The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-09-06
ARE WE BETTER UNDER THE
NEW THAN THE OLD REGIME?


The reelection of Cole Blease as
governor OF South Carolina brings up
the question whether or not the coun-
try is better off under the new sys-
TEN of political righteousness, which
was begun in Kansas and found
ready acceptance in the Carolinas,
now nearly a quarter OF century
ago, than we We're under the system
that prevailed prior to and immedi
ately after the civil war?
We refer to that particular brand
of political righteousness that put
men like Prefer, and Simpson. and
Butler, and Tillman, in office, and re-
tired such statesmen as Hampton OF
South Carolina, Vance and Ransom OF
North Carolina, Colquitt of Georgia,
and made the election of such men as
ChipIey and Blount of Florida an i'm
possibility.
We refer especially to the states
named but the same political drift
has found expression and has been
rife in almost all the states
1t has exalted to Office such men as
Davis Of Arkansas. and Hepburn OF
Dakota, and has subjected 10 derision
such men as Judge Alton B. Parker
and Henry Waterson, the venerable.
very able and conscientious editor OF
the Louisville Courier-Journal and
brought to the front an untold army
Of political grafters and lillipuJians.
Since revolutionary days until Till
manism became Infectious in South
Carolina, did anyone ever hear OF
men elevated to office in that proud
commonwealth pocke-ing millions out
OF official opportunities or abusing
the privilege Of office?
We cannot call to memory a single
instance.
The people Of Georgia had honored
Walter Colquitt to a seat in the sen
ate at the same time it was paying
tribute to Alexander Stephens and
BENJAMIN H. Hill. Before he was sent
to the senate he had been exalted 70
high military rank, yet holding hign
military and civil offices during al
most the whole period Of his matur
ity, with the exception Of small life
insurance policy. all the patrimony ne
left his family at the time OF his
death was an humble home valued
at three thousand dollars.
Do we hear of those things con
corning men in office in these times
Colquitt was not alone in this re-
spect. Alexander Stephens died poor
Search the record from Alpha to
Omega of the millionaires holding OF
flee during that period OF our exist
ence and one could count them on the
thumb OF one hand How was it with
Morgan and Pettus of Alabama? Eus
It's and George of Louisiana? Lamar
of Mississippi? Daniel of Virginia
and Chevalier Bayard of Maryland?
Dozens of others could be as we'll
named.
The same rule prevailed, too, in the
more youthful days of the republic
when men like John c. Calhoun, Dan
lei Webster, Henry Clay and Thomas
H. Benton were IT'S lofty pillars.
All of these distinguished states
men were poor men, and the vicious
and degrading name of graft" was an
uncoined word in our political liter
ature
have been elevated TO the saddle,
and given the loose reins of govern.
ment, and men of the stamp of the
Hamptons, the Lamars and the Bay,
ards were relegated to the shades OF
private life?
Since the great stir in our political
waters, now more than two decades
ago, have our political morals been
improved? Have purer men been
elected to office? Are South Carolina
and Kansas in a healthier political
condition now than then?
Has the process Of stirring the pc
litical waters purified or muddied
them?
Let history make answer
OUR cAPlTALlsTlc CLASS