The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-01-17
Reviewing the Conditions
in the State.
Industrial Progress and Educational
Advancement.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:

yOl dS IilO representatives OF The OCO.
pie under such favorable conditions.
You come as the first Legislature to
assemble in South Carolina in the new
century. The Nineteenth century has
been one of marked progress and de-
velopment in all the arts and sciences,
and it contains lessons which we may
learn with profit to ourselves and which
may be of use to us in lcgislating for
the future. Those who constituted
the first Legislature one hundred years
ago little dreamed of she advance in
all lines of industry and of the discov-
cries and inventions which have signal
lied the century just passed into his
tory. We cannot realize or even con-
ceive the advances that will be made
during this century upon which we are
entering. There seems TO be almost
no limit 10 the achievements of the
human mind. 1t is for us TO contrib
ute our part TO make the world better
and happier by our having lived in it
and to leave to our children goOdly
heritage and name untarnishcd. 1t
is your privilege to meet and to coun-
sci with one another and to consider
and enact such laws as will be Of hcne-
fit not only to the pre sent, but to the
future growth and development Of this
grand old commonwealth.
The march of material progress and
the development Of the State, to which
l had the pleasure to refer one year
ago in greeting the members of the
Legislature, has kept up with steady
and su1e step. The business depres-
sion through which the people bad
passed anil which was almost unprecc-
dented seems TO have been followed by
revival which is touching all branches
Of industry. The increased price which
our farmers have received for their
staple crop makes large amends for the
falling off in the yield. Our farmers
are learning the importance of diversi-
fed farming and in consequence are
becoming more independent.
You need no better evidence Of the
progress and prosperity Of the State
than that presented in the figures con-
tanned in the annual report of the Sec
retary of State. From this report it
will be seen that approximately fifteen
million dollars were invested the past
year in South Carolina companies; and
while q large proportion of 1t is in cot
ton mill building, yet many smaller
manufacturing enterprises and INDUS
tries have been organized.
New manufactures continue to 90
up and we are no longer simply al ag-
ricultural people, but are fast becom-
ing as we'll manufacturing State. We
now lead all Southern States in the
manufacture of cotton goods and are
second only to Massachusetts in the
number of spindles, and at the present
ate of progress will soon lead all the
tates in the Union in this important
anch of industry. 1t is well to keep
fact in mind as you deliberate.
Taxable values have increased $4,-
245, ,G95 during The past year, as will
be seen from the Comptroller General 8
report, but the increase is not near as
large rs it should be or would be if our
system of assessment and taxation
were so revised and amended as to
have placed on the tax books all the
property of the State now escaping
taxation and if that which is assessed
were equitably assessed.
Peace and good order have charac-
tcrized our people during the past year.
We have not been visited by plague or
pcstilencc and no resort to mob vio-
lence has marred the record or stained
the fair name Of the State, though in
one or two cases the strong arm of the
military had to be called into requisj-
ton, but the majesty of the law was
maintained and no blood was shed. In
one case there was strong proVocation
for summary Justice, but with the as
slstance of the military the culprits
were protected, lawlessness was pre-.
vented, anc. through the ordinary chan.
nels of tho courts stern justice will be
administered and the penalty paid.
You as tho chosen representatives
of the people should guard with jeal
ous eye their interests and welfare
which have been committed to your
keeping, remembering always the ro
sponsibllty which rests upon you.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
Not the least gratifying evidence o.
our progress is the remarkable awaken
ing in all departments of education
At tho beginning of the century jus
closed tho civilized world knew nj
Su|ii IuiiiS 40 'o'"'o oJ"'o''i VI o'uc''
tion; and in many quarters, until {
comparativ oily recent date, the position
of those who advocated free public
education as a legitimate function o
State government was stubbornly con
tested, tie opposition in our Stat
being largely due to peculiar racial AM
social conditions. State education i
now the settled policy of our country
.,'eing recognized as both function
and duty Of the government; and
may well be questioned whether tn
nineteenth century has made NOR
Important contribution to the. cause G
democracy Band civilization. Sine
1870 the public expenditure for con