The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-01-26
Inaugural Address.
Governor Ellerbe Not Bound
by Factional Lines.
The Constitution and Laws
Will Be His Guide in
All Things.
An Independent, Manly AS
sertion of His Purposes.

on Monday at noon:
Fellow Citiz MS: You have called
me TO the highest Office within your
gift In assuming tho duties ut this
most important trust, | cannot express
in fitting words my high appreciation
OF the confidence placed in me. This
great honor, | alrCady realize, carries
with 1T great respon Utilities. With
out your warm support, upon which
confidently rely, | shall be unable to
meet and overcome the many difficult
ties already apparent.
1t has long been the custom Of the in
coming Governor to outline, in his in
augural address, the policy Of bis atl-
ministratiOn. In obedience to this time.
honored custom, | shall attempt briefly
to set before you the course which |
shall endeavOr to pursue during my
term OF Office.
Untrammelcd by Obligations or pied
gcs Inconsistent with the welfare of the
people, it shall be my highest ambition
to discharge my duties faithfully and
impartially. Tho solemn oath of office
which | have just taken binds me to no
political party or faction, but it does
bind me to preserve, to protect and to
defend both the constitution Of this
State and Of the Uuited States.
Under our form Of government, faith
zeal for the public welfare are all that
is demanded Of citizens assuming public
trusts. To support the constitution,
the foundation of our free governments,
is the duty of every citizen. Upon this
consideration, have a right to expect
tho support Of all good citizens and
you have right to demand that |, in
the administration OF the laws, give
equal rights to all and special privi-
leges 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 in
dustriCs OF her citizens; to encourage
immigration OF the right sort to fOs.
ter our institutions Of learning, both
church and State to enhance the effi-
cheney of our public schools to sustain
our penal and charitable and other in
stitutions-shall be my earnest desire
and unalterable purpose.
In matters OF detail, however, | deem
1T best to make to the General Assem-
bly, by special message, such recon-
mendatiOns as may from time to time
occur to me, and the eXigencies of the
case may demand. To the intelligence
and patriotism of this body we must
look for the enactment of laws which
may best protect the peoples interests.
have neither the power nor inclina-
tiOn to force your representatives to
accept my views AT all times stand
ready to cooperate with them, to coun-
Gil and to advise.
TAXATION.
Without taxation, direct or Indirect,
no government can be maintained
All patriotic citizens chcorfully bear
their part of the burden OF taxation
when the affairs Of state are wisely and
economically managed.
1t Is only when the revenues of the
State are squandered or unwisely and
eXtravagantly expended, or when some
classes OF property escape taxation and
the burden OF supporting The govern
ment is, therefore, uncqually dstri.
Duted, that the people complain. 1t Is
Gear thea that all taxable property
should be assessed and that great care
should be taken in the equalization OF
assessments. The legislators are the
servants OF the people, entrusted with
tho delicate responsibility OF appropria-
ting public funds; and, like good busi-
ness men, they should endeavor to ex-
pend every dollar wisely and economi-
cally. 10 secure the best government,
at the least expense to the people,
should be the constant aim of every
legislator. 1t is the part Of states
man TO seek to Tighten the burden Of
taxation when this can bc done with
out detrimcnt to the public interest
but to cripple or destroy institutions,
established for the benefit Of the peo pie,
merely to reduce the tax rate, is ncith-
or wise Eor statCsman-likc. TO pursue
the one course is 10 advance to pursue
tt g 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.jnducing worthy
immigrants to our midst, and by teach
ing our own people to diversity and inn
prove in every possible way. 1T is thus
that we shall be able to bring under
cultivation vast stretches Of rich, un-
titled lands and atthe same time, to
improve soil already made poor by i'm
proper tillago. Our climate Is, per-
haps, on the whole, as delightful as
any on this continent. Our winters are
short and our summers long, but not
warmer THAI at the North. Stock re-
quire less food, and man less clothing
than in colder sections.
Our truck farmers have an iumense
advantage over their Northern COM
pettors. 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 profitable industry.
We have perhaps the advantage of
Northern ard Western farmers in
many respects, and with cotton as a
sure money crop, we can offer to immi-
grants advantages not possessed by ar y
other section. There is now reason to
believe that the manufacturers Of New
England are already looking towards
the South. They are beginning to re-
alize that 1t is cheaper to bring their
mills to the cotton than to take the
cotton TO the mills. With our splendid
water powers. many Of which are un-
developed for lack Of capital, but which,
II harnessed for the use Of man, would
materially increase our wealth, we
ought, II seems to me, to call the at
tention OF the outside world not only to
these unparalleled advantages, but
also 20 our genial climate, the richness
and variety Of our soil, our mineral
wealth, our splendid forests of pine
) and oak and hickory and walnut and
gum and other varieties OF trees.
South Carolina ought to become 6
great manufacturing State. We need
variety OF industries. There should
be no antagonism between tho farmer
and the manufacturer, between tho cit
izen OF the town and tho citizen OF the
c0uptfy. Their interests are mutual.
AZ Hfaro a oiuafv0lv aQrioIltiiral con- ntrv