Know who our correspondent means bv
the "common class Of people," If nc
means that class Of people who toll and |
sweat Tor living, who are no: abundantly
olesscd With this worlds goods, who want
10 90 well, live comfortably, pay as small a
TAX as pos9iblc, see the laws Of our land
made SO rs TO deal with each and every
cillzcn alike, who want to see his ncirhbor
prosper "s himself and live pcaccaDly with
al mankind, thcn We are one of the
common class" II, however, he mcans
thosc who arc followers Of Governor Till
man we respectfully decline the invitation.
Ior we Will never, never, never be such rv.
c'Pt he he the nominee Of the Democratic
party or unless he changes his policy.
We too claI" to belong To that class of
people 'who have fought our battles and
gained our victories an,. made turtle with
'he'r biood every bait fcld," etc. But
our flcnd, we fear, in his zeal is assccia.
ing the political battles of the last two
years with the battles that were fourh, bv {
our 1athcrs anu fore fathers f0l freedom
hDerty and true reform. But let us look ,
~ 'hc INSIDE the real acts, and sec wherein ,
'he people have been benefited by Gov
erhor li!lman's adm inisration. In the
i'rs' place we will take the State debt.
Inc dcbt was $500, 900. The bonds
were TO draw 4! per cent. In order TO
p'lcc inc bonds at par Governor Tilman
''." treasurer Bates agreed to pay by way =
oi commission to a Baltimore trust, con,n,- ,
ny $l30,jOO. Here was an oftnol l,,a or
.'''' ''l'o"hl 10 Inc common class Of the
'''"'c' because with a conservative adminis-
'l"Hoh 'llS amount could have been saved. S
we ochc'c further that with conservative /
administration the State debt could have Il
peen roiuD0cd at per cent. and the bondc I
sold al premium. Our friend is mistaken {
ABOUT the bonds being sold Mt q nrcmiun, |
lhey were placed at par, or really less than !
p' NY s'3o,oO0 But the Governor had to |
p"y 'h,s amount to get capitalists intcrcs.
.'u III MS behalf. lie and Treasurer Bates
opcn' "ome time in New York in Januo ~
OF feoruary trying to interest capitalis,s IN
p''snaslns b,'s the State bonds, but they failed
nnu ~ was because the policy of the as-
mihls'ra'ion had been and was to crnon ~,
capta' by iegislating against it. Further
"hat is the condition of the State ,dou
financially? There can be no dcnvi,r tha,
the State Treasury is not what it op@ht ~
be. The peoples money, the "common
Glass; has been wasted and wrccklcss,v