The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-10

fact that the temptation TO put thi,
power into operation Is too great to bt
resisted by u man of ambition, work
ing for political advancement. This
wish is father to the thought and the
desire for increased political patron
age to be dispensed to his faithfu
! followers creates the conviction that
fies It's imposition. l repeat-it is time
for thoughtful men all over this State
irrespective Of party'afIiliations, to con.
slider the tendency OF these laws re-
Gently enacted-their full purpose and
effect is just becoming apparent
puahed to their logical result, they
create a one mans power in South
Carolina; thoy make it impossible for
the will of the people to be expressed
in the choice OF their public men. 1t
Is an immense army independent of the
people, regardless OF their wishes, do
pendent for their positions, not upon
the service they render the people.
but upon the favor OF one man and that
man the Governor OF the State. Com
pared with this system, the State
House ring, which was popularity sup
posed to exist heretofore, is too insig-
nificant to permit reference. This Is
indeed ring in its most obnoxious
phase, whose members are bound
irrevocably together by pecuniary con-
sideration, and all under tho absolute
control of the Governor, who should be
dependent upon the people alone for
tho enjoyment OF his office.
There is no spot on this continent
which has borne more in the cause of
freedom and liberty than Charleston
for over two hundred years. She has
been the home of the prosecuted and
oppressed. The Huguenots fleeing
from the fair shores of France found a
welcome there, and the colonists OF
New England, restive under the re-
strictions OF their personal liberties,
sought the freedom Of our laws. Her
sons have made the name of South
Carolina illustrious and have whenever
called upon laid down their lives in the
cause OF liberty and self-government.
She has survived the calamities Of
war, fire, cyclone, earthquake and
financial panic and has continued to
contribute her quota to the prosperity
and happiness of the State, and yet,
after this illustrious history, through
the personal agency of an accident in
political life, for the eXigencies of per-
sonal and partisan strife--this great
injustice has been put upon her. can
not believe, Mr.. Speaker and gentle
men, that you approve Of such action.
! SesL NV cSihSNS you Will lhpOSc upon
US an indignity you would not place
upon yourselves. After the grand
of public sentiment by the
constitutional convention, when, after
many years, South CarOlinians met
again as brothers; when past differ
ences were Obliterated and forgotten
and new purpose recorded to unite |
in one common effort-for the advance
ment of our loved State after we had
succeeded in preserving this State for
the white man forever, it was rude |
from the security into
which the State had been lulled to
find that there were in our State three |
men SO blind to the events which were |
occurring, 80 deaf to the improved and |
ennobled public sentiment, so wanting
in appreciation OF the influences which |
were at work as to be capable Of this |
injustice. will not detain you longer,
gentlemen, in criticising the features
OF this Act. l pointed out last year
that in every other State in this Union
where a metropolitan police system
was in operation, the mayor appointed
the commissioners. Under this Act
no representative of the taxpayers is
given voice in the expenditure of
their money; the financial officers of
the city are not allowed to vouch the
accounts and expenditures of the
board. They mayor is given no au-
thority whatever over the police of the
do not propose to offer any
to this bill our people
desire to have no part in it whatever.
We are not responsible for.its enaction
and we will not share the responsibility
for its OperationA
one more word. We are about to
part; the closing hours of this Legis-
lature are fast approaching. I have
not intended to criticise the action Of
this body in the exercise of their judg-
ment. l am satisfied it was honestly
done. Whatever of bitterness we feel
arises from the putting the Act into
operation with which you gentlemen
have nothing to do. We can only
hope that the great common people OF
South Carolina-the source of all
power the consideration of our consti-
tutional liberties. will see that sue
ceeding Legislature will right the in
justice which has been done us.
Mr.. Watson said he had listened
quietly to the gentlemen and he found
u prediction that we who represent the
fields again, and that those who have
ruled and dominated South Carolina
and laid their whitening hand on the
poor farmer, will again come to these
halls and we will have to pillow on. He
spoke of his experience in the Legis-
lature in 1894, when the members from
Charleston had full sway and they had
little regard for our feelings. He re-
joiced that the day had come when we
mad free speeches and could come to
this hall and express our honest views.
He voted for the metropolitan police,
somewhat under protest, but also be-
cause of the infraction of the law in
that city. twas heroic remedy but
it was heroic disease. The Governor
waited patiently for these cities and
towns to faithfully execute the laws
aud Charleston had no more right to
violate it than any other city. The
lash was applied to her because of her
persistence in violation of the law.
Why then these reflections upon the
intelligence and patriotism Of the ma
jority OF this body? We have always
sympathized with Charleston except
when she violated the law. 1t i'll be-
comes them to make such insinuations.
If gentlemen will NOT pursue differ
ent policy they must accept the inevi-
table. II Charleston wants to be in
sympathy with the rest of the State
and other municipalities let her en-
force the law. II you would have us
be kind to you, In beaven's name be
kind to us. Give to vs pleasant words
| rather than undertake to reprimand
and abuse us.
Mr.. Floyd expressed regret that this
/ l.1N .h H. lw&sa - l. IL