New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-26
DEMOCRATIC POPULISM.
DIsPENsARY LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONS
MAKING


IsM-THE STATE IN THE LIQUOR BUSINESS
FUTURE NEGRO Observation-Disclosures
BLACKS THE LAST HOPE OF THE
BOURBONs.
[rRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE1
Columbia. S. c., Dec 22-John Gary Evans.
according to the TiIlmante reckoning. is the
first Governor of South Carolina who was ever
nominated we'll as elected by the people. The
primary system of party nominations for all
offices in the gift Of the people IS one Of the re-
forms which Senator Tillman has introduced with
a flourish of trumpets as alike democratic ana
progressive. 1t would be more worthy OF serious
consideration If political dictatorship were not
an accomplished fact. Whatever may be the
merits of this primary caucus, the absolutism OF
the supreme ruler of the State completely over
shadows the present operation Of the system.
Mr.. Evans would not have been nominated X
Captain Tillman had preferred any other cand1-
date He was a legislative leader during Gov
ernor Ti,lnans term. and is now in Office be-
cause he had shown himself 50 be useful and
trustworthy associate ard instrument Of the
tribune OF the people" He IS a young man OF
dgnifed presence and many accomplishments
and IL released from the dominating influence OK
the imperous will which has made him what he
is, he would probably .evert to conservative
principles Of government
These controversial questions which 1t Is
hardly necessary for me to consider. Governor
Evans certainly is an advocate who Is capable
Of presenting a strong defence Of Tillnanism.
He has done this in the cou- of long conver-
sation with me, for which have space for only
a comprehensive summary. Tl'manism as he ex-
plains 1t has been popular uprising against
government by few under cover OF hereditary
privilege 1t is government by the many for
the greatest good Of the greatest number. A
small group Of privileged aristocrats had con-
trolled the State for a generation. There was
revolt Of the young and progressive men against
these privileged veterans The people now rule
abuses have been reformed and the State has
entered upon new Of democratic progress
Old things have passed away; political hacks
have been retired and the party has been in
visorated with new blood and emancipated from
machine tyranny.
The constructive work OF Tillmansm, according
to this optimistic view, has been remedial and
original. The dspensary law has accomplished
a salutary moral reform. 1t has closed every
barroom in the State and reduced intemper-
ance at least 50 per cent. Financially 1t may
not have fulfilled expectations, although II
yields a revenue to the State Treasury OF over
100000 above all expenses. but 1t has been
which has virtually put end to drunkenness
and is working out the social regeneration OF the
people While its enforcement has been strenu-
ousy resisted by liquor dealers whose business
il destroyed the system has received the moral
support of public opinion. and will not be aban-
doned. The Governor also credits Tillmanism
with Introducing important educational reforms.
with lengthening the school term. establishing
the Clemson Agricultural and Mechanical Cor
lege as a training school for farmers children.
and with founding the Winthrop Normal and In
dustrial College for women. He refers to the re-
funding OF the State debt. with a considerable
saving Of interest charges as an irrefutabe PROOF
of good financial administration, and points to
the erection Of many new cotton-mills and to a
general increase OF manufacturing industries as
practical evidence that Tmanism is not ruin
ing business interests by its warfare upon the
Coosaw monopoly and railway receivershps, and
its efforts to provide equitable assessment Of
taxes on corporations.
Governor Evans explains the movement in favor
Of a Constitutional Convention with frankness
almost cynical The white party in the State is
now divided and there is danger lest the black
vote which has been successfully kept down, will
come to have determining influence. In order
to keep the Bourbons from using the negro politi-
cally. either the Mississippi plan or a combination
of educational and property qualification must
be adopted. Other Southern States have revised
their constitutions since Reconstruction days,
but South Carolina has not changed its funda-
mental law. The Constitutional Convention soon
10 be elected by the people will accomplish this
work on progressive lines.
In reproducing the spirit Of Governor Evans's
defence Of Tillmanism. l have not attempted
either to quote his language. or to do justice to
aIt
gether marvellous man, profound thinker on
social and political questions. and reformer
who has been foully traduced by enemies in his
own State and by ignorant critics in the North.
Nor shall | attempt to traverse his plea with
counter-arguments from the Anu-Tillmanite and
Conservative side contenting myself with the
general statement that all his positions are hoty
contested and emphatically contradicted by nearly
all the representative men OF wealth, education
and influence in Charleston, Columbia and other
cities
The dspensarv system is the characteristic
measure of Tillmanism and is in many respects a
most interesting and important experiment. 1t
was originally introduced largely as a financial
measure for the relief Of the State Treasury. In
practical operation it has not fulfilled the ex-
pectations OF those who advocated H. The figures
have been manipulated in the official reports so
as to produce an impression that the system Is
self-sustaining and is returning 100000 to the
Treasury; but conservative opponents like John
p Thomas jr have no difficulty in cutting down
this estimate TO 5000 and judicous critics like
Judge Brawley Of the United States Court, estab-
lsh the fact that the counties under the license
system received more money than the State now
makes out OF the dispensaries. Indeed the fig
ures are so conclusive that the Tillmanites no
longer lay any stress upon the financial element.
They have completely shifted their ground They
now assert that they introduced the system, not
as a new source of State revenue, but as
practical temperance measure and as suosu-