The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-24

Tile Sumter Watchma,s has 6y
far the largest circulation (esa,e-
cialy IN tie surrou,aHing count,y)
Of ahy paper published In Sumter,
and acas established IL, 1850. b.
Our long tried aud respected oontem.
poraries Of the press in South Carolina,
who, with remarkable unanimity, are
engaged in urging upon the people the
cause of Reform, have animatvertcd
upon the very peculiar course Of the
Sumter Ne,cs, and may have regarded
the Watchm,an as inexcusably silent in
Withholding SO long its editorial aui
madversions in the same direction. But
we have been silent only from courte.
sy and charity, which sense ofpublic
duty will no longer allow. And it is
only as public matter, affecting the
best interests Of the country, that we
notice it at oil.
The attention of tho Sumter Nc,os
has been for some time, and through
various channels, called to tho matter,
and yet it has cvaded the issue, and
only replied to its various qucrists and
complainants, by denial and abuse. The
charge reiterated against it, and made
by tho most respectable journals and
gentlemen in the State, is grave one
In few words, it is substantially charged
with sailing under false colors, and ga
Reader" respectfully requested in our
columns an explanation of its singular
course, but obtained no answer. If it is
really SO ultra Democratic, why has it
refused distinctly to announce its oppo-
sition to negro suffrage? Why has it
failed to announce its opposition to the
Scott Moses Ring and the Radical horde
generally? Why has it no denunciation
for the robbers, while it vents scurrilous
abuse upon the advocates of Reform? ? 1t
stands aloof from all the respectable
papers Of the State, and intcrchangcs
articles and compliments with the Radi.
cal paper. 1t does nothing against Radi-
calism. It does all it can to retard
the Reform movement While tho
papers all over tho State arc giving
their readers accounts Of the enthusias.
tic Reform meetings and the great work
now going on, the Ncws publishes
nothing of it all, except paragraph in
which it makes fling at the cause, aud
expresses the "fcar" (Which sounds
much like tho "hopc") that "honest
and simple minded Democrats will vote
for Scott in preference to Carpenter"
"Simplc minded Democrats" alone could
be blinded by all this, aud we feel it our
duty to say SO. From mountain to sea,
the people cry out against Scott and his
crc,o. The Sumter Ne,cs cries out
against Reform. a people groaning
under hideous wrongs, combine in n
struggle for deliverance. The Sumter
Ncrs denounces the effort and desperate.
ly strives to create diversion in favor
of the enemy. fit openly proclaimed
Scott aud his party, its voice would be
harmless. But ii flies the Democratic
JMng, and opposes, ameler Mis guisc, chat
the National Democracy alciscs, and
mhat the entire Democratic press atlviscs,
to wit Union Reform. Judge Of q man
by the company he keeps. The Sumter
Mc'cs is without company in the real
National or State Democracy; but it
has an intimate associate Gf tho COL
umns Of the two papers are comparcd)
in the Radical Scott Moses Organ,
styled the Charleston RY~LHcan, which
can scarcely be considered, in critical
time like this, n safe or congcnial compan.
ion for strait-laccd Democrat, or true
well. wishcr of the State.
We publish in another column an
editorial from tho amden Journal,
which speaks for itself.
We say what We do with no unkind.
ness. The necessity is upon us as
faithful public journalist. We regret
the necessity but in few weeks moro
our chains will be rivctcd, unless the
people wake up to the work. Against
Whatever tends to help those who are
running tho country while cnriching
themselves, we feel it our duty to warn
the people. II is now or never. After
the election is over, it will be too late.
A HUGE JOKE.