The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-28
WHAT Is HE DRIVING ATT
Capt. Shell Talks Mysteriously-DenIes
That he 10 Candidate for Anything.
Columbia Re1iSter,

Columbia Register.
Capt. E.. G. Allen, chairman Of the
committee on invitation for the Spar.
tanburg meeting, has received the fol-
lowing letter from Congressman Shell
in response to an invitation to speak at
the meeting, ''if he were candidate
for governor
Capt. E. C. Alzen and others Of the
Committee, Spartan6urg, S. c.
GENTLEMEN: Your favor without date
inviting "all candidates for governor
and Congress in the Fourth district to
attend mass meeting Of reformers
called for Spartanburg county on the
oath inst.," was duly received.
Why this invitation was addressed
to me I can hardly imagine, because it
is we'll known to every intelligent man
in South Carolina that [ had declared
my intention to retire from politics,
and I can not conceive how [ could
make it consistent and accept an invi-
tation to address mass meeting, eli
ther as candidate for governor or
congress.
It would have given me much pleas
ure to have met with my Spartanburg
friends on that occasion and had ac-
corded me an opportunity Of defend
ing myself against the contemplate
Misrepresentation constantly made
against me, but your invitation is so
environed with conditions that | can
mot easily accept your proffcred kind
ness. There may be a time in the
near future, however, when [ will
seek an opportunity Of saying some
thing to the good people Of Spartan
burg county on matters and things
Of my own choosing, and when I do,
my future aspirations and intentions
will not be misunderstood. I have an
ambition not satisfied, but, if health
will permit, I yet hope to secure the
fulfllment Of my hearts desire, and
when accomplished all the de-
cent people in South Carolina and
elsewhere will rejoice in its consum-
nation.
When properly Informed Of my con-
duct, our people will have no just
cause to complain against me and my
action as public servant. Indeed,
there is no objection, except on the
part of those who are diseased with
"political leprosy,' and filthy hench-
men employed to do their bidding.
The political situation in our State is
we'll understood, and We are marching
with rapid strides to the end Of our
journey. The reform party was in
augurated, with rare exceptions, with
pure Intentions, and should have been
as lasting as the crock Of ages" but
its existence is now threatened with
dire calamity, which sooner or later,
unless rescued from the despoilers,
will bring it in disrepute and finally
to wreck and ruin. The people how.
ever, are alive to the situation and
know full we'll who assisted them in
bringing about the revolution which
resulted in giving them govern
ment Of the people, by the people and
for the people" It is true that some
of those who were earliest toilers in the
reform vineyard, and yho gave their
time and money freely for it's success,
have been ignored and neglected, even
by those who have shared most in the
grand speculation fer spoils and plum
der. We hear no complaint or express
sions of dissatisfaction on the part OF
those neglected and abused, but on
the contrary, the howlings and NUT
terings of the craving malcontents can
be heard throughout the land. They
are clamorous and savage for reform,
full of desperation and denouncing
everything and everybody who do not
yield quick obedience to their will
and dictation. The impatience Of
those who feed on the passions Of the
people shows that they know full well
their only possibility of success
depends on the amount of racket
and Of confusion they can create
and the quantity of filth they can dis
gorge.
There is nothing wrong with the re-
form movement; it will be kept intact
by the patriotic influences that domi-
nate the State, regardless Of selfish
dictation or imported hirelings, who
are prostitutes to principle and are
| always for sale cheap to the highest
bidder. 1t would be exceedingly NOR.
| tifying if thought all these years Of
| toll and trouble had been spent il
vain, but'relying upon the loyalty and
wisdom Of the people, consciousness
of security tranquilizes the mind and
we have no fears but what at last the
consummation devoutly wished for vii
be realized.
Revolutions seldom go backward
but ofttimes go down from the weight
of imbecility and burden Of mistakes
but let us hope that the latter condi
tion will not obtain, or discourage
those who are honestly endeavoring tt
do their duty, but persevere on, rele
eating to the rear all whose selfish
ambition is paramount to the genera
good of our common country. The
situation is critical enough at best