The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-14
A Letter from Charleston.
~CHARLEsToN, s. O., /
April IL, 1895.

hao pSSn SOnS llbble lLuS oiuCc JIG
sentiments of the one time scribbler of
THE ADVERTISER has had any place
in its columns but / make bold to think
that an occasional word may at least
be read whether it is interesting or
not, by ones old and steady friends.
COME no CHARLESTON.
First of all, tfor that il uppermost in
my mind), it should be known in Lau-
rens that all Laurens is expected to
come to Charleston on the twenty-sec-
ond of April, when the reunion of Con-
federate survivors is held. Thousands
of old "Confeds" from every county and
State will be here and the occasion
will be one of the greatest events since
the war. Never since the "boys in
gray" were together with muskets in
their hands will there have been suun
an assemblage and "rebel yells" will
be heard ever in Laurens by those
who are unwise enough to stay at
home.
A one cent q mile rate has been Sc
cured and the opportunity for q visit to
Charleston "when the flowers arc in
bloom" and the city is at her best will
be a great one. So everybody, old men,
pretty girls, (all the girls between the
Saluda and the Enoree are pretty, the
sixteen year old boys and the babies
are expected and u grand welcome
awaits thom. 1t will be the ideal sea-
son for excursions to the island. to the
Magnolia gardens. and the dozens of
other beautiful and historic points in
and around Charleston. Tho State
Press Association is to be in session
here at that time. General Clement a.
Evans, Of Georgia, is to address the
survivors and q distinguished editor is
to make q speech to the editors. There
will be plays at the theater every
night, prize drills, concerts, and addi-
tional attractions too numerous to men
ton.
POLITICS.
l wish L could write about something
else than politics, but politics is all that
an editor Knows and only guesses at
that. In the language Of an ex-rc-
former Of extinction, "the situation is
peculiar" From my standpoint it is
funny. [ notice that my friend Pet
Smith is announced for sheriff. recall
that at the campaign meeting Of 1894
or 1892, he introduced one of the speak
ers as "the peerless Tillman," and it
did not seem to me, Ga poor reporter
for u Philistine' and c~onscicnccless
newspaper) hat it was an accurate de-
scription. But perhaps it was. l
thought then that Tillman had peers
but now the winds from Laurcns watt
as having peers. It's bad mix up
1t is whispered that some Of those who
were fond Of Col. Irby to distraction
then, are dear lovers now of those who
don't love Irby. If my reform friends
in LaurenS will take my advice, they
will undertake 4 peace and unity cam
paign. True the conservatives" tried
it in 1892 and it wouldn't work worth a
cont, but the need for it now is far
greater than it was then. I'm q friend
of "peace and unity and it would be
charming to see il given another trial.
1t would be delightful TO behold an
aged and seedy theory dressed up in
new toggery and obtaining vindication.
Vindication is the thing,--this State
is crammcd with people who need vim
dication and it is to be hoped that
thousands OF them will get it this year.
Sometimes | permit my imagination
to run away with my better Judgment
and the thought one unbiddcn that
perhaps the wicked ADVERTISER has
been right all the time. | fancy that
even the sub-trcasury was not the
greatest and best project that ever
sprung from mortal mind. Who knows?
You all remember how beautiful and
blessed and promising il was, how it
was loaded with chunks of sweetness in
1890 and 1892 and even in 1894. You
have heard it described by others in
the court house many Il time. Where
is 1T? Has it q grave? Was there
principle in it? Principles never die
Truth crushed to earth will rise
SSoih "SlS oven IN pOOI SlIOSU VI
the ~sub-treasury to rise from the cold,
damp sod, shaking its ceremcnts to
mournfully tell us that VIC Ants were
wrong and wicked, perhaps | could be-
lieve it. But where is your ghost of
the sub-treasury? [ fear that the corpse
did not receive Christian burial and
the ghost itself is hiding its shamed
head.
TAXES.
That other thought comes unbidden
that perhaps the ADVERTISER was not
so far wrong years ago when it insisted
that Tillmanism would not make taxes
lighter. Is it true that this year taxes
arc higher and that they seem to grow
like Jacks bean stalk? Can it be that
two-thirds or thrce-fouths OF the voters
of Laurens have beer mistaken all this
time in the belief that Tillman could
Il the government cheaper than
John Peter Richardson? Why are taxes
higher? Why? The Interrogation like
Banquo's apparition will not down.
ABOUT TILLMAN.
1t has always been my opinion tnat
Tillman was q far ablcr and indeed,
with all his faults; q better mar than
most OF his assistant leaders. Between
L $500