The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-03-02
Yes, The People are Thinking.

that there is sober, serious thinking an
questioning going on in the minds OF tno.ss
who four years ago were wild with excitd
ment over certain men who charged thl
officials Of the State government with cor2
ruption, extravaganza and oppression Of thI
working classes, and promised them speed
and practical reforms, in oil departments
and happy issue out Of all their difficult!
ties, if they were ele,tcd to Office. al
Yes. the people are thinkiug, and askiuA
themselves whether, after four yearsS of sd
called reform rule, it is not time that the
the reforms promised.
They arc honestly thinking whether pay
lug So 900 year, above the lowest responsl
ibe bidder for the public printing, to suppor]
agarty organ, is q good reform measure or
downright squandering or stealing of thtI
peoples money?
They are seriously thinking whether thi
Dispcnsary law is q reform measure, from 4
sound IL oral standpoint, or q law to give th|
Governor the power to appoint hundreds d
his personal political friends all over thl
State AS dispensers, spies and boards 4
control, to whoop him up to a higher and
more lucrative Office, giving each SUCCESSIVE
Governor af,er him the same power and adj
vantage cT,r their opponents in political con|
tests?
They arc thinking whether the new coun1
ty law, engineered through the legislature
10y the Governors favorte candidate to sud
ceci him. is not more of political move ID
give the Governor more power over the ped
pie by the appointment of one favoriti!
in each township in the State to repre-
sent his political interest, than to give tn
county government? The appointment o.
ten men by the Governor to the election OF
one by the people, looks very much thal
way to us.
They are thinking and asking why thei
taxes have not been reduced after four year
Of their reform leaders rule? Why the
salaries OF public officers have not beer
reduced. as promised? Why the number ol
Offices and Office holders have been increased
instead of reduced, as promised.
They arc thinking and asking if they ard
no, being b,mb9ozlcd by the reduction ol
half mill on the State lax while the to i
valuation of their property, real and per
sonal, is 50 increased that their taxes arr,
increased Instead of reduced
They are thinking whether the whole Re
form Movement. from the Shell Manifesto
aud ali the legislation since, was not planned,
for and has prove to be more eilectual I'M
elcvnting certain individuals to high offices
than TO elevating the iucational. moral and
social con 'ition Of the people. advancin s
their naterial prosperity, protecting thd
honor and promoting the peace and tran
guilty ofIhc STATE:
They are asking what have the leaders oil
the Reform Movement given Us iii return foI
the sh uting. the bowling Gown Of their,
opponents and the big majorircs we gave
them iu 1880 and ls32 ?
=. ~ 80, : nMmher Of niber So:calledl
relorm taiH'I 'Hu'CuydFPU 6ngm ehHg ROSS
ing the thoughts of the honest sensible Re I
formers Of this County, and there is n growing y
belief that !ciorms in the Reform ranks an
a radical change in the reform leaders is
imreratively demanded, if we expect to ex-
periencc any true reforms in either State c1
County government.
They do not propose to desert The Rel
form party, FIR, like al sensible people, they
know that reforms in many ways are abso4
lutcly accessory, hut there is u strong tide
setting in against the prominent leaders who
have evidently been planning and working J
for their own personal and political advance{
ment, !Orgettul of OF caring but little for tho
welfare of the people or the solemn promi Sc 4
they made 10 secure election.
And because of this sober, serious think
ing in the Reform ranks, there is
plainly much uncasinvss among the Off
cials who hitherto considered their posi-
tons as leaders of the Reform party i'm
pregnable. and t"cy are looking through the
fence to count the numbers before risking
jump either way.