The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-04-04
SOME PLAIN TALK,
SAYS Brice Law Elections is Not The
Voice of the PespIe. Scores the
Old Board for Violating the Law,
Thinks Another Political Ring
is Forming.

ELrCOE SGSSSAt n1 VI AAS WOW VI A~e
ters, ard it will be read with jnterest
By the voters CT the state. The &C
dress follows:
Fellow Citszsns: L is only from
sense OF the highest public outy that
I feel callsd upon to address you at
this tine. Burdened as l an Win
national concerns nothing but ooligs-
tions to the people incu7e me to take
upon my shoulders the accleloDal
work OF directing your attention 70
matters affecting the state alone.
But I have never felt or believed it to
be the wish and Intention OF the peo-
ule OF South Carolina that ny elec-
tton to the senate should cause ne &c
lose all interest and eorcern ab u:
home sfairs. I was citizen aud
taxpayer before ever held any cfhce
st ell anG I will be citizen and tx
payer after I shall cease to hold oftice.
Therefore, 1t is unnatural and inpro.
per trcm my point Of view for me to
take 20 interest anehaVe no thought
abe ut what is goirg cn in South
Carolina.
NO DICTATIoN OR BossIsM
have received great deal OF ad-
vicesyecentjy irt N the newsps pers OF
cur state to tie effect that I Should
attend to my 6usies in Washington
and leave others to discuss and oirect
affairs at home. Tks coE mon trend
of all OF this advice IS that l should
discuss national questions IL the c2n-
ing state campaign, be re e!sctso to
the senate, with OF without opposl.
tion, and not stir up strife. 1 en
warned and threatened stcU,d net
heed this counsel, but in spite CT it
sll I feel compelled to speak to the
people with my usual frapkness and
bluntness and let ths m cetccnine tie
whole question. I have never scrgha
to dictate to the zee pie; I have Only
told them the truth as see it, given
my. opinions for what they were
worth, and I an always willing to
sbide By their action whatever that
msy be. It is so in this instance. 1t
gives me no concern that my return
to the senate may be jecpsrc eco.
There are things mere to be dreaded
than the loss Of seat n the ssnate,
one is the loss Of my own SELF respect.
T have been trusted by the people O.
South Carolina and have been kooo1-
ed by them far beyond my deserts,
have been chosen as their leader aGd
been followed loysliy. NV, Il after
sixteen years I should, from selfish
motives, betrsy tkeir copfdencs aco
ALLOW ambition to draw ne aside from
the path OF duty, I would deserve sne
expect to receive their co1teDpt apo
punishment at the polis. I, the1e.
fore, scorn au suggestions Of coVa-o-
" nc-interfereEce IN sssSe eff.!rS-
The people know me too veil TO BE-
fooled by the assertion that II is my
desire to b.ss or die ste, for ny SOLE
rurpcse is to give th5m TIE benefit Of
my experience and knoElecge ana
,far such advice es il my judgment
will be ccrcuc!ve to the public wel-
fare. Then will abide ches-fui!y By
whatever corc,usicn they nav Eesch.
''Teach the psople and trust tee pso
pie" vas J. ffarson'S MOTTO; tesc>l the
ueorle ard trust the Ut ople is equal,
my motto and that is sll [ shall as
tempt to DO at this time.
RING RULE THREATENED
Sixteen years ago TIERS vss revo.
luticn in South Carolina which ga r.
the common pscp.e of tie state for
the first time in it's history that re-
coenition which was their Cue and
made them IN reality the masters CT
cur public & # sirs. The old ring was.
overthro1n; the primary system
which gave every mar, however poo.
ard humble, an equal vote with evary
other man, however ri3n and high
followed; TIE new state constitution
gave Us temporary immunity from
nsgro domination; the u,n2st free
dom Ct discussion in al political &C
tfyities was assured; and uader these
new impulses the ate has bound d
forward like race horse alo-g all
progressive Eces. There are 20.
wanting, however, Indications tha:
sinister influences are At work and
that a few men are seekigg TO obtain
practical control OF the state govern
rent and to dominate in our affairs
The corporations have net reeaineo
the sway which they once he'd, but
are gradually getting more and more
influence and direction in our politics
There are evidences Of more than
''incipient rotrenness" in the state
and Il the schemes OF certain men are
not thwsrted in the coming prina.V
election, it will be only short time
before another state ring" will have
full sway in our sffaiCs with its head
quarts In the State newspaper cfice il
Columbia.
There are several things IL colnsc-
ticn with our state governments tnat
T will discuss in the coming campaign.
but in this address I shall treat OF
only two OF the thir rs the people OF
the state should earnestly consider
row and take immediate acrion about.
One is the Settlement Of the Whis-
key question and the other is the con-
t1ol Ct the Democratic party Ct the
state by g. majority Of all OF the Dem.
ocrats rather than by sGsll fraction
CT the voters. Tie TWO ideas are in
terlocked and cannot be separated
and, therefore, I shall treat them TO-
gather.
BLESSINGS OF PROHIBITION.
At this time By elections held ur6er
the Brice act fifteen counties IN the
s ate are enjoying the blessings OF
prohibition. (TWo have always beer
ory). No Whiskey can he lawfully
sold within their borders. Bub any
citizen living In those cluat:es has