The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-04-25
A Reply to Squire Fewel.

Mr., EDITOR: It affords uS pleasure 10
meet with your correspondent, esquire
Fewel," our old war friend and com rade:.
We never meet him but to grasp bis hand
and give it hearty shake. such were
our greetings at Anderson on last Gales
day. Such, no doubt, will always be the
case when we meet. Attachments OF
friendship, formed by constant assocsa.
tion during four years Of war. are not
easily forgotten. We can, at our annuai
re- unions among the lew survivors or
Company D, Ham pton Legion, listen for
hours 20 our friends "reminiscences OF the
war. relating, as he does, in an entertain
ing way many familiar incidents of camp.
life. which alone interests ourselves as
old soldiers Esquire Fewel" is pleas
ant. good natured, whols-sonled sort OF
fellow and we like him, but when he gets
off On politics he never knows when nor
how to stop. In your last issue he invites,
through your columns, discussion OF .po'
litical issues from reform standpoint.
We, as reformer, although conservative
In our views, accept the challenge, and
with your permission will endeavor
hrieflv = TO answer, for his edifcation, cer-
tain questions he propounded.
He asks for some reformer TO explain
to him how it is that taxes are higher now
than they were under Gov. Richardson's
administration Also, being OF an en-.
ouiriug mind, he wants to know how
much Of that "crowning'' effort OF the
',reform movement" was accomplished by
the Tillman administration, meaning
Clemson College. Other questions, ss to
the State accepting the Clemson bequest,
etc are propounded, all OF which wa Will
answer in general way.
In the first place, taxes are not higher
now than they were. Tuey have been re-
duced by the present administration, de-
spite various conditions which were un-
favorable to reduction. Take the State
levy under Gov. Richardson's four years
In Office and compare 1t with Tillman's
four years, and the comparison Will Do IN
favor of the latter. Here is the levy for
Richardson's four years: 1Ss6.S, At
mills: ls87-8S, s mills; 1888 SO, st mills )
1850 90 81 mills. Here Is the record un'
lder Tillmau's administration: 1890-9l,
a. mills: 1892, Al mills; 1928, 53
mills. 1sa3-e4, 6 mills. The tax levy for
LAST wear was large because out Of it the
expense Of refunding the State debt haa TO
be paid. Then, again, notwithstanding
the heavy expense at Clemson College,
and the Girls Industrial School at Rock
Eill. and the loss OF over $c00,0ot to the
stats from the phosphate industry, be-
cause OF the August storm last year. be-
sides other expenses of an unusual CHAR
acter. We have shown that the average tax
law has been less thsn during Gov. Rich
ardson's term, when there was no such
extraordinary expenas. This speaks tor
itself
We aeree with acquire Fewel" that the
Conseryati ges deserve some 0redlt LOT ss'
sisting in the work Of establishing Glenn.
son College. II Is true that the Clemson
beuueet was accepted by the State while
Richardson was Governor. But It Is also
trne that he held the bill for one year be-
fore signing It, and then signed at last nm
der pressure The agitation OF an agricul'
tural College by the State Farmers Asso'
citation for several years beforehand no
doubt caused the General Assembly Of
'SS and 's9 to accept the bequest. Thus,
our friend may sos Why reformsrs are
"pointing with pride to that crownlng
glory of the NOV vem0pt." He asks, VINO
Kept the College from being opened year
sooner than it was, and what was 1t done
for We answer, with the same amount
Of money, utilizing convict LABOR as was
dore, the buildings could not have oeen
completed and the College opened any
soonsr. In this course the tightening OF
the burdens Of taxation RECEIVED from tpe
Legislature the proper attention.
We ask our war cornrade to relieve his
mind of an incubus that seems at times TO
be proving heavily upon 1t, and give to re-
formers credit for having done something
-for having at least conscientious con-
viotions Of judging right and wrong.
Eousl rights.to sll special privileges to
nome In the policy and practice OF the
reform faction, but, my ffiena, Ve Wonlo
know no faction. The time has ooEe for
unity of action and harmony. we are
aware that concessions. to bring ABOUT Ibis
state OF affairs, must be made on both
sides. Let them be made. We want to
see the Two factions Of the Democratic
party iu this State brought together and
working together. TO thiB end let rs then
throw aside local self-presudices upon
State issues, aud come together upon Ma
tlonal questions. which are OF more I'M :
portance. The Conservatives, except tho
sSauire snd Cleveland, are nearly all with
the reformers on the finances OF the conn.
try, Even the State and the GreenVille
Neps, are along in denouneipg the Demo.
Gratis OF New York and Penpsylvsnla
and the New England Democracy, vhoss
financial views are antagonistc to the
best interests and to the material advance
ment of the masses OF our people. Then
again, In conclusion, we ssy Let Us not as
reformers nor as conservatives, pRt es
Democrats. use every laudsble efort to
work together In bringing about, II pos
sible, better government end better
system of taxation for the whole people.
A REFoRMER.