The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-16
BRAYToN's ADDRESS.
He Seeks to Influence Northern SEN
timents Against the Southern Peo.

pie.
Wrhe election laws in South Carolina and
the methods employed TO suppress the Rcpub.
lican VOTE" is the title OF an address prepared
by Ellery NJ. Brayton, chairman OF the Hc'
publican State executive committee. for cir
cuIation among the members of the FIFTY
first Congress. a special copy is To DC sent to
President-elect Harrison The address Is bit
ter in tone and attacks the present Democrat
ic methods in this State without reservation.
In its opening sentence 1t charactcrZcS the
recent election in South Carolina ;S "lnlSrr.
able farce" and claims that "out OF u vote oi
more than l2U,0OO the Republicans were sllllcr-
ed TO have counted but 1910"
Mr. Brayton says: "rhe result is canvaSScd
and discounted in advance, and the so-called
elections Is hut the formal registry of what
has been ordained" and further that "thc late
election demonstrates the eflcctual suppress.
sion OF the elective franchise in this state ana
the utter futility Of contending against the
Infamous system under which they arc held.
The rights of suffrage are annihilated."
Other sentences selected from the address
are as follows: LAS matters now stand the
Republicans are political outcasts and aliens
to the commonwealth, and have no right
which the Democrats will concede or re-
spect."
or the election system in South Carolina he
says: "Its partisan purpose Is not even con
cealed-it openly violates every principle oil
right, justice and fairness. 1t was enacted TO
enable the few required TO work its machln-
cry TO accomplish all that the masters Of the
party have been able to achieve through law
lessness, fraud and brutal crimes"
He styles the execution of the present regis
tration law ''an uneXampled outrage" imply
ing wrongful completely, involving false
swearing OH the part OF voters, or its illegal
omission and perjury on the part OF the stl,
pervisorg ;" and alleges that "thesc are vcnal
often ces for which Rourbon public opinion of
fers ready anu full abSolutiOn." In support OF
last election day there was picked Up on the
public road in Oconee county baich Of thir-
ty-six blank registration certificates, duly
signed by the supervisor, N. q. Mcdonald,
with serial number exceeding the number
6l0O, though there are less than 5000 voters, all
told, in the county"
Continuing, he says: "But dove-tailing
with the registration tntqutty are the other
abhorrent features Of the law" and alleges
that the purpose Of the eight boxes used is to
confuse and entrap ilIiterate Republicans.
He charges that the managers are always hos.
tile, and no reliance can be placed on their
answers to questions, and that they Shift the
location of the boxes when they think the
Republicans become posted concerning them.
and then 'revel in the fun which is thus af-
forded."
He goes on to say: "But while the drest re-
suit OF this foul and nauseating fraud has
been to paralyze the Republicans the reflex
consequence on the Democratic party and So
ciety has been terrible and deplorable. 1t has
undermined the moral standards and safe,
guards, occasioned party apathy. and bred
ring rule"
The reply of Governor Richardson to the
committee of Republicans who asked the ap-
pointment of one Republican upon the elec.
tion loards Of the state Is presented in full in
the address and sarcastically commented
upon at length. The greater part OF the re-
mainder Of the address is taken up with
charges that the negroes are Systematically
denied legal rights and ordinary justice that
they are habitually excluded from the jury
box; that labor organizations among them
are prohibited; that immigration agents are
not suffered to visit several OF the counties
and that the law against carrying concealed
weapons Is enforced almost exclusively
against negroes. He says that the trial jus
tices system is shame to the state and the
source OF untold woes Of negroes, and charges
that the trial justices are very often ignorant
merciess, tyrannlcal, negro-hatng men
who, from the greed to make fees and tho dc.
sire to advance the interest of their party,
cause the power in their hands to grind the
humble, and terroriZe those jealous in politi
cal action.
In concluding Mr.. Brayton says that the
duty falls on the national government to in
terpose, as 1t did Immediately following tho
war, and adds, "Iflaws are enacted by which
the conduct and management of all federal
elections are taken from the hands of the
state and placed in the hands of federal olli.
GERS, with full authority, q summary solution
of many of the difficulties involved in the
situation will have been produced" He also
advocated the establishment of independent
newspapers in the state, and the use Of the
power of appointment of federal officers
here.