The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-07-14
GARY ORATOR Of THE DAY
At DED|CA7ON0F COURT HOUSE

if some masonry of the Wood a
given the watch-word to the dwell
lers-as if the lightnings had con-
veyed to them the signs OF distress
from their brethren, and the wings
of the wind mad borne them an
answer.
When the flag of the Confederacy
was furled, Father Ryan in one of
his beautiful poems, tells u.s., that
"out of the gloom future brightness
is born; as after the night comes
the sunrise of morn"
Tradition tells us, that out of the
gloom which we nave mentioned,
future brightness was born by rea.
son of the fact, that the men OF
York County, became the leaders
of a mysterious organization, which
caused many of them to leave the
State for the time being, in order
to avoid prosecution under the
Federal Statutes, but that this or
g~anization struck terror into the
political leaders among the negroes,
and saved the State, eventually,
from negro domination.
When we behold the industrial
progress of your County, and real
ize the grand work which Winthrop
College is doing throughput the
Ncountry, of which you and South
Carolina have just grounds to be
proud. it is evident that after the
night mas come the sunrise of morn.
Permit me to say that it would be
an injustice to speak of Winthrop
College without mentioning in
praise, the magnificent work of its
noble President, who has done so
much to keep up it's high standard
and usefulness. I need not say,
that I refer to President D. B. John"
son.
Allow me, in concluding my pre-
liminary remarks, to congratulate
the people of your County, on the
magnificent Temple which they have
erected to Justice, and to say that
The thanks of the people are due to
Hon. Thomas F. Mellow, who intro
duced the bill allowing the people
the opportunity of voting on the is
suing of bonds, for building the new
Court House; also to Senator w. H.
Stewart, and Representatives ]. H.
Sage and J. E. Beamguard and O. L..
Sanders. who assisted in the passage
of the bill. Nor can too much
praise be given to Hon. j. S. Brice,
Chairman of the Court House Com
mission, and to Messrs. w. S. Will
kerson of Hickory Grove, and John
G. Anderson, of Rock Hill, the. other
members of the Commission, for the
faithful and able manner in which
they have executed the trust conf
ded to them.
The subject we have selected is:
The Lawyer and the People.
There is no doubt, that we are
face to face with political condi-
tions and changes, which may have
a profound effect, upon the political
future of our country. We will
enumerate some of the causes that
are tending to bring about such a
result:
First. Delay in the administra-
ton of justice, and the resort to
t~echnicalities. by which justice is
frequently denied and defeated.
This can be remedied by the CO.
operation of the Bench and Bar, on
the one hand, and the Legislature
on the other, in giving to the pre-
siding Judges. full discretion as to all
matters. except the substantive law,
which do not affect the merits of
the case. 1t is only necessary to
adopt in the main, the English prac-
tice. in this respect. The Judges
should not be required to allow the
time of the Court to be consumed,
in the argument of technical objec-
tions. nor should appeals be allowed
from mis- rulings in this respect.
Second. The failure of the le-
gal profession to take a more active
part, in solving the great questions
that affect every nerson throughout
our country. 1--WE will hereinafter
DISCUSS this question more fully,)
Third. The fact that the inter-
osts exert an influence not only in
Congress, but in every State Legis-
lature. which is frequently disas-
trous to the rights Of the people.
Tine people feel that the interests
exert an undue influence. esneciallv
in the appointment of Federal
Judges.
Fourth. The fact that. to a large
evtent. governmental affairs ara adj
ministered by the bosses of political
machines. that do not reflect the
wishes of the people.
In sparsely nonulated neighbor-
Lo,Is. +ho reiohhors krnrp narL
other, and it was easy to make actual
selection of the men they desired to
elect to Office.
Fverv candidate was wall Known
to the voters. and when elected. was
well aware of the wishes and opin-
ions Of his constituency. Com
munities whose elements are homo
rnneous and ruhosa interests are sim
nile, find n difficulty in t%ransacting
the affairs of government, in an in
formal and simple manner.
But those simple davs have passed
"way. The people Of the commune
ties. from n end of the country to
the other. are no longer homogene-
Gus: their interests are varied and