The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-05-25
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Washington show that the issues of
1860 have largely returned and his
tory is repeating itself. The cold
blooded money changers show their
dread of a loss of money in stocks
and bonds. The slave lord controlled
here until 1865 and the money lords
now show like fear Of loss in this
trouble. The stock exchange put an
end to the war between Crete and
Turkey. 1t was to their firm decree
that "The Great Powers yielded and
not the success of battles. 1t was
the stock exchange that dictated the
terms of pea,e between China and
and Japan, and that same power tried
its hand at Washington but gloriously
failed. There were two potent fac
tors at Washington of which [ will
write further in the future. There
is another power behind all this and
the main feature in it all, which as
yet not fully developed but will come
out at is proper time, and Of which I
will say more in my next article.
In the session of 1892 and 1893 of
the Legislature and while your Rep
resentative, I stood at my post of
duty as I deemed proper as a patri-
otto public spirited citizen. My
reasons for the 70 itions then taken
I have seen no reason to recant.
Since that have felt that I could be
of no use TO my country in public
life and have retired til now. [
was sincere in all I did and felt that
the reformation of 1890 was a neces.
sity to my native land and but for
much of the nonsense and dema-
goguery that followed, Ithen felt and
still believe that the great body of
the Reformers were not responsible
and in which they did not coincide
I thought my countrymen were
bound up in the environments OF q
half century and that these old
petri6ed notions should be broken
and put on new life and new gar
ments and be armed with free
thought and free action for a COM
ing conflict. I have gracefully en-
dured private life and all its joys,
believing that the day was near when
I could be of some use to my country.
These pillows will float away much
of the rubbish and rash measures of
the Reform Movement and prepare
the way for better things. The posi-
tion I have occupied since on the
public issues by the political parties I
still think was carefully, cautiously
and considerably taken, and after
months of quiet reflection and con-
sideratior l am not convinced that l
made a mistake but believe as a
Christian citizen I have done my
duty and nothing more than my
duty. I have sought no office, have
sought 10 advancement in that line
and to me it was hard undertaking 6
to apparently break away from firm
and sincere friends and supporters,
but was then and am still persuaded
we shall yet strike hands on some
more conservative ground, and that
our confidence in each other will be
unshaken when we see the unveiling
of the future.
We can never follow politicians
and office hunters. They are poor
guides and their only aim is to try
to hunt the popular sentiment to try
and keep in an Office. We have seen
enough of this to know how far to
follow them and I think there are a
great many of the citizens who think
as I do. We should not put our
trust in free silver ncr gold standards.
There are greater questions than these
behind. I believe the time is near
ing when I can be of service to my
native land and if in my opinion that
day ever comes I shall not hesitate
to say so. While / am slow to ad-
vocate war or bloodshed, there are
times when such is necessary, need
ful and beneficial. In my candid
conviction I believe such a time is
coming on us ere long and when it
comes I shall not dodge my duty.
In such an exegency shall probably
call for a company of Lexington S
gallant sors to volunteer and 60 with
me to meet the enemies of our homes
in whatever situation our duty shall
place us. [ will pledge my honor
and manhood to them and to their
fathers and mothers never to send
them where l will not 80 with them
and never place them where l will
not stand by their sides.
D. J. Knots.
Swansea. April %, 1898.
For that tired feeling you mus
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