The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-03-09

Representatives talks to a reporter
OF the News and Courier. While
his conclusions SAVIOR of the
NoN-sequitur, their trend has a
soothing influence:
The Charleston delegation to the
General Assembly has returned
home after a long and tedious ses-
sion. There were many important
measures discussed and adopted
In the general debate It was MOTTO
ed all along that Charleston took q
leading part, and'what was said by
the Charleston members was lis
tened to with the greatest interest.
A Reporter for The News and
Courier called on Mr.. p. III. Gads-
den yesterday to get his impress.
sion of the Legislature which has
just adjourned, and to discover
what had been done of general In.
terest. Mr.. Gadsden stated, that,
In his opinion, the General Assem-
bly, was composed of men who
would compare %favorably with
any body which had assembled In
this State In many years; that it
was generally admitted that IL
was the best representation of the
people which had been known in
certainly ten years, excepting per-
haps, the Constitutional Conven-
ton.
"There was an entire absence
OF partisan or factional politics in
the whole course of the debates of
b House" said Mr.. GadsdeD, "not
a single member sought to strength
en- his cause OF weaken that of his
opponent by appealing to the
prejudice and passion which has
characterized the debate Of the
last three sessions. Men from all
parts of the State were given a
careful and considerable hearing,
and the measures they. advocated
were, without exception, voted up.
on entirely upon their merits. The
result of this broad and liberal
policy has been that every meas
ure was fully discussed, and in
most cases, any Objectionable fea-
ture stricken out. This session of
the Legislature will base its claim
for a place in the history of the
State upon the number of. OBJ
jectionable bills which it disposed
of. With the exception of the in
come tax bill, no radical legislation
was passed that I can recall, and
absolutely none Of a partisan ma
ture, for the income tax was in no
sense a party measure; it was.
purely an economic measure upon
which both factions Of the Demo-
cratic party we're divided; 1t was
discussed In the House, calmly and
moderately, and full time, was
allowed every member to express
his views on the measure. II 1t
had not been for the condition of
the State treasury for which this
legislation "a In nowise responsia-
BILE, L am satisfied the bill could
not have passed the House, but IT.
was a desperate e%xpedient ~resorted
to to relieve what was considered
by the friends of the bill TO be an
extraordinary measure.
II believe that this session has
demonstrated that the State has
seen the last for many years of
appeals to party discipline and
factional feeling, and that the era
of good feeling which was inaugu.
rated by the Constitutional Con-
ventton has been advanced and
its principles made the policy of
this State for the future. / am
equally satisfied that the extre-
mists on both sides have been
ralegated permanently to the
rear, and that the policy FOR the fu-
turo will be, not the advancement
of any favorite candidate but such
a broad and liberal policy Will be
adopted as will invite the invest
ment of capital and guarantee its
security from adverse legislatioh.'
When asked what was the i'm
preston made by Governor ElIer-
be, Mr.. Gadsden said that it was
generally recognized that he had
the greatest opportunity, ever pre-
sented to any man in South Caro-
lima; that it was his mission to
bring together all the people of
the State, who were already tired
of strife and needed only a leader
to guide them into an era of good
fellowship and kindly feeling. He
was satisfied that the Governor in
tended to return to the principle
of home rule in all State matters,
and that he had illustrated this in
his appointment Of county officers.
He said he was satisfied that Gov.
ernor Ellerb be was the best friend
Charleston had in the State at this
ju%ncture, and that it should be the
policy OF all to aid and assist him
In every. manner possible.