The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-31
FARLEY ON POLITICS.
The General Talks to Reporters on the
Situation.

SlLuaskO4s
COLUMBIA, s. c., Oct. 26-Gen. HI.
Farley, who has returned to the city,
was asked by a reporter yesterday for
bis views on the political situation.
He said:
II think 1t Is decidedly hopeful. Since
the wise refusal of the Conservatives
to make a nomination and plunge the
State into further troubles and dissen-
sions, although every effort and provo"
cation had been resorted to in order to
make them do so, the situation has con-
stantly and steadily improved, and our
people are getting together again very
rapidly. II they will continue to act in
this way and not allow the whiskey or
any other sort of troubles to make
them lose their heads, and bring on
m )re useless contention, 1t will not be
long before any man who undertakes
to play the role of 'agitator' and distur-
Der of peace will be scornfully fro Tned
and laughed down By the public. That
game has been played out and run COM
pletely In the ground, and our only
danger now Is in local riots about the
whlskey question. which should be
carefully avoided 80 as to disappoint
those who want to keep up strife.
"If everyone will keep q1tet an | al
low the law to take its course, the sue
cseding decisions of the Circuit and
Supreme Court will soon define the
real status of the law and make the
experiment a fair one. As l under
stand it, the late decision only au-
nounces the constitutionality Of the
Act of 1893, as It appears on the stat.
ute book, but does no5 sanction the
profit feature or law for revenue. In
other words, the mode or manner Of
execp. i OF the law, which is in the
% of the Board of Control, did not
come before the court, and the matter
stands where 1t always did-.hat any
Act Is constitutional which only looks
to regulation and control Of the sale of
Whlskey, and profits that are Incidental
or necessary in the conduct of the busi-
aess do not vttiate the law. Doubtless
the Act itself and the conduct Of the
Dispensary will be greatly IA odlfisd by
other decisions which will naturally
follow"
"Hog do you stand upon the consti-
tutloaal conventiOnI"
II nave long been In favor OF 1t, as
sho Wn by m7 speeches and newspaper
articles. Tne only question that now
arises In my mind is wnetaer our peo-
pie are yet in that state Of mind which
Is necessary to secure the right sort of
representatives. in the convention. l
am afraid that they are not, and moth
ing can do 80 much harm as a partisan
oody under the control Of demagogues.
Probably 1t would be bsst for it 70 be
voted down and postponed for more
The dangers and risks that We must
run, the mistake that may be made,snd
the fact that it Is not intended to De
submitted to the people for ratification,
all incline me to this opinion. Besides,
our people (the masses rapidly grow
ing In experience and intelligence, and
will soon be In better condition in
mind and heart, and I hope in financial
means also, for this work, not to men
tion the many people who might not
then be disfranchised by educational
or property qualifications. Let them
have more time. 1 am not expressing
opinions OF today merely, but you will
find by reference to my Christmas re-
aections' OF 1892 that say: IG has be-
come imperatively necessary for the
real conservatives in the State to get
together, because We are on the eve of
constitutional convention, and 1t Is
of the utmost Importance that it
should be filed with our ablest and
best men, and that none but real Re-
formers and progressive men should be
elected thereto. They should be in
harmony with all Of the essentials Of
the Reform movement, butat the same
time free from prejudice aud partisan
feeling. Our people cannot be too
strongly impressed with the import
ance OF sending none but their strong.
est and ablest men to the constitution
al convention, because 1t Is sovereign
body and may do a great deal of harm
to the State"