The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-11
LExINGTON'S PRIMARY.
of Major n. A. Meetze for Senator
The Grounds of the Contest.
From the News and Courier !

candidate for reelection, by his coun-
sci, Nj. Crawford, of Columbia, pre-
sented formal protest against declar-
ing the election with this result on the
ground of fraudulent and illegal votes,
voting numbers of Radical and drunk
en- negroes at many of the precincts,
and other gross and scandalous irregu-
larities. In presenting this strong and
earnest protest to the committee Mr..
Crawford made brief but eloquent
and telling speech, which found an
echo in the heart of every honest and
patriotic man present. Major H. A.
Meetze replied in his own behalf, tell
ing the committee that though frauds
may have been committed he was not
responsible for them, and that they
could not do otherwise than accept the
face of the returns and declare the re-
suit.
1t is estimated that more than seven
hundred fraudulent and illegal votes
were polled in this election. tits need
less to say that it has caused great and
profound dissatisfaction. The decent
and honest white people of the county.
who are largely in the majority, feel
that their rights have been outraged
and trampled upon in this election, by
reckless and uHscrupulous persons, in
way that calls for speedy and effective
redress. Of the seven hundred illegal
votes by far thegreatest part were Rad
ical negroes, who had no right whatever
to vote in a Democratic primary cleo
ton. These votes were thrown exclu-
sively for the successful ticket, as is
shown by the large majorities Of Major
Meetze over MI. Wingard at those
boxes where the negroes were voted.
1t is contrary to Democratic usage and
principles in this county, and always
has been, to vote Radical negroes, re-
peat and stuff balot-boxes in our Dem
ocratic primary elections.
This thing has been winked at and
accepted by men calling themselves
Democrats, and even Christian white
men. Staid and conservative old Lex
ington, the banner Democratic county
Of the middle portion of South Caro-
lima, noted for the industry and thrift
and law-abiding character of her peo-
pie, has been covered by this thing
with disgrace and infamy so deep and
damnable that it will take years of we'll
doing and patriotic effort to wipe it out.
D.
NOT ENCOURAGING so FAR.
Editorial in the News and Courier
There is not much encouragement for
thick and thin advocates of the primary
system in some recent events in differ
ent counties in the State, which have
made it unpleasantly evident that,
whatever its advantages, the system
furnishes tempting opportunity for
every kind of political malpractice. It
need not be said, of course, that objec-
tionable methods are not always en-
ployed, and are not generally en-
ployed: but this is not the fault of the
system itself. The temptation and op-
portunity are everywhere present, and
when this is the case it cannot fail to
result that distrust and suspicion will
always find place on one side or the
other, and, whether well founded or
not, will make just the kind of trouble
which it is most desirable to avoid in
the Democratic party in South Caro-
| lima.
There have been several examples OF
what is meant in the present canvass in
the State. The primary in Newberry
to determine the choice of a candidate
for State Senator was followed by
sweeping allegations of bribery and
fraud. It is not probable that such
charges would have been made if they
were not believed to be true, and there
must have been some basis for such
belief. Whether true or not true, how
ever, they were loudly asserted, and
certainly the Democrats in that county
will feel decidedly less confidence in
the primary system, and in each other,
for some time to come. It was the
same in Marion County, where Bigham
was the defeated candidate. There was
intense dissatisfaction likewise with
the result of the recent primary in
Spartanburg County, though no charge
of fraud was publicly made, we believe
Considerable bad feeling was developed,
again, on account of the charge, which
was publicly made, that whiskey and
money were freely used to influence vo.
tiers in part of the 4th district at the
recent primary in that district for the
nomination Of candidate for Congress.
On Saturnay last candidate for State
Senator was nominated in Lexington
County. Charges of fraud at the pri'
mary were promptly and deliberately
made, and although the validity of the
nomination was sustained by executive
committee, after investigation, the
charges are still repeated and will re-
main cause of future irritation and
dissension.
1t is not wise to disregard these sig
nificantan widely scattered evidences
of Inherent weakness, and worse, in
the primary system. There is enough
in them, at any rate, to make thought
sdl men pause before adopting the pri
mary plan for all times and occasions
and especially before accepting the pri
mary election, with its unlimited op