The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-10-12
"DIVIDING TIME"
From the Chicago Tribune

The MISSISSIPPI plan" mas been trans.
planted to South Carolina under the name Of
dividing time" is euphemism employed
to denote the methods whereby the Demo.
Gratis of South Carolina propose to prevent
the spread or expression of Republican sem
timents. A sample case is reported from
Sumter. Correspondence Of the Charleston
Netos and Courier democratic 0rgan) re.
veals the fact that the " Radicals" had dared
to appoint a "secret" meeting; it has al
ready gone so far that the blacks are afraid
to hold any public meetings. But the
"secreto leaked out, and COL" Earle and
one +" Col" Dargan were promptly on hand
with 100 armed white men to terr0rize some
80 black Republicans who had assembled
right to express their political convictions as
is enjoyed by white Democrats. The Con.
federate Colonies announced that they had
come {" for the purpose of dividing time and
replying to the speakers" A colored man,
named Lee, q lawyer of considerable ability,
was inclined to the opinion that the meeting
was Republican meeting, and should be let
informed by the bulldozers that they did not
intend to allow him to "sow the seeds of
discord among the negroes" and that the
meeting wouldbe dispersed, and the negroes
carried off bodily in ease they did not sub
init. As Mr.. Lee still protested, he was
seized by "Col." Earle, and carried off by
the crowd. The report then says that the
meeting became disorganized," which is
not very strange, when there were three
white men ready to deal with every negro
as Lee had been dealt with. The "division
of time" resulted, as had been intended, in
dispersement by violence. Lee subse-
quently escaped with his life; that was evil
IDENTIFY mistake, but, nevertheless, the cor
respondent of the NeUs and Courier adds
with peculiar pride: "Sumter is the Game.
cock county STILL"
This account, it must be kept in mind, is
from . prominent Democratic newspaper,
time" therein described Is the approved
Democratic policy. Another account writ
ten by an eyewitness of the affair to the
Cincinnati Commercial fully confirms the
outrage, and adds what the Democratic
newspaper suppressed, viz: That "Col."
armed to the teeth, and surrounded the
stand with revolvers In hand. The same
writer says that, "outside of few counties
on the sea.cOast, there il not . place in
South Carolina where a Republican dare
make public speech" The statement will
be readily believed in view of the proceed.
ings near Sumter. There is only one COM
ment that seems to be called for in connection
with this condition Of things in South Caro-
lima. 1t is not necessary to dwell upon the
infamous outrage Of this and every other
similar proceeding. The people who read
the Tribune will recognize that for them.
selves. The chief point of interest is that
this pursuit of the bulldozing policy is toll.
Grated under the Administration of Wade
Hampton, whose promises Of protection to
the negroes in their political rights have been
Of the most sacred character, and whose as.
sociates pledged themselves that the consti-
tutional amendments should not be violated
either in letter or in spirit. How will the
people of the North regard the professions
Of " Southern honor" which are constantly
obtruded upon them If such solemn pledges
may be violated with the indifference, il not
the positive sanction, of such a man as
Wade Hampton? What hope is there for
the recognition of the black mans political
rights in the South, when the very Demo-
Gratis who have been regarded as conserva-
lively inclined tolerate open intimidation
and violence that is ccwardly by reason of
the advantages taken by the white "red
shirts" in numbers and arms. Finally, will
not this continued bulldozing sooner or later
compel . reopening Of the question-how
the nation shall enforce the constitutional
amendments fixing the political status of
the blacks?