The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-30
LIVE oyEsT
A Series Of Articles Contributed by
Advanced Thinkers.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS SOME LES
SONS THEREFROM.

The Inauguration cf President. Nc
Kinley is over and the promised begin
! ming time Of prosperity is here. Person
ally the president is & pure man whose
motives and sincerity no one can ques-
tion His weak points are those for
which he is not personally responsible.
He is, IL the minds Of the independents,
weak in mental penetration, logical
force and will power. The fear that
even some Of his wisest friends have is
that ne Will be overridden by some of
his strong willed advisers. We are
aware that some of these fears were en-
tertained about Lincoln and Garfield, :
and that during the administration of
the former he was accused Of huctua-
ton, and we are all painfully conscious
of how untrue these judgments were.
| Every one is ready and willing for
prosperity to come in abundance and
quickly. No president ever had greater
opportunity for a great work No theo-
ry ever had a greater opportunity than
the gold standard has. But it must be
seriously remembered that both the Re
publican party and the monometallistlc
theory are on trial and will be held
strictly to account if they fail to accom-
plish what they have SO sanguinely
promised.
The independent vote is larger than
ever, and is rapidly growing. This vote,
as much as it is criticised by party
leaders, holds the balance Of power in
American politics and Will continue to
do so as long as the government stands.
The influence of independency is
growing. The number of papers that
are becoming independent is steadily
growing and the rank and file Of voters
are becoming every year more free from
party dominance The last election
demonstrated this. The party lash was
used much less than Of yore If coercion
was used by corportions, it was the CO
ercion Of bread and butter and not that
of the party.
The independent vote, backed by q
large and growing sentiment among the
working men and farmers, makes GER
tain demands. These are not partisan,
but made in the interests cf the COM
monwealth. It will not be amiss to state
the more important of them:
First.-A sufficient tariff, whether
for revenue or protection, to keep liv-
ing wage for the day laborer and to
protect the farmer.
Second. -1The simplifcation Of gov
ernmental york SO as to reduce taxation
or render more service to the people.
Third.-The repeal Of all class legis-
lation and the taking of the lobby away
from congress.
Fourth. - TIE remodeling Of our
finance until two things are accomplish
edL(a) the entire control of our finances
by the government; (b) q stable and sufi-
cient currency for all of the demands OF
business.
These are demands that are entirely
reasonable. They are enonpartisan. They
are in the Interests CT good government
and national progress
We truly hope that President McKin-
ley sees the opportunity and that he
will be equal to the occasion and lead
the country quito its present condition.
We should all learn to love the inter
ests Of the country above those Of party.
We know that no party is as large as
the interests of the country and that the
interests OF every party are bound up
with the success Of the people. The pres
ident' S inaugural address is not quite SO
promising as we would wish, but still
he gives CLEAN of hope in that he ad-
mits the possibility of improvement IN
our finances and the necessity in max
ing such Improvements should the pres
ent system prove inadequate.
No money system is final The great
governments Of the world have been
those that are adjustable. A live gov
ernment changes and needs changing
methods. The assurance Of proper ad-
justments to meet the growing demands
of business will bring confidence and
prevent panics in large degree.
q. ". SCOTT.
Leclaire Academy.
ALAS FOR TIE SAIVATIoNisTs!
When the rival branches of the Saliva
ton Army parade the streets for effect,
they are dangerously near adopting po-
litical methods. Many good and wise
people have looked upon the Army as
most sincere movement in behalf Of
fallen and neglected class, and have
willingly overlooked its spectacular
ways and crude theology. If false am
bitions at display of number and bunt-
ing are to be added to its crude ways
and cruder theories. many will turn
away in sorrow, if not disgust. Let the
Salvation Army stick to its real work
that of lifting up the fallen.
The president of the clothing trust
denies that there is any intention Of