The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-07-19
FINISH 1HE STATE HOUsE-WHEN

Judges SuO !SHtlSA s-S S""''-e
TINES has taken the position that the
tax payers OF this State are already
too much burdened with taxes to
stand raising of the State levy for
the purpose OF finishing the State
house. It is estimated, the cost OF
doing this work will take nearly If
not quite half million dollars, which
will be bound to raise the levy unless
that half million can be cut off from
something else. The question with
us, is not whether the State house
should be finished, but whether we
are at this time able to stand raise
in taxes. The newspapers through
out the State, with few exceptions,
are advocating the completion of the
work, and when one does take an op-
posite view they come back and hold
it up to their readers as thing that
has desecrsted grand sentiment, call
the editor nsrrow-minded, and selfish
snd in a hippant manner impugn his
motives. We believe We are the first
to protest against raising the tax levy
and We also believe when the general
Assembly meets our views on this
subject will prevail, we almost know
that our position would be sustained
If the question were left to the people,
let the question be raised in the next
primary when members Of the legisla-
ture are to be elected, and we venture
the prediction that very few who ad-
vocate an increase in the tax levy will
receive certificate of election. The
advocates of the scheme to complete
the State house at any cost, and re-
gardless of the peoples condition get
warm under the collar when they are
confronted with opposition. Here is
fair sample taken from the Saluda
Sentinel:
There is nothing more absurd than
for South Carolina newspaper to op-
pose the completion Of the long neg
lected State house. To near a news
paper of the stamp of TIE MANNING
TINES, cry out, that Columbians are at
the bottom of such a move is doubly
absurd. It sounds more like the cry
of schening political Office holder,
that is trying to tickle the whims of
his constituency in orde, that they
may retain him in Office, than the writ
ing of sensible, wide-awake journal
ist as the editor of The TINES is. The
original plan of the State house, if the
war had not interrupted its compile
ton, would have made it one OF the
finest pieces of architecture in the
South. While the original design
can hardly be carried out now, yet it
ought to be finished to save it from
further ruin and at the same time be
an ornament not only to Columbia
but for the whole State.
OF course is absurd "for a South
Carolina newspaper to oppose the
completion of the long neglected
State house." when to have the de-
sired work done will press the bur-
den Of taxation barder upon the
shoulders OF the people. To beautify
and adorn the Capitol building the
people must be oppressed. We have
never said ''that Columbians are at
the bottom of such move" but had
we said so we would not have been
far out of the way. Just wait until
the Legislature meets and stand
around the hotels, it will be seen in
short order that Columbians are not
indifferent to the scheme, but on the
other hand there will be number
with axes to grind. To intimate that
politics and sel6shness prompts
our opposition to the raising of the
tax levy to finish the work on the
State house is unworthy of the Saluda
Sentinel and does not strengthen its
cause. Those who know US are aware
Of the fact that hypocrisy is not a
part Of our nature and our constitu-
ency does not need any tickling to
retain US in Office It is late day
for TEE TINES editor to begin tick
ling his constituency "that they may
retain him in Office when the fact is,
''his constituency" has never refused
him any honor he has sought, and
that same "constituency' has, great
many times given expression to their
confidence in him. We therefore
feel that did we fail to protest against
a scheme which, in our judgment, will
make the yoke of taxation harder to
bear, we would be recreant to the
trust reposed in US and unworthy the
confidence of our constituents.
We are truly glad the Saluda Sen
tinel regards The TINES editor ''a