The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-17
BLAST FROM BRAYTOS.
r5e TT,dertakes to Tell the World Of South
Cardinals Election Laws.
JColumbia Register.

Mr. Ellery NJ. Brayto0, OF tnis Guy,
ex-Coliector of Internal Revenue and
present Chairman of the Republican
State Executive Committee, a meeting
of which, by the way, is to be held
here on Tuesday next, has prepared ana
had printed "Ap Address upon the
Election Law of South Carolina, and
the Methods Employed to Suppress the
Republican Vote"
1t is understood that large number
of copies of this address are to be struck
of for circulation at the North, especl-
ally among the members of the next
Congress, aud special copy IS to be
forwarded to President-elect Harrison.
From an advance copy of the address
secured by the Register reporl Ter he ls
enabled to present a synopsis OF this re-
markable document, which is through
ont AGGRESSIVE and rarher bitter, and
in some portions almost abusive. It's
evident purpose is to influence public
sentiment at the North and to induce,
if possible, Congressional legislation IN
relation to Federal elections in this
State, and incidentally to indicate 70
the incoming administration Mr.
Brayton's idea of the proper policy to
be pursued to resurrect the Republican
party at the South.
The address opens with the following
statement: "The recent election IN
South Carolina was a miserable farce,
and iustifes an effort to bring its sig
nifcance to knowledge Of the people.
Out of q vote of more than 120, 900 the
Republicans were suffered to have
counted but 3,740. 4 The ma
chine is known to operate so efectually
that the voters of one party have be-
come apathetic, while those of the other
are disheartened. The result is can
vassed and discounted in advance, and
the so-called election is but the formal
registry of what has been ordained"
MIR. Brayton alleges that this ex-
plains the smallness of the IS, ,730 votes
cast for the Democratic State ticket,
which, he says, is barely one-haif their
full number, and that the difference
between this vote and the 65,S26 votes
cast for electors represents some of the
false counting done at the Federal
polls"
He goes on to claim that no pretense
is made that the Republicans have for
sake q their party, but that the South
EN- leaders and the press boldly de-
clare that the preservation of white
supremacy "justifies the suppression
and cheating Of the Republican vote"
Of the late election Mr.. Brayton fur
ther says: 1.-THE late election demon
strates the effectual suppression of the
elective franchise and the utter futility
of contending against the infamous
system under which they are held.
The rights of suffrage are annihilated." ."
He adds that ut is hoped that some OF
the Democrats in the State are not
aware of the degree and extent of the
injustice and frauds perpetrated under
the form of law" Therefore, he says,
he considers it his duty to dissect the
'smonstrous election system" in this
State and show up the purpose of its
''mechanism and the product Of its
operations"
Gas matters now stand" he says,
"Republicans are political outcasts and
aliens TO the Commonwealth, and have
no right which Democrats will concede
or respect" and then proceeds to out
line the election system of the State, as
viewed from his standpoint and tc
poiut out alleged abuses in its execu
ton. Some selected sentences are pre-
sented below:
"The election system Of South Caro-
lima radically differs from that Of any
other State. Its partisan purpose is not
even concealed. It openly violates
every principle of right, justice ano
fairness. Itwas enacted to enable the
few required to work machinery t.
accomplish all that the masses of tn
party have been able to achieve through
iawlessness, fraud and brutal crimes.
He considers the registration required
the most vital portion Of the law in th'
carrying out of its alleged purposes, ant
claims that registration is so manlpula
ted that not over one-third of the Re
publicans in the State are qualified t.
vote, and claims disqualified Democrat!
have "an underground way" pointed
cut to them by which they can sc
| their disabilities removed. He style:
this San unexplained outrage" aut
says concerning this alleged favoritisn
| to Democratic voters that it "implie
wrongful completely, involving falst
swearing on the part of the voter, or it
illegal omission and perjury on tn
supervisors; but these are venial OF
fenses for which Bourbon public opinion
offers ready and full absolution."
Mr.. Bravton reiterates his forme
statements as to the way in which th'
present condition of affairs came about
as given in his last years letter to Sena
tor VIM. E. Chandler, and charges tn
Democratic party with conspiracy ant
various other things which he preface
with strong adjectives.
He makes the following statement
"On the last election day there wa
| picked up in the public road in Ocone'
County batch of thirty-six blank
registration certificates, duly signed
by the Supervisor, n. G. Mcdonald
with their serial number exceeding No
5000, though there are less than 5000
voters all told in the county, which
shows how literally they (the certifi
cates) have been issued"
Continuing he says: "But dovetail
ing with the registration iniquity ar
the other abhorrent features of the Law
which serve to crash out the remaining
vitality of the remnant of Republican
who have been able to qualify them
selves to VOTE"
Abiding to the eight-box law, h
charges that "the purpose of these nu
merous boxes is to confuse aud entral
the illerate Republicans" and allege
that though the law gays manager
shall give information as to the boxes
'these officers are always biased ant
generally hostile, and no reliance cal
be placed upon their answers"
He says the provision for drawing
out the excess of ballots sis now helt
in reserve to meet any emergency
and, alluding 10 the alleged fact tha
Republicans became posted as to th'
location of the eight boxes used, says
"the managers speedily took to shift
ing them, and soon becameso exper
that they could change their place.
with professional dexterity, and ther
would revel in the fun which the blum
de1s afforded"
In concluding his remarks on tn:
subject, Mr.. Brayton says: "But while
the direct result of this foul and nau
seating fraud has been to paraiyze the