The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-03-15
State from the mountains to ths sea.

| . ~ CauilOC Oe uenleC Gnac up TO 1881
! that the State Offices OF this State were
parcelled ont as 1t were between few
| persons; that the masses voted, did the
electinR, but did not participate in the
| holding. The Aliance, the great ed
| NC tor of our people, was Oraaniz.d IN
| this State IN 1889, 1t gave new life to
| the Farmers Movement, and conseq
ucntly great and increasing strength. 1t
taught our peoDlato think for them
selves on State aod national issues, and
once thoy commenced to think for
| themselves at once they began to act
Tor themselves and cast about for lead
ers to carry out their ideas. In 1888,
without any concert Of action. enough
delegates were elected to the August
convention (the number | believe was
l46 out of 32O) to give them
increased confidence as to the
future success and when to this
Wa added the Alliance education
in carrying the Stats in 1890 by an
overwhelming majority. The March
convention of 1890 had selected B. r..
Tillman IS the leader to carry this out
In the canvas which followed he proved
himself TO be more than the equal Of
any OF his opponents on the stump aud
VAS trlumphantly nominated by the
September convention of that year and
Ht the election in November was cleo
ted G"vernor. Again in 1892 he met
rX.GoTernOr Sheppard on the stump
and by large majority of delegates
was nominated and at the November
election was Il second time elected
Governor of the State. The credit
10 these triumphs belongs to the
Alliance and TO the Farmers Movement
bo3h Of which to about an equal extent
III the numbrr Of yo:es cast, con-
'fibntcd TO it. In the present
canvass which is sooa to be on
us neither Of these factors can
or must DO ignored; to ensure
success 1t is necessary that both null
tHgcthcr as IN the past and that In
'a!p% h,g candidates that neither must
/" jSUOrtd.
lhere must 90 the utmost harmony,
ior hout it we cannot succeed. The
faiorm movement, as | believe. first
Mok deilnlte, practical shape in 1884,
H'hough efforts without Organization
nau been made several years before,
naVlng no organization before that
uinc II was without effect, but in 1884
caucus was formed 10y q number of
lho members Of the General Assembly
"hlch, II ltdtd no othei good at the
time, caused the Farmers Movement in
the state to organized itself irto a prac
tical BODY.
In all Of the canvassas which we have
liad, the masses, as we'll as the leaders
deserve The greatest credit. for without
tne'r earnest self-sacrilicing support
ana vote nothing could have been &C.
compllshed. They have been as true to
the principles Of the movement through
oil these years as the needle to the
pole, whilst unfortunately there has
ncen dllference, honest difference |
nope, between some of the leaders.
lhere has been none among the masses
Let us hope that all differences amopg
ourselves will be amicably adjusted
and that every leader will feel that the
success OF the movement is paramount
10 tho success OF any individual, and
that we Will move on to success as q
oand OF brothers putting behind us am-
| nltion, contention and fault finding.
ANA II there are any who will not do
lEls, let them be dropped from the roll
I'll membership and fellowship.
When Governor Gilman was induct-
ed into Office he had right to expect
the support Of every Democrat In the
STATE regardless of faction, but / am
sorry TO say that the bitterness of the
opposition was 80 great, fed as 1t was
10y hostile press, that he was opposed
almost AZ every step. 1t was known
Tor years that the COOsaW Company's
leave would expire early IN 1890 and
that II would become the duty OF the
Executive. if the company did not sur
render, to bring suit to get possession
OF the territory When the time arrived
the coiArany persisted in still occupy
ing tue territory and suit being instit.
uled 1t was a long time In the courts,
but the State succeeded. This action on
!he part OF the company cost us much
loss or royalty and considerable
amout OF money as fees to LAWYERS. all
OF which would have been avoided had
the company surrendered at first.
The railroad Commission increased
to some extent the tax Of the railroads.
Some OF these corporations being In
the hands of Receivers sought the pro-
tec.lon of the United States Courts,
WhlcA upheld them in their efforts to
defy the laws Of the State and when 30
Tar IS to fine and imprIson some Of our
Sherllls who had leYid upon the prop.
trty of the roads for taxes. 1t Is hoped
and believed that Congress will take
some action looking to the passage of
a law which will clip the wings OF this
judiciary and prevent interference on
Their part with the State in the
collection Of its taxes.
Although the Act accepting the be-
quest or MIR. Clemson was passed in
lSS" still it was left to Governor I'LL
mans administration to complete the
buildings of Clemson College, to elect
the president and professors and open
1t to the people Of the State. This is
to-day the Rrandest educational institu-
ton IN the State. it Is educating from
the maSseS, whilst heretofore the State
institutions for the most part have
educated from the classes. With its
live or six hundred students and Its
splendid corps Of professors its inlluen.
ce for good will befe 1t for all time to
come. And the Legislature has not
been unmlndful or the white girles OF
the State, for under the Act passed
creating the Normal and Industrial
College liberal appropriation supple
mented by large subscription from
the noble and progressive citizens of
Rock Hill, the buildings are now going
up and within year this college will
be opened to the girls, enabling them
to be educated. My friends this is q
for which the Reform move
ment alone deserves the credit II Ia