The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-17
T!ME nv. .ATC Gilman
WE DN ESDAY, AUGUST N
Tile Sumter Wdtchmaas has by
far the largest circulation .>(espe-
cial7y IN, tile ssrrou'ading opuns,y)
Of any paper published az Sumter,
and scas established IN 1850.
ADVICE OF THE NORrIaEBN DE.
kOCllACY. y
4. n aIlsERTs / ; s. ,:.zs-i- --EOIIOa

We beg our friends who may still be
iu doubt (if in fact there be any such)
as to the course of the South in refer.
snoe to the negro question, to turn to our
outside page, and give careful reading
to the article from the New York World,
the most influential Democratic paper Of
the North.
1t is plain that no further issue can
or will be made upon tho question of
negro suffrage. We are leaving that
question behind just as rapidly as the
progress Of time marks tho occurrences
of the past.
And the South is moved by every point
ofpolicy, interest and principle, to nun.
ber it with the things of the past at the
earliest possible moment. It's agitation
affords the only element Of cohesion
left to the Radical party. That ques-
tion at rest, and disintegration follows
just as surely as that fame of FIRE dies
down when there is no longer fuel upon
which it may iced.
The great question Of the negro, from
its incipiency, has been tho principle
upon which tho North has gained poll
tical power and ascendency over the
South. 1t has been the breeze that has
filled every Abolition and Radical sail,
from it's first agitation down to the pre-
sent moment. 1t has filed every Office
which has been occupied by that party,
from the President down to tho consta-
BILE. 1t was the rallying point of the
war, aud was used powerfully and ef-
fectually to excite and inHame tho mas
ses OF tho North, aud bring support to
the government, that tho South might
bo conquered and humiliated. 1t gave
birth to the dominant party, and has
been its sole food and drink, upon which
it grow and strengthened, until it be-
came mighty giant, seizing the gov
ernnent in oil it's CO. ordinate depart
ments, tearing the constitution to tat
ters, aud establishing a tyranny aud
oppression to which the history of civil
lization affords no parallel. 1t has been
and now is, the head and foot, the body,
the life, breath, and motive power
of the usurping party. 1t has given
nerve and power to every blow that has
descended upon us. TO sum it up, it
has been tho one great fruitful source
Of all our evils.
We have continued to fight it, and
hence to give it continued and Increased
strength and existence. And the Radi
cal party aud power never will and never
can die, so long rs We keep up tho agi-
tation Of the negro question. But
once put at rest, its death is the ineyi-
table consequence.
The Northern Democracy see this,
have taken ground accordingly, and now
appeal to'us to strengthen its hands, by
Withdrawal Of all opposition to negro
suffrage and quiet ac1uiescnce in the
results Ofthe war. If VIC are wisc-if
we desire to regain our strength and in
6ucnce-if wo desire to disarm our enc
mics and break up the band of robbers
we have allowed to come in and despoil
us of our goods-if VIC wish to have
voice in the control aud direction Of our
own State affairs-it VIC xould have
peace and harmony, good will and pros
perity-the two races working together
for the common good, this is our course,
and our only course.
Let US put away our prejudlccs, and
with truth, Justice, honesty aud equal
rights inscribed upon our banners, go to
work for the redemption of the coun-
try.