Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-11-05

Carolina extended this into politics
to greater extent than the others,
and the contest here has been longer
and more bitter.
Under the system of representa-
lion for slaves the low country abso-
lutely controlled the machinery of
government. In 1890 Charleston
had two Senators instead of
one and double the representation
to which she was entitled in the
lower House. Is 1t wonder that
there was kick in the up-country,
whose white population redeemed the
State in 1876?
The large slave-owners in ante
bellum days were the rulers and Of
fice-holders, and the masses of the
people were regarded as unfit to gov
ern. There were two classes Of white
people as distinct as the Patrician
and Plebian orders of Rome. 1t was
a generous, high-minded oligarchy.
1t gave the world brave men and vir-
tuOus women. In this day Of greed
an6 graft it stands out sweet and
clean, a civilization of noble ideals.
Is statesmen were men OF high
character and intellectual force. 1t
produced soldiers the like Of which
the world has never seen, but for all
that it must be admitted that politi-
cally, it was an intollerant, uncom-
promising tyranny. independence of
thought and freedom of action were
only permitted within the bounds set
by the leaders. The poor whites"
as they were termed, were not con-
sidered, and the middle class sue
cumbed, Overawed by these naughty
slave-owing barons.
"Feudalism amid t9th century civ
iliZation could not stand.
1T was we'll said, South Carolina
sneezed every time Mr. Calhoun took
snuff
Qualification and the war were
the inevitable results of a condition
where only one class in society had
any power in shaping governmental
policies.
Our constitution is designed to
give each class and each individual
his proportionate. power in govern
ment. Disaster followed them, and
it will follow any movement which
centres all power in any particular
class. This cannot be made a rich
mans government nor poor mans
government. 1t must give every man
the same rights and protect him in it,
A New Order of Things.
The abolition of slavery was the
destruction of this system. The rich
and powerful of the old became the
poor and weak of the new. The
shackles of csate were removed and
the artificial distinction of class alb
rogated. The plain farmer (not the
planter), the mechanic and laborer
claimed their given rights and boldly
and defiantly entered the political
arena.
This brought about an irrepreSsi-
bic conflict between the reconstruct
ed orders of society. For want of
ter the leader, on one side or the
other-Tillmanite and Haskellite,
Bleaseite and Jonesite. This must
be true. What were the so-called is
sues in 1890? An agricultural col
lege. What al absurdity. Why
didn't the contest end with Clemson
College? That was merely the bat
tie cry for the moment, the flag
around which we rallied. | we'll re-
member, when little more than a boy,
in my campaign for the Legislature,
the questions asked from the audi
ence, Air you in favor of the Glenn
son bequest? Yes, | is in favor of
the Clemson bequest.' Air you in
favor of b. r. Tillman?' Yes, ! is in
favor of B. r. Tillman.' Pass, on
brother, you'll do then a great
shout, 'Hurrah for Tillman, Nei-
ther side cared a cent about the
Clemson beQuest,' bur way down un-
derneath there is something in the
souls of men that makes them ready
to die if need be. Fifty per cent
didn't know what the Clemson be-
quest was; it took the Supreme
Court to find out.
'The people were kept together
during reconstruction by the instinct
Of race preservation. After 1876 the
old-time leaders resumed their sway
policy jus. as much as changed con-