The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-01-27
LIEUT.. GOVERNOR AT. BETHEA
His Inaugural Address Delivered Inn
rnediateIy Following the Address
Of Governor Manning. 49,,

: b
Of Governor Manning. -,
C!orumbia. Jackson Bethea
was inaugurated lieutenant.goYernor
of South Carolina. ! He delivered his
inaugural address Immediately follow
ing the address Of Gov. Manning, and
Is lis follows: ...l. ~ :.
Standing here in this historic cham
Der to assume for the first time the
duties of the Office Of lieuteant COVER
nor, i am filled with mingled feelings
Of joy and responsibility. Proud as /
am Of the generous condolences Of the
people OF South Carolina which ele-
Yates me to this place of honor, / can
not escape, If would, the obligations
of the sacred trust, This day to me,
therefore, is a day of dedication and
not of triumph. It marks the begin
ming Of political careers for some; It
should signify for all the Inauguration
OF new standards, new purposes and
new ideals in the public service. g s.
It's not for me to recommend to
this honorable body what course to
pursue or what laws to pass. That is
the duty, of a coordinate branch Of
the government, and I shall neither
now nor hereafter consciously en-
croach upon the rights OF others or at
tempt to arrogate to myself powers
which do, not by right belong to the
office / I.hold. With singular single
ness ,lof purpose / shall strive to, as
sist and direct the machinery of this
body so as to further the work which
You undertake to accomplish for the
welfare OF the sovereign people.
But you will permit me to venture
to suggest a keynote for the session
Of The Senate of 1915, "a brief. pro-
gram Of progressive and constructive
measures, concentration of effort to.
make them effective and q speedy adj
journment would, in my Judgment,
make this a memorable session.
: Our people are confronted at this
time with economic and industrial
conditions hitherto unknown. The ter
rible European war and the fulflllment
of the prophecy of Isaiah, "Ye shall
buy without money" have brought
distress and suffering to our State
and country. Relief cannot be had
in Legislation But ip the very per-
formance Of the task at hand we can
render highly patriotic service. Re-
fecting the will OF the people we can
set worthy example In conserving
time and money, in thrift, In industry,
In courage and In optimism In what
we attempt to do. Forgetting the adj
versities Of the past and present, ex-
cept as they serve o school US for fu-
ture emergencies or for the solution
of perI,lexing problems, and remem.
bering only our duty to- the State, let
us press forward to perform that duty
al God gives us the power and wis
dom to- see 1t. Let us address our.
selves with devotion, energy and zeal
to the work before us so that we may
merit the well-done of the people and
enjoy the satisfaction Of an appriying
conscience. a4 ~ Z &, { !
The people OF South Carolina are
tired tn turmoil and strife, Of political
pickering and discomfort OF disorgani.-
zation and disruption. They want
peace and harmony and good win en-
tllroned. They demand the restoration
O. decemcy, dignity and truth to, their
r.tghtful places of prestige and power.
A craftsmanship distinguished for
brtlliar.cy such ias is represented In
her, Gahouns, Haynes and Prestons
may not be, possible, perhaps is not
needed In South Carolina to-day. But
the commonwealth needs and the
people crave a type of service which
lii wisdom, in conviction, In honest
and patriotic purpose finds its high
est expression and true exemphhca-
tton and glory in Woodrow Wilson,
the Southern born, South Carolina
trained, democratic President of these
United States. :.
Senatorial courtesy" is considered
ty some beautiful and time-honored
custom of the South Carolina Senate.
When not abused 1t is privilege en-
tirely right and proper. But when
too freshly granted or used for a self
tsh purpose, 1t Is q practice fraught
with great danger to the State. Let
u!s not forget that we are here by
the favor of the, people whose SER
wants we are, and that LEGAL and per-
sonal interests must be made to sub
serve the commonweal. s..
VIII the Senate of the State OF
South Carolina measure up to this
high standard? VIII it answer the
challenge to the task of redemption
and restoration as voiced by the peo-
rle at the ballot box? Will It stamp
it's achievements with wisdom and
ylrtue2 There can be but one answer
for those who understand and appre-
eiate the worth and high purpose OF
it's members, and that answer is: It
will try and 1t will succeed. r. Z.
The peerless Robert E. Lee, the
memory of whose birth is cherished In
every home and inspires every hearth
In the South this day, once said that
duty is the sublimest word in the Eng
lislh language The spirit of the chief
tain comes back today and down the
wears we hear with fresh meaning his
words: II have led the young men OF
r.Ll hokt1o. bouar coon rnonv