The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-03-22
SENATOR MANNING SPEARS.
Address Delivered at Pelzer in Re-
spending 70 the Toast, South
Carolina.

SpCItOulS 10 the 1OdSt, SOutA
Carolina.
At the annual banquet of the Smyth
Rifles a Belzer Saturday night the
Hon. Richard /. Manning, of Sumter,
responded to the toast "South Caro-
lima Mr.. Manning said:
In responding to the toast "South
Carolina,' it requires self-restraint
for Carolinian speaking to Carolin-
ians to observe that temperateness and
moderation in language which he
practices in the daily ordinary mat
ters of 1ife-for he who loves his
State and taxes pride in her growth
and Development cannot fail to ex-
perience the quickening of his pulse
beats at the contemplation OF it and
of the part she has played in her place
among the States. South Carolina
has ever been glorious in her history.
I a colonial times her leaders we're
men whose examples in ability. re-
sources and bravery We might we'll
emulate. In the war of the Revolu-
ton We are proud to claim General
Marion and General Sumter and
others, the history of whose daring,
yalor, courage and fidelity have been
handed down to us in song and story
as a priceless heritage. Turning from
the war for independence to those
times when the question of nulli6ca-
tion and states rights filed the public
mind, we are justified in the pride
with, which We point to the brilliant
examples of oratory and statesman
shin ! say it calmly aud advisedly
thas I dc not believe that this country
ever r1oduced greater 1ntelect than
the. OF John g. Calhoun. In the
period from the Revolution to 1850,
twithstanding the fact that that
period was one disturbed by several
wars, the growth in material prosper
ity was tremendous; the increase in
the amount and value of property
was greas indeed. But this period in
the light Of subsequent events seems
only to have been season of prepara-
tion for the struggle which was to
come in 1850.
The murmurs and rumbliDgs OF tie
coming storm were unmistakable, and
it burst in all its fury IN 1861.
Through the four long years of
struggle in which deeds OF daring, of
Yalor, of self-sacrifice, Of suffering, OF
priyation and hardships Of cruel war.
South Carolinians never faltered in
theirfdelity and allegiance to the cause
which they had espoused, and all her
energies and all her means were given
without Crude, without hesitation,
but with eager, fervid, patriotic devo-
tion to the defense of those principles
for which they were ready, if need be,
to give their life blood. The end of
the war left us without means; PRO-
perty in huge amounts had been de-
stroyed, annihilated-the very means
Of livelihood seemed gone. The dark
days of reconstruction led us to con-
diton and into practices, the effects OF
which are still felt Shut these condi-
tions we're met with undaunted cour-
age. In my Judgment mistakes were
made in resorting to corrupt practices
in connection with the ballot in order
to redeem the State from the carpet.
baggers, the effect of which is still
felt and will be felt until we rise in
the might Of an outraged public opin-
ION, and purge ourselves from these
wrongs in the use of tie ballot. Still. it
was choice of evils, and the determi-
nation was firm and unalterable that
South Carolina must be redeemed
from the ':arpetbagger. The result is
known, and with the redemption OF
the State there awoke new spirit, new
and new confidence, and it
is with pride that is pardonahle, pride
that is justified, that We tell the tale
of the marvellous improvement in all
lines of business and enterprise.
May / say to you, Carolinians, just
a word about South Cardinals agri-
cultural superiority. say this be-
cause with our soil and climate we can
grow almost any crop and grow them
with conspicuous success. l may also
state that Carolina rice is the finest
quality Of rice in the world. In the
production of corn her record leads the
world, the largest yield of cotton per
acre without artificial fertilization
was made In Lancaster county; the
fness quality Of cotton that is made.
in the world grows on the sea Islands
of South Carolina. But I need 60 NO
further. I need not mention her to-
bacco. her timber lands, her mineral
deposits and phosphate deposits, and
I barely mention these facts and only
to you Carolinians, not boastfullly,
but simply "lest we. forget. y
In turning to the unrivalled devel-
opment in manufacturing it would be
8 work of supererogation for me to
come to Pelzer and have the audacity