The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-27
A GOOD DOCUMENT.
GOVERNOR w. n. ELlERBE'S INAUGU-
RAJ ADDRESS,.

A Paper that Will be Read With In,ercst
by the People Of South Carolina-Lieu-
tenant Governor Mcsweeney Adds Few
Words.
The following is the full text of
Governor W. b. Ellerbe's Inaugural
Address:
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR W.
| II. ELLERBEE,
| Fellow Citizens: You have called
me to the highest Office within your
gift. In assuming the duties of this
most important trust I cannot express
in fitting words my appreciation of
the confidence placed in me. This
great honor, I already realize, carries
with it great responsibilities. With
out your warm support. upon which I
confidently rely, I shall be unable to
meet and overcome the many difficult
ties already apparent.
It has long been the custom for the
incoming Governor to outline, in his
inaugural address, the policy of his
administration. In obedience to this
time honored custom I shall attempt
briefly to set before you the course
which I shall endeavor to pursue dur.
ing my term of Office.
Untrammelled by obligations or
pledges inconsistent with the welfare
of the people, it shall be my highest
ambition to discharge my duties faith
fully and impartially. The solemn
oath of Office which I have just taken
binds me to no political party or fac.
ton, but it does bind me to preserve,
to protect and to defend both the Con.
stitution of this State and of the Unit.
ed States.
Under our form of government
faithfulness to our fundamental laws
and zeal for the public welfare are all
that is demanded of citizens assuming
public trusts. To support the CoHsti.
tuition, the foundation of our free Gov.
ernment, is the duty of every citizen.
Upon this consideration have right
toexpect the support Of all good citi.
zens, and you have right to demand
that I, in the administration of the
laws, give "equal privileges to all and
special privileges to none."
To administer faithfully the laws, to
tighten by all worthy means the bur.
den of taxation. to develop the re-
sources of the State, to protect the ia.
dustries of her citizens, to encourage
immigration of the right sort, to fos-
ter our institutions of learning, both
Church and State, to enhance the eff.
cheney of our public schools, to sus
tain our penal and charitable and 9th
er institutions shall be my earnest de-
sire and unalterable purpose.
In matters of detail, however, l
deem it best to make to the General
Assembly, by special message, such
recommendations as may from time
to time occur to me and the exigencies
of the case may demand. To the in
telligence and patriotism of this body
! we must look for the enactment OF
laws which may best protect the peo-
ple's interests. I have neither the
power nor inclination to force your
representatives to accept my views.
At all times I stand ready to cooper
ate with them, to counsel and to advise.
TAXATION.
Without taxation, direct or indirect,
no government can be maintained.
All patriotic citizens cheerfully bear
their part of the burden of taxation
when the affairs of the State are wise.
ly and economically managed.
It is only when the revenues OF the
State are sguaudered or uuwisely and
extravagantly expanded, or when
some classes of property escape taxa
ton and the burden of supporting the
Government is, therefore, unequa!ly
distributed that the people complain.
It is clear then that all taxable proper
ty should be assessed and that great
care should be taken in the equaliza'
ton of assessments. The legislators
are the servants of the people, entrust-
ed with the delicate responsibility OF
appropriating public funds, and, like
good business men, they should
endeavor to expend every dol
lar wisely and economically. To
secure the best government at the
least expense to the people should be
the constant aim of every legislator.
It is the part of q statesman to seek to
Tighten the burden of taxation, when
this can be done without detriment to
the public interest, but to cripple or
destroy institutions established for the
benefit of the people merely to reduce
the tax rate is neither wise nor states
manlike. To pursue the one course is
to advance, to pursue the other is to
retrograde. 1t shall be my policy,
then, to endeavor to increase, in every
legitimate way, our taxable property.
This can be done by inducing worthy
immigrants to settle in Our midst, and
by teaching our own people to diver
sify and improve in every possible
way. It is thus that we shall be able
| to bring under cultivation vast
stretches of rich, untitled lands and
at the same time to improve soil al
ready made poor by improper tillage.
Our climate is, perhaps, on the whole,
as delightful as any on this Continent.
Our winters are short and our summers
long, but not warmer than at the
North. Stock requires less food and
man less clothing than in colder Sec
tons.
Our truck farmers have an immense
advantage over their Northern com
petitors. We are no longer dependent
upon the Western farmer for corn and
oats and hay and pork and beef. In
some sections tobacco culture has al
ready become a profitable industry.
We have perhaps the adys ntage OF