The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-11-16
Why Smalls was Defeated.

BEAUFORT, November 6.-I have been
curious to ascertain and to estimate
some of the principal causes that have
contributed to Snall's defeat. and find
no difficultyn reconciling it with the
steady loss Of popularity and influence
he has been experiencing for some time
past. 1t is instructive as showing what.
An habitation giddy and insure
Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart
There was time when the re was
none found rash enough to oppose
Small's even for nomination in his own
party; now there are any number of his
FORMER adherents that not only criticise
his acts, pronounce his faults, but pre-
sumo even to dispute title to office with
him, to interrupt him rudely on the
stump, and even openly to condemn
him when occasion requires 1t is is
great change, attributable to the dis
semination of educational advantages
among his race under Democratic rule.
Foremost among the causes that in
this campaign at least haYe injuriously
affected him must not be omitted the
light colored distinction that, through
his sanction, if not his dictation, was
enforced in the late distribution Of office
in the county in the last Republican
Nominating Convention. The effect Of
this is very clearly indicated by tho di-
minished number Of the colored voters
who presented themselves at the polls
at this election, in comparison with the
triple or quadcuplc numbers in formers
campaigns. Especially offensive must
have been the exclusion Of black candi-
dates ON the county ticket to the voters
of St. Helena Island, where the votes as
compared with previous elections scarce
ly reached half its usual namber, caused
no doub by tho disaffecHon Of Repre-
sentative Sheppard and his follow
ers, who were ostracised in the Nomina-
ting Convention on account of their
dark color, a light-colored Beaufort man
being put in; his place. The same feel
ing no doubt pref udiced the sinhon-pure:
black voters in other parts Of the dis
trict as we'll as in other parts of the
county. and kept the black people at
Sheldon from the polls because of the
slight to- Mitchell. their favorite. The
same feeling no doubt influenced the
apathy and indifference Of ''Redhot Joe
Robinson" hitherto one Of the most
mouthed and faithful partisans Of his
party, who went down to Bluffton in
the interest Of the Republican nominee
to Congress and who went coon hunt
ing the night before the election, and no
doubt will say that he followed his
game too far to admit of his returning in
time to see the polls opened. Certain it
is, whether through inattention to
SmalPs interest or to avoid having Col.
Elliott poll full Democratic vote, he
brought back fifteen pound coon after
the election was over, and which was
all he had to show for his services at
that p, ecinct, which it is now said went
by default. It now trantpires that he
seduced the managers into the same
sport by telling them he had "a good
coon dog" and as there is no telling the
distance that we will wander from the
main chance on moonlight night in
Southern woods when the dog trees
:possum or coon itcan be easily accoun
ted for why the pollsat Bluffton were
not opened.
Joe tells it now that he bought a coon
but Smalls cant be persuaded but that
after he started out on cold trail, Joe
finally run up gum tree himself or hid
himselfiu hollow. At all events Joe
/ will never go on a ''raccoon' hunt again
whore Smalls is concerned.
& Another case Of enmity to Smalls, but
for " hich shall say he is really not to
! blame, is his having fosecloseda a mort
gage Of the property of a society in town
which the principal and highly respecta-
BILE old time maumas had formed for mu
y tual benefit and help during sickness.
It seems that that Benevolent Society Of
the First Africanh Baptist Church had
Z accumulated property and built upon
their lota society hall. The president
the secretary and the treasurer, three
8 three coloredile LEADERS in the church with
B out consulting the society of confiding
& colored sisters mortgaged the premises
4 to Smalls for about SLIGO and made .
i. N t-