Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-10-16
Current Politics In Charleston.
THE VOICE OF TRADE,

The Nesos and Courier says that
President S. Y. Topper, of the
Charleston Chamber of Commerce,
being asked what was the sentiment
of tho business community in regard
to the Haskell movement, said that
he thought it was decidedly unfa.
vorable. Business men are conserva.
tive. They like peace, tranquility
and order, and they have good room
to fear that this. Independent move
ment means trouble and disorder
President Topper seemed very much
in earnest, and, warming up to the
subject, he went on to express his
own opinions of a large majority OF
property-owners and business Nor
as follows:
"I regard the political condition OF
the State at this time as alarming.
From the threatened alliance with
tie negro bby smaffif" faction 81 the
Democratic party, II commerce,
finances and general prosperity is
likely to be seriously affected. For
myself, l care not whether tho
Edgefiold devil or Belzcbub, the
prince of devils, is Governor, if De-
mooratic principles prevail and our
civilization is not endangered. The
good order of society, the credit of
the city and State demands that the
party should be kept intact. But if
vice and ignorance arc again in the
ascendant, if by these negro votes
these r%ecusant Democrats arc to be
put in office, then must the claims of
their negro allies be recognized, if
not by the laws of honor they. will
exact it by the force of numbers.
Their success will cmboldcn them;
they will demand a proportionatc
representation in the Legislature,
and again will they warm in our
houses Of assembly.
awe must remember how under
negro rule, anarchy and plumber OPP
pressed us. How insecure was life
and property. How our young men
were shot in tho streets. How our
commerce languishcd. The implc-
ments of industry lay rusting in the
fields. Barns and dwellings, were
plundercd and fired. All over the
State red-shirt rifle clubs were
formed for the protection of their
homes and substance. Must we
again call the taxpayers of tho
State together for counsel, and
again send dcputation Of merchants
to Washington to ask for Federal
intervention in order to seat another
Hampton? And for what? because
Judge Haskell and his frin. Ia under
their "rule or ruin" policy desire to
govern the State. God forbid that
those days should DO revived. I
have an abiding faith that these dis
affected gentlemen will not form tho
alliance that is proposed. But if they
decline this pcrnicious alliance, and
persist in running tho ticket nomi-
mated yesterday in Columbia indie
pendent of the one nominated by
over thrcc-fourths of the Dcmocra-
tic Convention in September, then
they reasonably divide the party
into two hostile factions. :.
"Bittcr will be the contest for su-
premacy in November. Madness
will rule tho hour. The cry that the
Persian is at the gate will be I'M
needed. Let the Republicans come
in rather than TillmNn and his fol-
lowers succeed, is said every day In
Broad street by mbid opponents
while loyal and conforming Demo-
Gratis have declared that any rcsLecta-
bio Republican is preferable for
Governor than tho n who has di-
vidcd and sundcred the party at Co.
lumbia, If such is the feeling now,
what will it BIO ut the heated contest
in November? If the Republicans
do not avail themselves of the OPP
p~ortunity TO elect m entire ticket for
State officers, which thoy could easily
do by nnanimity, the angry factions
Of our divided Democracy would
unite, l believe, to put In n Republic
a Governor rather than Tillman or
Haskell should triumph.
81 rejoice that your paper is with
us. Let it be firm and see that the
Commonwealth suffers no dctriment
and lot it forbear from further COM
mendatioD Of the motives and good