The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-04-21
The Anti.Radica1 Programme Our View
of the Situation.

discharged, and it now devolved upon the vo-
tiers of the State to pronounce judgement as to
the policy suggested of holding State Conven-
zion to nominate general ticket, in opposition
to the Radical party. We expressed dissent as
to the time suggested, and even limited that it
might be unwise to make any nomination for
State officers. But we were disposed to treat
the action of the Press Conference with every
courtesy, and allow the resolutions to go un-
trammeled before our readers We were will
ling to defer the expression of our views as to
the policy suggested until a more convenient
season, and in case the mevementwas approved
by those around US to quietly acquiesce i'll their
better Judgment The time has arrived, how
| ever, when silence might be miseonstrued, and
| we desire to record our earnest convictions.
The resolutions adopted by the Press Confer
ence recognized universal suffrage, and also the
right to hold Office irrespective of color or pre-
vious condition, subject alone to personal quail
ifcation and fitness As a recognition of in
controyertible facts, we applauded this declara-
tion of the Conference, as it would be worse
than idle for any set of men to attempt dis
turbance of these rights in South Carolina.
The class of persons lately invested with these
rights hold.the reins of power to prevent any
diminution Of their privileges, and it is not
likely that they would vote with a party failing
to sustain them in their newly acquired power.
Indeed, past experience admonishes us that the
alienation existing between the two races has
been caused by this identical feature of the
Democratic platform. 1t was on this rock that
the white and colored voters split. Now, if this
recognition of legal rights, solemnly made by
an anti Radical Conference, meant anything at
all, it was intended to assure the colored peo-
pfe of this State that henceforth there was to
be no agitation of issues definitely settled, and
that the white voters rendered them the olive
branch of peace, and desired to form an alli-
ance politically for the redemption and refor-
nation of the State Government. 1t was q
palpable recognition of another fact, that only
through the assistance Of the colored people
could the work of reform be carried success
fully.
This brings us to enquire whether or not
these declarations have effected the purpose in
tended. So far as our information extends, the
action of the Press Conference has fallen un-
needed upon the ears of the colored people.
In no single instance, where the opportunity
has offered, do we hear OF political affiliation
between the two races. AS in times past, the
lines are distinctly drawn, and we do not be-
lieye that the meshes of the Radical party are
broken by this onslaught. The prospect of
vigorous, united and organized opposition tends
to strengthen the efforts of their leaders in ev-
ery section of the State, and already the bugle
notes of the Union League summoning its
cohorts and triumphantly rehearsing the bene-
fits and advantages of the Radical party, cs-
pecially to the colored people, are heard in ev-
cry quarter. We are convinced that deter
mined opposition, represented by a State ticket,
will knit more closely the ties by which they
are bound to each other in their secret meet
ings. and that the colored vote will be almost
solid unit in favor of the Radical nominees.
Entertaining such belief, We cannot advise
that State ticket be placed in the field, only
to meet with defeat and disaster, which would
prolong the time of our deliverance from op-
presive taxation and merciless cliques intent on
extravagant plumber.
Having stated the effect which, in our opin-
ion, the declarations of the Press Conference
had upon the colored voter, We will now turn
to the white people. Any calculations based
upon the unanimity of the white race will be
futile. Hundreds in this portion of the State
are opposed to organized parties of any creed
and they will either vote Independently of
nominating conventions or stay away from the
polls. Many adopted this latter course in 1868,
and here in Anderson with white majority of
nearly two to one the Democratic ticket never
had more than five or six hundred majority,
although the Radical ticket generally received
about an equal number with the registered COL
ored vote. But we have taken some pains to
ascertain the sentiment of our own race con-
corning the feasibility of the proposed State
Convention. Many of those approached by us
are extremely Indifferent ON the subject, but
such as entertain decided convictions are op-
posed to making any attempt in this direction,
and believe that greater results can be accom-
plished by efforts to place honest and capable
men in the Legislature from every county.
And this brings us to remark that the only
hope of advancement towards good, wholesome
laws, and faithful administration of the gov
ernment, now before US, is that proposed by
one of our cotemporaries few weeks ago. We
mean to wage guerilla warfare all over the
State-not in a Winchester rife sense, be it
understood-but that each county attends to its
own affairs; and that the honest citizen, with
ont distinction of race, be urged to place his
neighbor into position for the public good, and
/ II