The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-01-02
A Reformer Speaks Out.

AS light ir the distance IS halleQ Win
joy by mariner on storm-tossed snip,
so do we hail with joy the light we see In
the address Of the forty reformers which
appears on our first page. That instru-
ment is the precursor of better times In
South Carolina. 1t is forerunner of an
era of peace which every man who has
his country's welfare at heart will res
pond to with delight. For the past four
years the people Of this State have been
in q state of fever heat, and now the op-
portunity is offered whereby all can come
together to work for common cause
This address was issued last week in
Columbia and is on the line of what we
have been advocating for some time past,
and we are glad to see that our labors
have not been wasted. We realize the
Importance of the Constitutional Conven-
ton that will be called this coming sum-
mer, and regard 1t the most serious step
the people have ever been called upon to
take; at the sametime we have unbound
ed confidence in the people, and we feel
that they fully realize the gravity OF the
step about to be taken.
The political revolution of 1890 brought
about bitterness of feeling that follows
every political revolution, but the pas
sions of men have had time to cool, and
it is time our affairs should become SET
tied and turbulence and strife sink into
oblivion. There is no sense in one fac
ton accusing the other Of being to blame
for the present conditions for both are
to blame. In the excitement brought
about by the past campaigns, the defeated
faction, in malice, soreness and dlsRp-
pointment, used every conceivable
method to obstruct the measures OF the
successful faction; and the successful
faction, smarting under the abuse ana
vituperation, in some instances used
their power to excess, but the time has
come when both factions should see that
the constant warfare is doing the State no
good, and that the people want the
wrangling stopped, and something done
to tighten the many burdens that are
depressing them. If the suggestions 10
that patriotic address are adopted, both
factions can gracefully lay down their
arms and come together and all go to
work for the upbuilding of the State.
The reform movement Is based upon
honest and correct principles, every fair
minded man will admit, and there is no
reason why they should not 90 on, but
to carry on those principles we must moi
allow the reform ship to become manned
with crew Of pirates who viii! scuttle
and sink her in their greed for gain. 49,.
IQ6I0 III uO bhou WA0A sl0 kSAAsA
cal waters were shaken up In 1880, men
came to the TOP and took high places ; to
hold on to what advantage they gained
they continued the agitation; the result
has been that the true reformers have
been retarded in their work OF reform by
the pie hunters and place grabbers, and
now to scrape off the barnacles that nave
fastened themselves to the reform ship
the people must come together. IT the
people become Indifferent and do not
arouse themselves, they will find that
they are tied hand and foot by pirates
who boarded the ship when the general
invitation was extended to get on
board" There are some now who,
assuming to be in charge of the reform
movement, are so intoxicated with their
success that they imagine they are the
entire movement and If anything is
wanted it must come through them.
These men, instead of working for the
objects set out to be accomplished by the
reform movement, have laid aside those
objects and are converting by "hurrah-
for-hell-who-cares-f for-fre" methods,
machine to grind out places for favorite
ones, and If halt is not called such All
upheayal will take place that the revolu-
ton of 1890 will be like gentle zephyr
on q summers evening in comparison.
The rate that some of the would-be lead
ers of the reform movement want to keep
up must be checked, and the sooner the
people make them understand 1t the
better it will be for the State. The peo-
pie are tired of this constant strife. They
want taxes reduced, they want the ruling
powers to take the iron heel OF oppres-
sion from off their necks, and these
things do not come nor can they come
when one setis tearing down while the
other is trying to build up: If the pres
ent leaders cannot or will not give the
people the desired relief, change will be
demanded and it will come. South Caro-
lima is In critical state, and it will take
brain and patriotism to place her in the
position she should occupy. The oppor-
tunity is at hand for the people together
to council in wisdom. Fire brands of
both factions should and must be frown-
ed upon. and from the wisdom of those
who have the welfare OF the State at heart
the people can have peace and prosperity.
Manning Times,