The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-08-02
IRE REFORM MOVEMENT.
u.n. Farl.s's Plea for PsacO and Progress.
COLUMBIA. s. C.. july

IRE REFORM MOVEMENT.
G.n. Farl.y's Plea for Psaco and Progress
COLUMBIA, S. c., July IS.
To the Editor of the State: With this, ]
hand the article, which has been alluded
to so frequently in the Irby-Farloy con-
troversy, and which is now published to
satisfy the curiosity of those who might
| otherwise imagine that itcontains great
deal more than it does.
The article is not in tho shape that
should wish for publication now, as L had
intended revising and condensing it, but
under the circumstances will let it 60 as
it is; with the assurance that it can do nc
harm, and the hope that it may put our
people thinking seriously on the political
situation, and thus do some good, in
which event shall be amply compensa-
ted for my part in it, am very respect
fully, IL. l.. FARLEY.
TO the Editor of the State: I do not be-
lieve that any one who knows your cor
respondent, land majority Of your peo
pie do,) would for moment gainsay thai
be has been connected with the Reform
movement from it's earliest inception
and moreover that he has endeavored tt
be a moderate and consistent RefOriner-
Reformer, Mr.. Editor, for Reform sake
and not for the nero purpose of agitation
and change, or for position and power.
Let me say, however, in the beginning
that this is to be no apology for the Reform
movement, for, on the contrary, hold
chat the movement was necessary, ano
therefore it was right, and should he car
lied out in all its essential particulars, as
partly it has been, and evidently, from
oresent indications, it will be.
Speaking Of the essentials of the Reform
movement, let ne say that:
| /. It was right to bring the government
nf the State down to the people them.
selves, through the primary election, ano
by fair representation.
2. It was right to reorganize cur whole
system of education and to perfect it, as
has been and is being done. 80 as to make
it meet the demands Of the present anc
| future, instead Of the past.
8. It is right to demand and to enforce
the equalization of taxation, and this
should be done relentlessly, taking care
that it should he done all around and al
cnce.
4. It is right that our county govern
rnents should be reorganized and simpll-
| fled by bringing the govern ment of our
home affairs, our schools, roads, bridges
| and ferries, directly down into the hands
| cf our people,, more particularly in the
| townships and school districts.
5. It is right to exercise curbing and
restraining influence over our railroads
to prevent the evils Of monopoly and an
| arbitrary exercise of the powers and
privileges contided tothem by a generous
public.
yention should be called, and held, to re-
! wise the fundamental laws of the State
| which have long been unsatisfactory jand
| which should be reformed 80 as to perfect
cur judicial system, simplify our laws
| end put better safeguards over the exer-
| else OF universal suffrage in order to per-
| petuate white civilization and good gov
| ernment.
Now the foregoing, with demand for
rigid economy in the conduct of the gov
ernment, comprises the essential or fun
| 6amental principles for which we, as Re-
formers, have contended, and in the advo.
cacy of and on the strength of these prin-
ciples we have carried the State. After
hitter struggle of several years duration
| we can congratulate ourselves that near
~ all of these principles can be safely re-
garded as accomplished facts, the remain
Ger being already under way in the pro-
cess of complishment.
In the matter of economy it may as
we'll be acknowledged that whilst all these
changes were right and necessary, aud
that great good has been and will be real.
lied therefrom, there has never been any
great extravaganza, (barring few irreg-
| Ularities,) under our Democratic govern
| rnent in this State, as shown by our ex-
| perience in conducting the affairs Of the
| public. In fact "Reform" means not
merely to cut down, cheaper or reduce
expenses, by some niggardly or "penny-
wise and pound foolish policy" but to re-
| arrange, improve and perfect our system
c.f government, and this we may safely
say hos been our purpose, and 1t has In
| rnany if not in every essential. particular
been realized. Increased expenditure
raay often mean the best economy, and
as matter of fact, the State has really
been stripping and divesting herself OF
unnecessary appendages and preparing
for the great race for progress and devel-
opment in the future.
Our opponents, the Conservatives, have
realized the truth of what has been saio
in the above, and have virtually acknowl-
edged it by their platforms and the polit.'
ical course they have pursued, although
/
sation or in the press.
MY object in reiterating what has been
said and done in as frank and plain Ian
euage as possible, is simply to lay foun-
dation for what wish to say in regard to
the present situation and what should be
done in the future. If the main purposes
Of the Reform movement have been &C.
complished, or are undergoing an easy
process of accomplishment, and If all
parties have virtually acknowledged the
right and justice of our cause, and are
willing to abide the decision at the ballot
hox, then why, during these Christmas
holidays, when as write the dews from
Heaven are being crystalized In snow
fakes, like mantel of charity, over the
face of nature, why are our people not
reunited, but looking askance at each
other and too often sitting the merry
Christmas" and the "peace and good.
will" that should now be on every lip? Ii
is not because the Reform movement has
succeeded, and its planks almost without
exception can now be regarded as accom-.
rlished facts, for really there are but fe "
of our people who, in looking over the
foregoing Statement of the essentials OF
the movement, will not now heartily SUBJ
scribe to every one Of them.
1t may be WE'LL Mr.. Editor, during
these, our "Christmas Reflections" tc
even make such confessions as the truth
demands, for all the truth plainly told
does more good and goes more directly
home to the hearts of the people than
anything else.
it seems to me, Mr.. Editor, that there
liz one lesson which all history teaches
aud that people never learn, aud that is
Eevolutionists and Reformers never
know when to stop.
The Christian Catholics reformed
Christendom and civilized Europe, but
they could not stop short of persecution
of Luther and his followers. Luther and
the Reformation reformed Europe and
gave us modern civilization, but they
could not stop short OF the persecution o.
Catholics and the burning of heretics
Cromwell, Carlyle says, revOlutionized
and did great deal for England, but be
could not stop short Of the persecution o.
his opponents and enemies, so all England
rejoiced over his death, and his extreme
course was the cause of the restoration o1
nlonarchical government. Mirabeau ano
his associates revolutionized France, but
they could not stop short OF bloodshed
the guillotine and anarchy. Napoleon
revolutionized the revolution, but be
,uld not stop short Of absolut power, the
conquest Of Europe, or st. Helena, the
monarchy being again restored, and Re
publican government long delayed in
France. In our own country, whilst the