The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-08-08

and republican government long de-
layed In France. In our own country,
whilst the conflict was against a for
eign-the mother-country, and under
the guidance Of the firm and just hand
OF Washington, 1t was found hard to
stop short OF the punishment and per-
secution of the Loyalists, many of
whom we're as honest and as good men
as their opponents. In our own day
and generation, we have seen that the
Republicans could not abolish slavery
and stop short of the persecution of our
people, or OF forcing negro governments
upon the South.
While the "Reform Movement in
South Carolina Is of great Importance
to our people. and / believe will prove
OF lasting benefit to them, / do not mean
to put 1T upon the same plane as the
great eras to which / have alluded,
but simply to impress the lesson, which
1T seems SO hard for us to learn, espec-
tally in times of action, and of change,
and 1t is that moderation is the touch
stone of every and all virtues"
In recounting these great eras of the
history of our own civilization it may
be well just here to note that, although
1t is asserted that revolutions never
go backwards" still an extreme course
has always caused a restoration or a
ICdCtlon, dHu udS OlCcu luJurSQ GnG
great cause and retarded the great
principles involved. The great trouble
is, and always has been, that human
nature and human passion and ambi-
ton have been and are the same in all
ages and countries, and in every revo-
luton OF reform movement, when
great agitation or excitement prevails.
there are always found the elements of
Its W ruin or destruction in the bold
and ambitious but often bad men, who
rush to the front and assume the lead,
being too often governed by passion,
prejudice n hatred instead of patriot
ism or u true desire for genuine re-
form. In such times demagogues and
!" fools step boldly in, where angels
land statesmen) fear to tread"
AS these reflections" have been
caused by O review of the Reform
movement and the principles involved,
let us come down to the consideration
OF h present and, before closing, take
a biro's-eye view of the future, instead
of dealing in generalities.
If the Reform movement has accom-
plished it's main purposes, or is in o
Their opposition, or if the people of the
State have virtually accepted the re-
suits OF the movement, and there are
now no radical differences between
them, as I believe, then why should
not all unnecessary agitation and all
unnecessary bitterness be ended, and
the State be allowed to spring forward
in the race of development, progress
and prosperity for which she is evil
IDENTIFY waiting, and in which l believe
the Reform movement itself was the
first necessary step? Right here, let
us as Reformers, confess our own faults
and sins, before we begin to point out
those OF the opposition. The bitter
feelings and hatreds engendered 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 de-
feated and not enough magnanimity
on the successful side, which can al
ways we'll afford to be generous. The
former was natural, but J. am afraid
that interested individuals, inspired
by the hopes and ambition, as we'll as
the animosities aroused therein, have
been too busy and anxious to keep up
divisions, looking thereto for future
preferment. This is, and always has
been, one of the faults or misfortunes
OF such movements, and can be correct
ed only by the people, the conservative
people, themselves, who should not al
low the State to be kept in q condition
OF turmoil and bitterness merely to
crafty the spleen, hatred or ambition
OF politicians or demagogues. They
cannot afford it, and l am satisfied that
they are already beginning to see and
feel 1T and are becoming tired of it.
In looking back over the record of
the past year, it will not be unmanly or
even IN evidence of weakness for us to
acknowledge that we have made some
mistakes, or to express it-have not al
ways "known when to stop"-while
many did not think SO at that time.
Still 1T is clear to most of us now that
somes serious mistakes were made in the
May convention, both in the Cleveland
resolutions and the adoption without
modification of the Ocala platform.
The simple truth is hat we were on
the brink of Third p%artyism, and we
may congratulate ourselves and the
State that we escaped from it with all
of its attendant evils. This was, how
ever, undoubtedly due 10 the wisdom
and conservatism of some of our own
Reform leaders, mor particularly Gov
ernor Tillman. 1t will not hurt us,
but may prove q direct benefit in the
future, to criticise fairly the action OF
oot LOU LSS ioidIuTo, duu 10
ledge that-though many may not
have so regarded Tits course on sew
eral questions as we'll as its course in
general smacked somewhat too strong
ly not only of craftsmanship, but of vim
dictiyeness, q little of it creeping out
even in the Governors message. While
it Is right to make railroads and cor
porations pay their taxes and obey the
laws, yet when they only undertake to
resist what they claim Is illegal taxa
ton, by purely legal means, and. sub
nit themselves to the decisions of the
regularly organized courts, it is hardly
fair to attempt to pass O vindictive
law, making it virtually q crime to do
SO, and affixing SO severe q penalty as
the forfeiture of charters, and the ruin
OF valuable property, for trying to pro-
tect their interests. While Judges are
not above criticism, and are subject to
public c%ensure, as we'll as impeach-
ment, for doing international wrong,
still it is hardly fair, when they have
honestly and disinterestedly construed
a statute, to insinuate that thew 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 i~nsinuation, impeach
the motives and characters OF high
and honorable men, who have lone
served the State, and always borne
good characters.
While, as | have said, it is right and
Is one OF the essentials of the Reform