Another year has come and gone. People across South Carolina (and
the rest of the world, for that matter) are busy trying to keep their New
Year’s Resolutions and start off 2005 on the right foot. But in China, the New Year is just
beginning.
It’s time to welcome in the Year of the Rooster (and say good-bye to the Year of the Monkey). China operates on a Lunar Calendar,
which dates back to 2600 BC. In the
lunar system, the New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the
winter solstice.
In addition to the Lunar Calendar, the Chinese people also
recognize the Gregorian Calendar—which is used by the
rest of the world. It is the Chinese New
Year, however, that brings in the really big celebrations. The festivities began a week ago, although
the New Year isn’t officially until February 9th. During the traditional fifteen day
celebration, there are a number of dragon parades, firecrackers, feasts, and parties.
Of course, as China
begins its New Year, the people of South
Carolina are just settling into the year 2005. It’s an appropriate time to take a look back
at how South Carolina
faired over the last year, and what they can expect in the year ahead.
Fortunately, most South
Carolina residents managed to survive the tumultuous
election year. As a whole, the state lent its electoral votes to
Republican George W. Bush, who managed to win re-election. The support of
President Bush was consistent with a Conservative trend that has swept over South Carolina in recent
years. In 2002, the state elected Republican Mark Sanford to be its governor,
and on Election Day of 2004, Republican Jim Demint
was elected to replace long-time Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings.
But the year wasn’t all about politics. A few
hurricanes (mainly Hurricane Charley) wreaked havoc on South Carolina’s coast in 2004, but most
residents managed to escape serious, long-lasting damage. Despite the
hurricanes, tourism boomed along the coast, particularly in Charleston
and Myrtle Beach.
The state’s public education system continued to improve,
yet still seems to be trailing the rest of the nation. The good news is
that the education gap is closing so quickly that it’s hard to believe that
there were segregated schools in South
Carolina only a few decades ago.
That’s the quick rundown of where South Carolina is today. Let’s
also get a “historical perspective,” and take a look at South Carolina 100 years ago. What was
going on in the state on New Year’s Eve of 1905.
At that time in South
Carolina’s history, the Progressive Movement was just
starting to gain momentum, and there was a rising social consciousness
throughout the state. The do-gooders of society didn’t have any trouble
finding a cause—there were plenty to choose from. Employees in the
textile mills still had to work long hours in dangerous conditions, the civil
rights of African Americans were being infringed upon, women couldn’t vote, and
children under the age of ten were often sent to work to help support the
family. The list seemed to go on and on.
These problems weren’t isolated to South Carolina. They existed
throughout the nation, especially as the cut-throat industrial economy
continued to replace the more laid back agricultural one. Whenever there
were problems, of course, there were always people trying to solve them.
South Carolina Governor Duncan Heyward
was the state’s first powerful political leader to fit the Progressive
mold. He entered office in 1903, and soon after passed
the state’s first child labor law. It prohibited any child under the age
of ten from working in a mine, factory, or mill. While that restriction
might seem like common sense today, many textile mills attacked the state
government for overstepping its boundaries.
As the Progressive Movement gained momentum, Governor Martin
Ansel took the baton from Governor Heyward. He continued to fight the issues of the day,
aiming to extend the state’s control of the high schools, thus allowing the
curriculums and finances to be closely monitored. Governors Heyward and Ansel had another
thing in common. Like many Progressives, they were in favor of turning South Carolina into a
“dry” state—in other words, they wanted to do away with alcohol. Many
Progressives felt that alcohol did nothing but cause problems in America.
This belief led to the national prohibition movement (which you’ll read more
about in the next passage).
In South Carolina,
the biggest victories for the Progressives came a decade later, under Governor
Richard Manning. From 1915 to 1917, a number of hospitals received
upgrades, jails were reorganized, schools were improved, and workman’s
compensation was created. The government built libraries, poor houses,
and more efficient highways (automobiles were starting to replace horse
drawn carriages). Throughout the state, Progressives urged their
fellow citizens to uphold their civic duties and help the community.
It was hard to argue with the sentiment of Progressivism—but
it had its flaws. For starters, it cost a lot of money to pay for all of
the “good deeds.” Progressives were criticized throughout the country for
their heavy—and often careless—spending. Governor Manning created South Carolina’s Tax
Commission to help pay for his projects. The Tax Commission kept a close
eye on the income tax of the state’s citizens, thus preventing anyone from
cutting corners or avoiding the payment of their fair share.
The Progressive politicians prided themselves on
displaying the good side of government. They despised the political
“bosses,” who were common at the time. Bosses were powerful men who ran
the political parties, often from behind the scenes. They had a
reputation for being corrupt, ruthless, and self-absorbed.
In order to put an end to “bossism” in South Carolina, the Progressives wanted to
reduce politics down to the lowest level possible. Instead of having
cities and towns represented from a district level, they favored the system of
mayors or city managers. This kept the average citizens more aware of who
was making decisions for them.
