The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-08
Col. McKissick's Speech
:. Presenting Testimonial t"
Gov. Manning From Staff.

personal staff a few evenings ago Col.
! Rion McKissick, Of Greenvile, in be-
half of the staff, presented Gov. Man
ming with a large and handsome sill
Yer platter, on which was engraved:
| presented to Governor Richard l.
Manning by his staff as a token Of
their esteem and affection, 19l3-1919.'
The following is the text of Col.
McKissick's presentation speech:
Governor Manning: Now that you
are about TO cast ASIDE the arduous
responsibilities Of office, the members
of your staff are met here to bear tes-
timony to the affection they feel for
you as a friend, the admiration they
have for you as a man and the appre-
citation they have Of you as a public
servant.
For yours has been no ordinary,
administration, no placid, perfunctory,
mediocre service The handsome
manner in which you have discharg-
ed the duties of your Office makes
secure your distinctive place in the
history of South Carolina. Whatever
criticism has been aimed at you, and
most of that mas been groundless,
those who know you as we know you
are conscious of the truth that in your
public acts you have had a sole and
sincere eye and a warm devoted heart
directed and dedicated to what IN
your best judgment you believed to be
the true welfare Of the State. IN
of VII ioio ToH
surely there was never Governor
who was less politician-you have
played the man. Probably more pro-
gressive principles and enlightened
policies have taken the form Of law
in your administration than in any
other in a quarter Of a century. Nd
other Governor has championed and
affixed his signature to more statutes
intended to protect the rights and en-
large the welfare Of the plain 'orking
man. It was while you we : the
hlem and it was with your whole
hearted cooperation that the State,
coming into line with her more 2d-
vanced sister States, formulated. and
out into operation a program of sys-
tematic and humane care for the
poor, the FAX, the helpless, the
friendless, the forgotten, the feeble
minded and the insane. Under your
administration the State Hospital
for the insane has been Transformed
into a place of light and hope and
salvation. So persistent and effective
have been your efforts to serve COM
mon humaity in our own State that
it is no overstatement to say that u1l-
der you a permanent policy Of social
Justice has been developed in South
Carolina. No cause that has had tor
is goal the common good has appeal
ed to you in vain. The majesty OF
the law has never been more stout'y
restored, defended ard maintained
than by you. ard this alone would en-
title you to the enduring gratitude 81
reestablished SIS the cornerstone OF
our form Of government and the fear
of God and the Criminal Code OF
South Carolina has been driven in.o
the hearts CT those VINO under a re-
gime Of lax law-enforcement would
have wrought incalculable evil. Under
your guidance South Carolina has ac-
conaplished sound and durable pro-
gress. Yours Will rank among the
constructive administrations Of the
State
There is another phase of your
career as Chief Executive which es-
pecial!y stirs our pride. You have
been war Governor of South Carolina
in the greatest war IN the WORLDS
memory and you have been one OF tee.
few notable war Governors in the
nation in the past crisis. no state
in the Union more Loyalty supported
the common cause than the old Pal
metto State No Governor was more
prompt, vigorous and effective in en-
argizing and mobilizing his State for
war than you and none more steaG-
tasty upheld in all was and at all
times the national administration. IT
vas largely due to your wisdom and
from politics in choosing
the officers to administer the select;ve
draft that the operation Of that nove'
and radical system was generally rec
ognized as just and equal and as such
acouiesced in by the people of the
State. In every enterprise to aid IT
winning the war you were first to re-
spond and first to lead the people to
answer in full measure the nations
call. South Carolina with its wer
Governor, and with the patriotic arc
gracious first lady Of the State, tEe
pride you must feel in your unique
distinction in sending six stalwart.
splendid sons into the nations service
o glory which few in the world can
equal The shaft is somewhere IL
the stone that will uphold to all gen
erations to come the roll Of those
heroic South Carolinians who won
ageless fame in giving their lives t2at
human liberty should not perish froi.q
the earth. and on that eternal roster
Of those whom valor lifts forever
glorified on high there will be ne
name there more glorious than that
of the gallant Manning who on the
field of honor made the sublime, 5u-
Dreme sacrifice.
$50. Governor, you will carry with
you as you return tc private lie. the
satisfaction that comes from duty