The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-08-02

ended, and The State be allowed to spring
forward in the race Of development, pro-
gress and prosperity, for which she is
evidently waiting, and in which / be-
lievo the Reform movement itself was
the first necessary step? Right here, lot
us rs Reformers, confess our own fault
and sins, before we begin to point out
those of the opposition. The bitter feel
ings and hatreds ongendered by the
struggle through which we have passed
have not been allowed to die out, and
am sorry TO say that no proper effort at
reconciliation has been made on either
side. There has been too much feeling
on both sides, too much bitterness on the
part of the defeated and not enough mag
nanimity on The successful side, which
can always we'll afford to be generous.
The former was natural, but 1 am afraid
that interested individuals, inspired by
hopes and ambition, as we'll as the ami
mosities aroused therein, have been too
busy and anxious to keep up divisions,
looking thereto for future preferments
That is, and always has been, one of the
faults or misfcrtunes ofsuch movements,
and can be corrected only by the people,
the conservative people themselves, who
should not allo " the State to be kept in
condition of turmoil and bitterness
merely to crafty the spleen, hatred or
ambition Of politicians or denagogues.
that they are already beginning to see
In looking back over the record of the
past year, it will not be unmanly or even
an evidence of weakness for us to &C.
knowledge that we have made some mis-
takes, or to express it-have not always
"known when to stop''-while many did
not think 40 at the time. Still, it is clear
to most of us now that some serious mis-
takes were made in the May convention,
both in the Cleveland resolutions and the
adoption without modification of the
Ocala platform. The simple truth Is that
we were on the brink of Third partyism,
and wo may congratulate ourselves and
the State that we escaped from it with all
of its attendant evils. This was, however,
undoubtedly due to the wisdom and con-
servatism of some of our own Reform
leaders, more particularly Governor Till
man. 1t will not hurt us, but may prove
direct benefit in the future, to criticise
fairly the action of our last Legislature,
and to acknowledge that-though many
may not have so regarded tits course
on several questions as we'll as its course
in general smacked somewhat too
strongly not only of partisanship, but of
vindictiveness, little Of 1t creeping out
out even in the Governors message.
While it is right to make railroads and
corporations pay their taxes and obey the
laws, yet when they only undertake to
resist what they claim is illegal taxation,
by purely legal means, and submit them
selves to the decisions of the regularly
organized courts, it is hardly fair to at
tempt to pass q vindictive law, making it
virtually crime to do so, and affixing so
severe q penalty as the forfeiture of char
ters, and the ruin of valuable property,
for trying to protect their interests.
While Judges are not above criticism,
and are subject to public censure, as we'll
as impeachment, for doing Intentional
wrong, still it is hardly fair, when they
have honestly and disinterestedly con-
strued statute, to insinuate that they are
under the influence of corporations, when
there is no evidence of it. Let the law
be corrected, If it is wrong, but do not,
by insinuation, impeach the motives and
characters Of high and honorable men,
who have long served the State, and al
ways borne good characters.
While, as have said, it is right and is
one of the essentials of the Reform move
ment to "exercise curbing and restrain
ing influence over railroads, to prevent
the evils Of monopoly and the abuse of
the privileges and powers contided to
them, by generous public" still when
they acknowledge the right to this control,
on the part of the State. and submit to it,
it is hardly fair to take the entire man
agement Of their affairs out of the hands
of their own agents, and put them with
out the right of appeal in the hands of
inexperienced and even irresponsible
parties, who give no bonds for damages
done. No fair-minded man will hardly
deny the right of the railroads to at least
something like representation on the
board of control under such circumstan-
ces.
1t may not be altogether true, but still
ture smacked somewhat of vindictive-
ness-the country against the town, or as
punishment of the towns and cities for
their persistent opposition to the Reform
movement. It is to be hoped that there
is but little truth in this, because the
feeling of revenge is at best but an igno-
BILE one, and is unbecoming 80 great
people as ours have proven themselves to
be. Besides, legislation should be lifted
above all feelings and influences, and
public measures considered from the nom
partisan standpoint of public good and
the public good alone
From this point the dispensary or So
called "Evans bilP' which is acknowl-
edged to be compromise measure, intro
duced at the suggestion of Governor Till
man, should be judged. While 1t is pure
ly experimental, it has some very strong
features to recommend 1t to our careful
consideration and fair trial.
Prohibition, as heretofore tried, seems
to have proven a failure, and if this be so,
7 must confess that have but little con-
fidence in any final and satisfactory solu-
ton of the liquor question, further than
that arrived at by European experience.
Every attempt at prohibition, and every
tax put upon liquor is but premium
offered for its illicit manufacture and
sale, and for its adulteration, and see
no final settlement outside of the produc-
ton of native wines, and the encourage
ment of the free sale like any other
commodity in the market, Legislate
against drunkenness and bad liquor in
stead of the Legitimate business of wine
making, and we may get nearer the
mark.
Governor Tillman has occupied such an
important position in the Reform move.
ment and in the public eye, as connected
article alludes, that it would hardly seem
right to close it without giving him
place in the picture. am not hero
worshipper, and am we'll aware that he
is not as mean as he appears to his ene-
mics, nor perhaps as great as he appears
to many OF his followers. The Reform
movement was the result OF years Of po-
litical thought and experience, of many
parties, and came in Gods own good
time, but was not created by any single
man. The Governors career has been
phenomenal, and he has been its ablest
advocate and leader. He has shown ex-
traordinary power and ability, and has
risen aboYe the charge of being mere
agitator or demagogue, he caught the
tide at its food. and now having triumph
ed as leader Of successful faction, the
true test Of his strength has just begun.
Whether he is to be classed as great
politician merely, who has had his day
and time, is yet to be decided. He seems
at times impressed with the false iGea
that he is nothing if not aggressive, and
he has unfortunately allowed himself to
appear before the public as self-willed,
arbitrary and even vindictive, but it is to
be hoped that it is only the foroeful man
ner of strong will, without which there
can be no strong mind or character. Let
him be what he will, it is certain that un-
less he can rise aboYe the clouds of pas
sion, prejudice and of faction, he can
never deserve thu name Of statesman.
It is still in his power to make his ad-
ministration acceptable to the whole
State, and to quiet the troubled political
waters, but il he fails to meet the great
emerpency before him. and to bring