The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-19

ouly seven per cent. by special contract,
and cause the lender who practices
usury to forfeit both interest and debt.
Unfortunate debtors will agree to pay
any rate of interest iG order to save
themselves and to keep the wolf from
the door. No agricultural people can
live with usurious creditors. From
Moses to the present time usury has
been forbidden and Tacitus gives as
reason for the decay Of Rome the eva
sion of the interest laws. When usury
lordol among them, Rome dates the
begicning of her downfall. It is not
only pr2cticed by our bankers. but
among our merchants and factors. 1t
remains for you to protect the borrow
ers by more stringent regulations, at
the same time giving to the honest
lender full and ample security under
the law.
A REFoRMAToRY FOR YOUTHFUL GRIM
INALS.
Almost every department. Of the State
government having been reformed
there is one which has not received
your ettcntion-tne States prisoners.
These unfortunate creatures are COM
mitted to oar State penitentiary for
punishment and not degradation.
While of course there can be no such
punishment without degradation, still
it is the province of government and Of
Christianity to rescue the fallen and if
possible restore them 70 society. There
are 206 prisoners in the penitentiary Of
this class known as 'juvenile offend
ers." Boys under the age OF 20 years
should not be punished alongside If
men of matured habits, with wicked
aud abandoned hearts. The result of
such treatment is invariably degrada-
ton and ruin Of the younger mind,
and when discharged from con-
finement they re-enter society with
diseased minds and hearts only to re.
turn 10 prison for the commission Of
more serious crimes. These young Of
tenders should at least be isolated, fur
nished with different CARDS and given
good aad wholesome instruction until
our State is able to build suitable re-
formatories for them.
coNvIcTs ON THE PUBLIC ROADS.
The practice of leasing convicts to pri-
vate parties is repulsive to our ipstitu-
tions, results in cruelty and should not
be allowed by law. Under our new
county government law it is to be
hoped that our convicis will be put
upon our public highways and give US
that greatest boon, good roads. I
would suggest that this road law be
amended by requiring all convicts SEN
fenced fora period of five years or under
to be placed upon chain gangs instead
Of limiting this service to thcce SEN
fenced to two years. 1t is as easy to
protect and guard the one as the other
aud larger force will thus be given
our road supervisors.
1t is not my desire in this address to
review every reform that has suggested
itself to me. | simply call these to
your attention as Of grave importance.
I shall, from time to time, as the Con-
stItution requires me to do, communi-
cate with you by special messages.
A TRIBUTE TO TILLMAN.
In assuming the duties Of the Office
c. Governor I clnnot expect to fill it
with the brilliant ability which has
characterized my predecessor. I em
conscious of the heavy responsibilities
resticg upon me and of my human
weak neses, but am reassured by know
ing myself sufficiently well to enable
me to "ffer my people a heart which
beats alone for their happiness and
hand ever ready to, strike for their inter-
est and liberties.
atu powerless as all executive with
out your co operation and feel assured
that this you will freely give me. Your
responsibility is as great as mine, and
all l ask is that in your delitera.ions
you shall be governed by those princi-
Piles which will cause you to enact such
laws as will secure the happiness of the
greatest number Of our people.
HAND, BEAD AND HEART.
I now take my commission, thank-
ing the epeople for the confidence re-
posed in me. In doius go pray that
the God of Nations will be with me
and sustain me, and when shall have
returned my commission to those who
gave it to me, may it be as pure and
spot)ess as when I received it. If I
can tn"n say: Behold, a happy people
in peace, love and unity, my reward
will indeed great and sufficient.
Asking the support of my friends, the
charity of my enemies, and the help of
God, I now dedicate my head, my
hand and my heart 10 the service of my
State.