The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-25
THE INAUGU RATION
Gov. EIlerbe and Lieut.. Gov. Nc
Sweeney Sworn In.
THE VERY BRIEF
The Addresses of the Governor
and Lieutenant. Governor Short
and to the Point.


Governor William Fl. Ellerbe anc
Lieutenant Go7ernorM. B. McSweeney
were inducted into office Wednesday
The ceremonies attending the change
OF Administration were brief, not last
ing over twenty minutes altogether.
There was nothing unexpected or re,
markable about the exercises. 1t would
have been difficult to have made the
ceremony more formal or brief. Sew
eral hundred visitors, at most, wit
messed the swearing in Of the Cover.
nor. The young ladies from the col
leges were present in body, also a
number of Governor Ellerbe's friends
In the city. One Of the interested
spectators was Mrs. Ellerbe, who was
accompanied by her children and mem
bers of the household.
The procession was not over five
minutes behind the hour appointed for
the exercises. Sergeant alarms Gas.
ton, Of the Senate, with Sergeant-at-
arms Stansell, headed the line of march.
Governor Ellerbe, who came in on the
arm Of Senator Mower. came next.
He wore black frock coat and black
cravat, and looked quite we'll. Follow
ing came Lieutenant Governor Me-
Sweeney with Mr.. Magill, Judge Earn
est Gary with Sen tor Graydon, the
Rev. Mr.. W. R. Richardson with Mr..
Montgomery, Comptroller General Der
ham with Superintendent of Education
McMahan, former Adjt Gen. Watts
with Adjt. Gen-elect Floyd, former
Altoruc, General Barber with Attor-
ney General Dc.iinger and Mr.. Simkins
with State Trea 5urer Zimmerman.
As soon as the State officers, their
escort and the Senators arrived in the
House and we're seated Mr. Scarborough,
President of the Senate. announced
the purpose of the joint assembly and
that the Rev. Mr.. Richardson would
deliver the prayer. Mr.. Richardson;
Of the Washington Street Methodist
Church, delivered quite long and fer
vent prayer.
1t was then announced that "the
Hon. VIM. H. Ellerbe, Governor elect,
was present and ready to qualify
Governor Ellerbe placed his hand on
the Bible and heldit while Judge Gary
cad the oath Of Office. AS soon as he had
cad the oath, to which Governor Eiler-
be gave concurrence, Governor Ellerbe
walked to the front. of the Speakers
stand and spoke as follows:
Fellow citizens: Two years ago l
was called by an almost unprecedented
majority to the highest Office within
your gift. The reasons for my over
whelming victory are not far to seek.
We had just passed through four years
of the bitterest partisan warfare that
had eyer shaken the State. 1t hau
arrayed brother against brother and
friend against friend 1t had engend-
ere the bitterest feelings between the
different classes Of our population.
Town and country were at war, instead
Of working harmoniously together for "a
common good. The Reform Move
ment brought many substantial gains to
the people; but, like every other social
revolution, it brought with it the con
comitant and inseparable ills of which
l have spoken. The good remains; the
evil in time disappears. The people,
especially the people Of South Carolina,
are generous, and in their hearts the
passions Of partisan hate soon die out,
self-consumed.
Twas thus, after four years Of strife,
the people now, in mutual, welI-bc-
seeming ranks, marched all one way, no
more opposed against acquaintance,
kindred and allies. Ignoring party
lines, they turned with characteristic
generosity to me; not because of special
worth or fitness on my part, for l had
done nothing to merit such marked es-
TEEN, but because they who knew me,
best believed that as Governor, l would
serve not faction, but the whole peo-
pie, and strive to bring in an era of
peace aud good fellowship. Thus was
l enabled to launch the ship of State
under ia7oring breezes. Knightly and
generous souls came forward with pied
ges Of cooperation. The press, with
scarcely an exception, promised sup
port and prophesied a happay voyage
under favorable skies. With many
misgivings l undertook the task to
which | was called, scarcely daring to
trust my ability to meet the expecta-
tions of the people. Would that
it had been possible. The scant
majority, however, recently accorded
ne after stubbornly fought fight is in
sharp contrast with the overwhelming
victory of two years ago, and yet | have
no reason either to complain or whine.
My duty | have performed to the best
ofmy ability My mistakes l shall
neither attempt to condone nor shift
their responsibility on others. With
deep gratitude to the friends who have
never wavercd in their support, with
malice towards none and good will to-
wards my fellow citizens, with pro-
found appreciation ofthe great honor
conferred, enter upon my second term
as Governor of this historic Common
wealth. To the citizens, let me repeat,
whose votes were cast for me, can
never express my gratitude; but, while
deeply grateful to my friends, l shall
endeavor never to forget my duty to the
whole people and to treat with fairness
and consideration even the bitterest Of
my political enemies. l repeat what
was said two years ago: Il assume
this office untrammelled by single
promise inconsistent with the welfare
Of the people. To discharge my du-
ties faithfully and we'll to win the ap-
proval and to merit the confidence Of
all patriotic citizens shall be my high
est ambition. In my former inaugural
was outlined a policy which, in the