The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-10-07
D. ]. Knots for Congress.
Will Run as Republican in the
Seventh.

Seventh.
Tie Former Reformer Representa-
tive From Lexington Reviews
Political History and Gives Yer
dict Against the Democrats.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
There are times when the feelings
and desires of any patriot should
control his action and to the proper
direction of his energy in such an
emergency should give his calm and
deliberate, but determined, consider
alton. One of those times now con-
fronts the people Of South Carolina.
The political contest in this State for
several years has been only the out
posts and engagements between cav
airy and artillery at longer and short
er range, but they have now brought
on more general engagement and
struggle between the solid ranks OF
infantry, in this deadly conflict for
progress, and is march onward and
what is, and has ever been, the trou
BILE in this State, bourbon policy OF
satisfaction in the present condition
and no desire to leave our traditions.
A deep felt and longing desire to
break away from these associations
and traditions was the basal princl-
pie of the Reform movement. 1t
was a declaration of independence
against our petriGed orthodoxy and a
heartfelt desire to burst our environ
ments by which we are bound hand
and foot. A free speech, an untram
melled vote and fair count are de-
mands today which are taking the
place of the little questions OF the
Reform movement and is the para
mount issue of this day in South
Carolina.
The Reform leaders in this State
had an opportunity, and a bright one,
but they have lost it. They have
fritted away the imperishable future
for the deceptive gewgaws Of that
everlasting now. Blind leadership
have vainly striven against the tide
of impending doom, and the last
election for United States Senator
is the brightest dawn of political in
dependence ever witnessed in our
State. And, alas! how strange that
so bright a day should be so badly
misunderstood. The people of this
State and the South have ever la
bored under this environment. Be-
| fore the war it was easy to think
with the reigning dynasty, but to
| think against slavery was crime and
| the term unionist and abolutionist
were as terrible and as ostracising
| as Radical since the war. Men had
| become restive and uneasy under
| this yoke and menace to their man
hood and could see no relief to it,
nor progress, unless in a movement
or commotion in the political situa-
tioD. And the sentiment for an ag-
ricultural college assumed large pro-
portions and it can't be explained by
referring to the few questions that
were finally arraigned at the head OF
| the Reform movement. Men had to
have schooling and preparation
| for great revolution of this kind
and we have been spending our
schoolboy days in the political high
school and the pupils have found out
that many of our teachers are incom-
| petent to instruct in the branches to
which they have been assigned; and,
| indeed, they are beginning to see
that the professors don't understand
the textbooks taught in the school
room. The Chicago platform very
clearly shows that many of the par
tisan, narrow minded views of the
leaders in this State have simply
been transferred from the State to
the national platform, and Governor
Evans boasts that he and Senator
Tillman wrote the Chicago platform,
which may in part be true, for it
marks out the fatal policy pursued
by them in this State. If it is wise
in the Chicago platform it was wise
in our State administration, and for
those Of US to support it in the ma
tional who condemn it in our State
politics will be supremely ridiculous.
I am now glad that my record as a
representative will show that the
partisan measures of the Reform
party never supported, but both
speeches and votes declared my un
mitigated hostility to such outrages
in legislation. If those who fought
these furious measures so hard now