The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-17
Amaerspts gmtelligeHter.
The Fears OF Col. Keltt.

TO the Editor of the State: The people
of South Carolina are more crazy now
than they were in 1860 at this time. The
writer then was comparatively young
man. After listening to some of the
leaders in December Of that year he told
them they were misleading the people
when they told them that there would be
a peaceable separation of the States, that
before South Carolina was out of the
Union six months Lincoln would call
into the field 100000 men and we would
have the bloodiest war of modern times
save that of the French revolution OF
1895, when France lined her borders with
100000 men, and the only reason we
have them; that we would lose all of our
prosperity, the flower of the South would
be slaughtered on the battlefield and it
would wind up in rabbit hunt. Not
withstanding, when the State determined
to secede the writer offered the first COM
pRny for the defense of the State and was
on the picket lines in North Carolina
when the last gun was fired. We know
the result.
The people of the State are now invited
to vote on the calling of convention to
frame and adopt new constitution with
out sending it hack to the people for rati-
fcation. Let all know constitution of
government framed and adopted by
convention is simply plan of govern
ment until 1t is ratified by the people
over whom it is to be of force. When
the convention of the Thirteen States
framed and adopted the Constitution of
the United States it was not constitu-
ton over them only as each State ratified
it. No instrument can be Of constitu
tional force over people unless it is rati-
tied by them.
It must not be forgotten that section 4,
article of the Constitution of the United
States reads: "The United States shall
guarantee to every State in this Union a
Republican form of government To
tIo what Is proposed would be to invite
the United States to take charge of the
State and put us under military govern
inent.
We are rushing rapidly to great chan
res in our government system. History
teaches us that people Of an age pro-
ceeds from barbarism to civilization,
from civilization to refinement, from
refinement to corruption, then back to
oarbarism, despotism ard oppression.
We have entered the breakers of corrup-
ton, the result Of the concentration of
the wealth of the nation into the hands of
"a few"--the rock on which all the great
nations that perished and passed away
forever foundered.
The estimated wealth Of the nation is
S60,000,000 900. Four thousand and seven
men own one-fourth of it and 10000 men
own five-eights. The rest Is divided
among 81, 100000 people and most of it is
under mortgages. Those who have mort
gagged their estates had as we'll transfer it
to their creditors. It is only question
of time when they will be forced. The
nation has been put on gold basis by
fraud and force and will be held there by
force Of arms.
If the present Congress, when 1t meets,
does not increase the army the next one
will beyond doubt. The outlook is, it
will not be long.as things are going before
we will have to choose between the Re-
publican party with despotism on the
one hand and anarchy on the other.
Democracy Is dying. New York, the
bulwark Of Democracy, will 60 Republi-
can in November and all the Northern
States will fall in line to protect their
property. The nation is shrouded in
dense cloud of night and gloom for want
Of statesman. The outlook is fearful.
During the past four years the writer
has written and said some hard things.
He was forced to do 80 from a sense of
duty to the honor and welfare of the
State as be sees IL. He would not know
ingly do any one an injustice. If he does
and it is shown, he will repair 1t. The
only safety for the people of the State is
to come together under wise and prudent
leaders. IT they do not dire disaster is in
store for us. We feel we have done our
duty. Respectfully,
ELLISON 8. KEITT.
October 6. 1894.