The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-24
COL. MEALS ADDRESS
TO FELLOW CITIZENS,
he REVIEWS HIS COURSE IN SOUTH
CAROLINA POLITICS..
Why He Favors Local Option Pays Re-
sp' els to John Gary Evans In Course OF
state and tho Dis
pensary.
10 tho People of South Carolina:

tendent Of tho South Carolina pen.
itentiary. The condition of the in
stitutlon speaks for itself, and
challenge any criticism or investi-
CATION. Had I been contont to at
tend strictly to my official duties, my
management of the institution has
been such that l could haye held tho
position Of superintendent, without
opposition, rs long as l cared to re-
main in public life. Fortunately, or
unfortunately, however, | have had
aspirations and hopes beyond tho
more routine Of official life, 1 have
been inspired by an ambition to be
Of practical benefit to the people of
my State, and L havo never enter
tanned for moment the thought that
beng public officer debarred me
from the privilege exercised by
every citizen of attempting to inhu-
once for good the affairs of my State.
In fact, | have felt, as Il p, bic ser
want, that it was my duty to do all
in my power to bettor tho condition
Of public affairs. | have firmly and
consistently, without regard to tho
effect of my individual fortunes,
supported the best men for o,lico and
the policies that | believed would
best conserve tho public interest.
There is such greed for office in
South Carolina that it makes cow
ards of most of those holding or seek
ing office. have earnestly striven
to not allow this blight to wither my
manhood or patriotism. If South
Carolina needs anything, she needs
m'n who are not afraid or who are
not prevented by selfish interests
from following tho dictates of con-
science and duty. In the very be
ginning I fclt the need Of reform,
and was an original "Farmers' Move
ment" man. I supported Tillman in
1890, and almost without solicitation
on my part was elected superintend-
ent of the South Carolina penten-
tiary in 1892. 1 had llvod on my
farm knew but little Of public men or
public affairs. | had great confidence
in the ultimate good purpose Of II o
Reform Movement. In 1893 the
dispensary system was inaugurated
IN South Carolina. It was a new
untricd experiment. 1 had a great
deal Of confidence in Tillman, and
gave him my cordial support in his
eadeavor to make the law success.
AS long So Tillman was in the Gov
errors Office his natural force and
popularity with the people enabled
him to keep the machinery running,
though with a great friction. I fore
saw during Tillman's last terra that
when smaller and weaker mon under
took to WELD tho autocratlc power
necessary to secure the enforcement
of the dispensary law, it meant dis
aster The dispensary as originally
enacted was meant to fit the stern
and autocratic attributes of the first
farmer Governor, but such harsh adj
minislration of the law creating such
radical change in the habits of tho
people could not long be continued
among li"erty-loving people &C
customed to govern themselves.
Wien 1t cama TO be enforced by an
"apisE imitator and weakling;;" trou-
bio began.
In 1904 I was invited to 90 to
Washington to attend a conference.
was present in Irby's committee
room whom it was determined to
make John Gary Evans Governor of
South Carolina. There was only
ono man who raised his voice against
it in protest. l was witness to the
scene when no withdrew in anger
from the conference [ ca)no homo
from Washington convinced that it
was impoltic and wrong for Il caucus
in Washington to select q Governor
for tho people of South Carolina,
and when the infamous Colleton
plan was proposed, by Which the
Conservatives Of the State were dis
rranchiscd and put upon tGe same
basis IS the negro, [ determined that
If never hold another public Office. [