The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-01-25

20 sne people or South Cor0iDa. auG
that the capecity Of Join Gary Evans
for harm would be far less 10 the senate
of the United States than ia the gov
errors chair. Ny chief desire then
vas the election of Governor Ellerbe,
and I subordiuated everything else to
that end. He was elected governor By
almost unanimous vote of the people
The failure of his administration to
rerlize the reasonable hopes of his
friends is too priuful for me to discuss.
| believe that Governor ElIerbe is con-
stitutionally houest. and that he has
faithfully tried to meet the requirements
of situation beyond his power, and
possibly beyond tnas Of any man.
am now and always will be his
friend and dc not propose to say one
word in this letter in exculpasion of
myself which will add to the difficulties
now surrounding him. have en-
deavored tc cooperate with the men
in South Carolina whose object
was to reunise our people The
liquor question is ''the old man OF
the mountain" in the politics of this
State. have done all | could looking
to a just and correct settlement of the
liquor problem. As things COW 60 in
this State nothing but evil can come Of
it. My object has been to eliminate
the liquor question from State politics.
It is a local matter which should be
left With the people Of the various
counties. It is manifestly impossible
to.enforce the same liquor law in Charles.
ton aud Columbia that you can 10
prohibition Marlboro and Anderson
I believe that the question should be
submitted to the people of each county
to say whether they want the dispen.
sary. high license with constitutional
restrictions. or prohibition. 1t is
local question and Che people Of one
community or county, 10 my Judgment,
have no right to force the people of
another county or community to accept
sumptuary laws repugnans to local
sentiment, traditions and character of
the people. have felt this very keeply
aud I have not a doubt in the world
that this will be the foal solution Of the
liquor question in South Carolina.
None other is in accord with the prin-
ciples Of Democracy. A. question is
never settled until j. is settled righs.
You may for time BY force of circum.
stances, as has been the case With the
dispepsary law 10 this State, deny local
self government. aod an opportunity
for free expression of public opinion.
sooner or later, however. free people
will assert their rights at the ballot
box, and woe unto him who stands in
the way The advocacy Of local option
is no new idea wish me. Last May 10
the Anderson county convention that
stalwart champion of popular rights,
Hon. Joshua W Ashley. introduced
resolution ins.ructing the delegates to
the State convention to use their inau-
euce to secure the submission of the
question of high license. prohibition or
dispeDsary to popular vote. |
amended the resolution and assisted in
securing its passage by the county con-
veutiou. In the State convention,
however, the people we're bouod hand
and foot and denied the fundamental
right of deciding this important matter
for themselves at the ballot box. The
Anderson county convention instructed
the local committee to have the question
submitted to our people 10 the primary
With the result that Anderson county
went overwhelmingly for prohibition.
How can Democrat oppose submis-
sion of these questions to a popular
vote or refuse to abide the will of
majority of his fellow citizens :? |
realize that my contest does not depend
upon my official record, but upon the
issues ereinbefore indicated A con-
test is being waged against me because
I have dared to think for myself and
would not bend the knee to the dictates
of self-con stituted bosses
am proud of the fact that | have
stood 10 the way of some who sought to
prostitute the public service to private
ends. | am being opposed because of
che principles that have advocated and
by the meo whose aims | have helped
to tbwars 1t is a vain hope through
me TO compass the defeat of these princi-
pies. No stronger argument is needed
than the attempt DOW being made and
the methods pursued to defeat me to de.
monstrase the growth Of a dangerous
political power welded by the dispensa-
ry. No man has touched it 20 matter
how pure bis character or how iunosent
be has been of all wrong. that has not
had pitch left upon his hands. 1t is ap.
palling the frequency With which gov
ernors and other high officials have been
charged With corruption and bribery in