Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-13
National Politics,

A significant development Of the past
few years is the interest the mass of
South Carolina voters is beginning to
manifest in national politics. From the
close Of the war until 1890, the basis
Of South Carolina national politics was
principally prejudice; but year by year
since 1890, there has been more evidence
that the people are thinking.
From 1868 to 1876 national politics
were blank so far as the white peo-
pie: Of the state We're concerned, and
although we began to send representa-
tives to congress in 1876 they amount
ed to but little practical benefit to the
people. Because of the animosities that
had been engendered by the war, our
representatives could accomplish but
little, even if they tried, and so long as
the people were satisfied with mere
abuse of the Yankees, there was no in
ducement for a representative to try
to do a great deal. He found 1t more
to his liking to draw his salary in peace,
live at ease, have a good time, and not
be troubled with affairs Of state.
The first awakening of this section
to it's real interest in national politics,
was the result of the Alliance move
ment. The best informed people recog-
nized at the time that most Of the
schemes proposed and advocated by the
Alliance were chimerical and impracti-
cable; but, nevertheless, it cannot be
denied that the Alliance speakers did
much to arouse the people to their own
interest. They promised a great deal
more than they could ever accomplish;
but ct the same time they made IL pain
fully clear that the people who were
then representing the state in Wash
ington, were not offering much beyond
the advice Ito plow on boys"
AS the result of the revolution that
commenced in 1890, and which was COM
pleted with the few years following, all
of the old representatives were recalled
and new men were put in their places.
There was a disposition on the part of
some of these new men to quietly settle
into the same old grooves that had
been followed by their predecessors;
but others were really in earnest about
trying to do something, and after a
while they began to succeed. There is
no doubt Of the facts that Stokes and
Latimer were among the first to secure
rural delivery facilities for southern
districts, and McLaurin was a pioneer
in the doctrine that the south is entitled
to some of the benefits Of the national
government. Others did their part
along the same line. and all encountered
more opposition from the politicians
at home. than they did from the politi-
clans in Washington.
But that the people, the mass of the
voters. are beginning to learn some
thing in spite Of the persistent efforts of
the political newspapers and aspirants
to office, is becoming more evident
every day. For convincing proof Of this
fact one has only to look at the result
Of the late campaign. Those who were
unable to see things while the cam
paign was in progress, ought at least
to be able to read their meaning in the
announced result.
Take the case Of Congressman Fin
ley for instance. He comes back to
| the people with a record of four years
in congress and tells them, among 9TH
ar hot ha hoc
preparation for a public building in
Rock Hill. and another appropriation
for the Improvement Of river in Ches-
terfield. He had three opponents.
Two of them Confederate veterans-one
of them with only one arm, and the
other former occupant OF the seat in
contest, and the third opponent an able
lawyer. One of these opponents-Col.
Floyd-preached the ''plow on doc
trine, and insisted that the getting of
| money from the national treasury for
| internal improvements was CONNER
cialism and undemocratic. DIR. Strait,
who had accomplished nothing in con-
gress while a member of that body, con-
Quoted his campaign on the theory
that the people had made an inadver-
tent mistake. Mr.. Wilson endorsed
what Mr.. Finley had done, and prom
ised to do more along the same line
The result was the most natural one
| conceivable. The people approved Mr..
Finleys work, and gave him their un-
equivocal endorsement, with the i'm
piled instruction to return and continue
AS before.
Take the case Of Mr.. Latimer. He
went all over the state preaching the
doctrine that since protection is the
policy Of the government, until the
Democrats are in a position to change
that policy, they should not refuse such
practical benefits as they can obtain
from it. He also cited a list Of the vars
ious sums of money he had been instru-
mental in bringing to South Carolina,
he should be sent to the United States
senate. At Yorkville, as probably else
where, friend and foe conceded that he
made more sensible speech than did
any Of his competitors. His opponents
one and all. unable to answer his logic.
undertook to bcsmirch him as a Repub-
lican. There is no question Of the fact
that there were ADLER men in the race;