The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-14

sum Of S20l 900. There is not a
railroad iu the State considering. the
interest," paid on legitimate bonded
indebtedness, which is not assessed
lower than the average farm. consider
ing the interest received by the farmer
upon bis investment. Little did we
think when Daniel II. Chamberlain
was driven for the State at the point
of the bayonet, that he would so
soon return and snap his fingers In the
face of our government, sustained by
men who had denounced him as
thief and scoundrel-guardiau not only
of our largest corporation. but also
Of our United States Circuit judges,
principal editor OF our largest news
paper aud criterion of our democracy
o Tempora, 0 Mores.
Banqueted by elite of Charleston
we are forced to exclaim to what base
uses have the better element come.
Had these railroads paid Their taxes.
aud the revenue from phosphases not
been destroyed. our taxes would now
be only q. mills. In spite Of this.
BY strict economy we have renfuoded
the State debt, of Eve and one half
million dollars. exempted the storm
stricken sections from taxes. paid the
old soldiers an extra bonus of s.. 900.
and lowered our taxes half mill.
Salaries have been reduced over ten
Der cent, but could net be made
TO take effect until next year for the
reason that the Legislature refused to
cut theic own. We have been accused
of being incompetent and Ignorant and
incapable of running the State Gov
ernment.
When the State debt was to be
refunded, the banks of Charleston
refused to cooperate with US and said
that the State could take care of herself
aud Charleston would do the same.
We went to New York and actually
the patriots of South Carolina dy-blo"-
ed US aud not banker in that city
would take our bonds. stating that
they had been offered to them at a
cheaper rate than was offered by our
State authorities, who alone had power
to sell them. We went to Baltimore
and succeeded before these people could
find out where we were. was told by
a Baltimore banker that he was
approached by one Of our patriots aud
statesmen and asked Why he vas help
ing Tillmao float 6is bonds. Did be
not know that he was fighting Butler
and Hampton by aiding Tillman. Let
him alone, said he, aud let him refund
his own bonds. This gentleman ex-
pressed to me the profoundest contempt
for such conduct. We were harrassed
by these '.patriots," who we're willing
to bankrupt the State for political
purposes. While negotiations were
pending one wen: so far as to introduce
into the Legislature bill to extend
the old bonds for four years at six per
cent, on account of the inability of the
State to refund the old debt. This man
knew at the time that the matter had
almost reached successful termination
and be did this for no other reason than
to break it up aud he succeeded. The
next .day the matter was telegrapbed
to New York papers, aud bankers were
startled and dropped the whole matter.
We succeeded, however, without the
aid of Charleston or the patriots, in
refuudiug your debt of $5,400. 900 in
time of panic a, a per cent. thus
saving to the State over $80,0OO in
interest annually, and still We are in-
competent to deal with such questions.
The Reformess have, an opposition
that is as unreasonable as it is bitter,
and nothing we do can be expected to
meet with their approval. | am satis-
fed if we had enacted the ten command
ments into law at the last Legislature
the State aud News and Courier would
have accused US of heresy.
In our efforts to secure the happiness
of the people We have enacted the
Dispeusary Law. which stands to-day,
the only solution of the greatest and
most vexatious question which our
State Government has been called upon
to deal with. We are told that it is
unconstitutional, and how fashionable
this has become Of late. The constltu-
,ion is appealed to. to defeat every
important measure advocated by the
people.
It is the duty of the State to regu
late any traffic that operates to destroy
her citizens. The whiskey traffic has
always been under the control. not
only of the States, but of the United
States Government. No man has
been allowed to deal in the stuff without
complying with the stringent regula-
tions Of our governments. 1t is absurd
then, to argue tina, We have deprived
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