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

Shall the Railroads continue to have
better favor than is shown to You
No, Reformers, the cardinal principle
of our movement is, that al, shall be
treated alike
The Reformers have built Clemson
College, a magnificent structure, with
elegant surroundings. Now, there
are FIVE hundred or six hundred stu
dents within its walls. Where did
these students come from? Formerly,
higher education was for the masses.
Now. this College is supported from the
masses-your sons. l admit that the
Bill establishing this College was
passed during Richardson's admins
tratiop, bot he held back his approval
Of the bill until he could delay it no
longer: l believe if the antis we're
in power to-day that they would dis
mantle Clemson College. They would
do this because of their belief that your
favored institution interferes with their
favored institution-the South Carolina
College
The public debt Of The State became
due last July. The old debt bore
interest 1T the rate of six per cent.
Although there was money panic in
the country, Tillman and Bates
refunded onr ;ndeh;ednesss at four and
a half per cent.
In 1888 the Legislature authorized
Governor Richardson to refund four
hundred thousand at six per cent. He
failed in the Northern markets, aud
fiually Mr.. Bamberg appealed to
George W. Williams, who kindly
consented to take it.
Yet, under this awful administration
Of Tillman Eve millions were readily
refunded at four and a-balf per cent.
Tillman, and his crowd did this
You will be told at the proper time
that citizen of South Carolina, an
anti of course, attempted to defeat the
refuuding of the State debt, urging as
reason for not doing it, that a
satisfactory arrangement of it, would
fasten the Tillman Government on the
State. Tbe bankers replied that they
we're for business-not for politics.
We conld not sell the new bonds and
refnnd the old bonds on the same day.
This necessitated double interest on the
State debt for six months.
This, together with the loss BY the
storm in the low country. by which
many of the islands we're devastated. .
and the l~ss on phosphate royalty. made
unusual expenses necessary and made
the taxes little higher. The royalty
on phosphate rock now goes to the
sinking fund for the redemption of the
State bonds, and does not 60 to the re-
duction Of the taxes.
In addition to the building of Glenn
SOD College for the education Of your
sons, this awful administration is
building twin sister college at Rock
Hill for the education of women
This is the first time that the education
of woman has been looked after by the
State Government of South Carolina
B. r. Tillman got it up. and Reform
ers endorse it.
But Notwithstanding all these
advances which we have made for the
education Of your sons and daughters,
and Notwithstanding the storm. the loss
Of phosphate royalty, and the increas.
ing warfare Of the daily newspapers ol
this State, the next tax will be five
mills-oue-half mill less than it was
this year
The Legislature Of South Carolina is
proud of what is known as the dispen.
sary Law. In 1892 was in favor ol
high license. If I had known what
know now would have joined my
distinguished friend j. G. Evans in
the passage Of one Of the greatest and
best laws on the Statute books of auy
State. Contrast the condition now and
before the passage of that law. There
is now less drinking than ever before iu
the history Of this people, Some
would die before buying from the
dispensary. No matter for that. The
opponents Of the law have become
more TEN perate. Other citizens drink
less because the habit of treating has
been stopped. Many men would be
sober, if temptation were not thrown IN
their way.
But am surprised to fnd that there
are some moral men who have joined
the whiskey elem ent. in their opposition
to the law and are working with them
for the defeat of the law. Such strange
alliances and affiliations can only be
accounted for on the ground Of unrea
sonable hatred for Tillman. Law-abid
iug people of Abbeville are respecting
the Law. / hear that you have nc
"blind tigers in this community.
This is to the credit of the people Of
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