The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-08-08
THE REFORM M
Some Christmas Refections ofan Old
RefOrmer.

Some Christmas reflections ofan Old
RefOrmer.
TO the Editor of The State: I do not
believe h q any n who knows your
correspondent (and q majority of your
people do) would for a moment gainsay
that he has been connected with the
Reform movement from it's earliest in
ception, and moreover that he has en-
deavored to be O moderate and consis-
tent RefOrmer-a Reformer, Mr.. Edi-
tor, for Reform sake and for the good
OF h State, and not for the mere pur-
pose OF agitation and change, or for
position and power.
Let me say, however, in the begin
ming that this Is to be no apology for
the Reform movement, for, on the con-
trary, 1 hold that the movement was
necessary, and therefore it was right,
n should be carried out in all of its
essential particulars, as partly it has
cations, it will be.
Speaking of the essentials of the Re-
form movement, let me say that
l. 1t was right to bring the govern
ment OF the State down to the people
themselves, through the primary cleo
tion, and by fair representation.
2. 1t was right to reorganize our
whole system Of education and to per-
feet 1t, as has been and is being done,
80 as to make it,meet the demands OF
the present and future, instead Of the
past.
8. Nis right to demand and to en-
force the equalization of taxation, and
this should be done relentlessly, TAX
ing care that it should be done all
around and at once.
4. 1T Is right that our county govern
ments should be recognized and sim
plified by bringing the government of
our home affairs, our schools, roads,
bridges and ferries, directly down into
the hands Of u people, more particu-
larly in the townships and school dis
tricts.
5. 1t is right to exercise u curbing
and restraining influence over our rail-
roads to prevent the evils of monopoly
and an arbitrary exercise of the powers
and privileges confided to them by a
generous public.
+. 1t is right that q constitutional
convention should be called, and held,
to revise the fundamental laws of the
State, which have long been unsatis-
factory, and which should be reformed
so as to perfect u judicial system,
simplify our laws, and put better safe
guards over the exercise of universal
suffrage in order to perpetuate white
civilization and good government.
Now the foregoing, with a demand
for rigid economy in the conduct of
the government, comprises the essen
tiai or fundamental principles for
which We, as RefOrmers, have con-
tended, and in the advocacy of and on
the strength of these principles we
have carried the State. After a bitter
struggle of several years duration we
can congratulate ourselves that nearly
all Of these principles can be safely re-
garded as accomplished facts, the re-
mainder being already under way in
the process of accomplishment.
In h matter of economy it may as
well be acknowledged that whilst all
these changes We're right and neces-
sary, and that great good has been and
will be realized therefrom, there has
been any great extravaganza
(barring u few Irregularities Under
u Democratic government in this
State, as shown by u experience 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 rear
range, improve and perfect our system
of government, and this we may safely
say has been u purpose, and it has
in many If not in every essential par
ticular been realized. Increased ex-
penditure may often mean the best
economy, and, as a matter of fact, the
State has really been stripping and
divesting herself of unnecessary ap-
pendages and preparing for the great
race for progress and development in
the future.
Our opponents, the Conservatives.
have realized the truth of what has
been said in the above, and have yir-
tually acknowledged it by their plat
forms and the political course they
have pursued, although they may not
frankly admit it in conversation or in
the press.
My object in reiterating what has
been said and done in as frank and
lay a foundation for what 1 wish to,
say in regard to the present situation
and what should be done in the future.
Ii the main purposes of the Reform
movement have been accomplished, or
are undergoing an easy process of ac-
complishment, and if all parties have
virtually acknowledged the right and
justice of our cause, and are willing to
abide the decision at the ballot box,
then why, during these Christmas
holidays, when as | write the dews
from Heaven are being c~rystalized in
~snowfakes, like a 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? 1t is not because
the Reform movement has succeeded,
and its planks almost without excep.
tion can now be regarded as accom-
plished facts, for really there are but
few OF our people who, in looking over
the foregoing statement of the essen
tials OF the movement, will not now
heartily subscribe to every one of
them.
1t may be well, Mr.. Editor, during
these, u "Christmas Reflections" to
make such confessions as the
truth demands, for after all the truth
plainly told does more good and goes
moro directly home to the hearts of
the people than anything else.
Itseems to me, Mr.. Editor, that there
is N lesson which all history teaches,
and that people never learn, ard that
is. Revolutionists 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
gave us modern civilization, but
they could not stop short of the perse-
cution of the Catholics and the burning |
heretics. Cromwell, Carlyle says.