The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-08-19

| through tho Republican organization, mt til
October election, to reform abuses, than will
be accomplished by tho reform partya Sup
pose 100 Of the most intelligent white citizen
in each County, had gone in good faith ant
with frank sincerity into tho Republican or
ganization, con it he doubted that their intelli
| {encc aud moral strength would have securct
| honest nominees7 If membe,s in tho last Leg
lsiatures wero corrupt, would not such on influ
ence have defeated their r, denomination Who
can doubt itl This would havo been effectiv.
| and practical refoim, and it would have gone
a great way to break down that distrust OF the
coiored Republican felt towards tho native
white. distrust which was at first even
natural, and which was greatly increased in
lSGS-thc first election in which the whites
participated, after recons,ruction-when the
blacks were attempted to be persuaded to vote
Tor party whose avowed principles looked to
their disfranchisement.
i it strange that tho colored Republican
should be cautious, and adhere with pcrtinaci.
ty to his paityf Can we justly hope to exer.
else that political influence over him which we
now constantly do in all the other relations and
duties Of life, until lac is convinced that we IN.
tend in good faith to protcc, him equally with
me whites not only in bis personal property,
but i'll oil his civil and political riclts3
If the whites Of the State heretofore adhcr.
ing to the Democratic party have renounccd it's
principles nnd consented to vote for n Ecpub
icnn for Governor, and for Republican plnt.
form, why should they allow mere prejudice of
n party or name to keep them aloof IRON an
organization in which, il they enter, they can
justly claim and enjoy the confidence Of til.
col"rcd man anl effect the reforms needed, and
elevate iuto the scrvic" Of ihe State men Of tho
highest intelligence aud virtue.
The nominee Of tho Republican party for
Lieutenant Governor is n colorcI man. Docs
not their number of voters cntite That race to
recognition i'll the official positions of the STATE,
when they pl resent man qualified TO fill the
position he seeksf Is such nomination SO OBJ
noHious, as that the ticket shoul, b.. rejected :
Was not the name of coloIc3 man prcscu. ed
the Reform Convention for Lieutenant Gov
eruor; and did not leading white dclcratcs of
that convention urge the nomination of a col
orel mani And why was q colorci man not
noninatcdf The p, Oceedirgs Of tie conyen-
ton show that it was because the name was
Withdrawn by coiored man. My conclusion.
therefore, 10, that the Intelligence Of the white
race in The state can never be made of anv
avail III influencing the mar aGement of its gov
ernmcmtal Affairs, until it secures th. conf
dence, politically. of the colored race. TLn,
the colorcl race Id devoted to the Republican
party una!terably, and will continue so IA
long ne the organization exists, and that such
devotion ie the natural aud necessary rerult of
many kindnesses tc them. That the old issues
between the Democratic and Republican par
ties are settled or superceded; bank, tariff in
ierhal improvements, DC, are 10 longer liyin,,
is sues, and that atlilation with the Republican
party on existing Issues involves no sacrifice Of
principles
That if this great question was doubtful he
fore, the platform and nominees of tho late
Reform Convention removes every obstncIe in
the way of those who were Delegates aud now
support jts action in South Carolina.
That having practically adopted its princi
pies, wisdom, admonishes, Especially the viii.
race, TO enter and affiliate with the Republican
party, acquire influence with its members. and
through them correct abuses and perfect re.
forms. That the antagonistic position Of the
reform party. not only to the alleged corrun
tons aud abuses of the Republicans, Tut to tie
exis ence Of the party itself, not only preclu lrs
all hope Of enlisting its members under their
banner, but forces them in their Campaign To-
lock more to selfpreservation than to any cor.
rupton or mismanagcmont OF its 1nemLers
and to that extent is a serious injury to the
State.
That notwithstanding the fact that Just cause
Of complaint may exist against the Republican
party for ems Of omission and commission. tbcv
have done much to ameliorate the condition Of
the .ehi:~ people of the State; amelioralion,
which the Legislature Of ihe State, in 1865
and 1866, refused to grant. That party has
secured a hon estcad to the head of every fam
State would have been housclcss and homeless,
ia ked and starved, but for the beneficient pro.
visions of lhe homestead enactment. Every
voter thus protect should remember. wb.n
he comea to cast his vote, who furnishes sh.l-
Ter, in sun chine and Storm over the heads of
lis wife and children. DESPITE the stale claims
Of hear:lcss creditors. That this snme party
has protected oil dcbt,rs in their Constitution
from paying debts contracted for slave proper
CJ.
That this same party has been equal to the
human progress of the age in aLoIishiuy i'm,
piisonment for debt. That this same 6artv
may hnve been its extravaganza or
lmrrovidcnce, has raised the market value Of
the bonds Of the State from twenty Elk cents in
January, 1868, to about ninety ceuts at the
present time.
H good and truo men will consent to acecp.
the Reconstruction Acts Of Congress- nnd the
legislation. Federal and State necessarily grow
ing out OF the!n-if they will accept the new
conditions surrounding us-if tl,ey will affiliate
with the Republican organization, especially
in this State, We will profit largely by what
they have done correctly, and much cun be ac-
comPiisled to correct abuse and malfcusnnce
that may have grown up in the anomalous
state OF atiairs surrounding us. r
believing no good res lit can flow from the
Reform movement, shall vote for the nomi-
nees Of t'.e Republican party.
Very Respectfully,
JAMES L ORR