The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-10-08

US in 1876. had too much power in tie
recent canvass, and though heroic Ell
forts were mace by Il few, the many
were silent and refused to grid on their
arrHor becauSeit seemed to be internc-
cine war. Better that than to Surren-
der principle and endorse by q vote the
blackest and most Unfounded charges
that have ever been made against the
State.
THIS brings me to the last point: $50
far rs my brother IS concerned You may
state in The strongest terms chat bis
nomination by the Republicans was
unsought Ay him, and that be is ;averse
to any such coalition.
No such nomination has been sought
nor has it been made. The sentence
taken bv itself may be entirely correct,
but in conjunction with the preceding
produces (, wrong impression. OF
course, | cannot seek or accept a noml-
nation By the Republican party, for
am not a Republican,; TO more could l
accept :, nomination by the Tillman
party. because its platform is as anti
Democratic as is the Republican plat
form.
But will not avoid the issue, and
will speak the truth as plainly as can.
No man more than myself deplores the
exercise OF suffrage, or SHOULD say the
right OF suffrage, by the colored race.
1t puts the weaker in conflict with the
stronger. The inevitable result where
the Anglo-SaXon race meets a weaker
is subjugation. From 1865 to 1876 the
weaker, led by white men, backed by
armed force, oppressed the stronger.
In 1876 the position was reversed, and
| this State assumed the attitude held by
other Southern StateS-the white race
dominant and the colored race with the
suffrage majority passive. This condl-
tion is anomalous and can only be con-
tinued by the preservation Of two fac
tors which have prevailed, but have
steadily diminished from year to year
until now. The first is a government
which commands the approval and
consent of the whole white population.
The other is such protection OF person
and property and all legal individual
rights of the colored race as reasonably
compenSates their surrender Of suf-
frage and renders their condition bet
ter than one of antagoniSm.
This was the appeal made by our no.
bic leader in 1876, and this was our plat
form. The election was carried by the
aid of from twelve to eighteen thous-
and colored votes, and our Governor
was trusted by al! and beloved by most
of both races. Eight years of trial had
strengthened the patriotism of a de-
voted people, and had purged their rea-
son. The nature of the new govern
ment was then understood and accept
ed hv all. Concessions were made by
representatives of all classes and all
opinions were recognized and respect.
ed. In the State ticket Of 1876 the lead
ers of the opposition were given posi-
tious of rank and honor. The State
was a united body. We will not trace
the history. Take the results. The
press denounces and the Representa-,
tives Of the people crescent what is called
the arbitrary and oppressive rulings OF
the Speaker Of the House Of Represen-
sentatiyes in Congress, and perhaps
properly. Take the conventions held
in this State in August and September
of this year and view the conduct OF
the president, sustained by his MAORI
tv. Speaker Reeds rulings are but as
child's play compared with the expul-
sion of delegations and the passing Of
resolutions by this Democratic preSl-
dent. The unity is destroyed, and a
party divided against itself it worse
than no party. Therefore, though the
truth be bitter, it is safer to recognize
it and act promptly.
| Twill not make any personal COM
ment on the Tiilman leaders or their
records. or the claims they may have
upon the hearts and minds OF the peo-
pie who have adopted them as their
guides. I simply say that their princl-
pies and their practices are alike mimi
cal to the notions and actions of the
ideal government of 1876, That Ideal
government was established. and its
continuation has so far contributed to
period of uneNampled prosperity
throughout the State. The party now
seeking power denoUnceS it in eplthets
that it is needless to repeat, as they
have been heard in every county and
corner in the State for six weary
months.
The issue is plainly before US. Shall
we try to preserve those principles
which have been so dear to us and pro-
ductiye of good to all, or shall we aban-
don them for we know not what. with
much to fear and little to hope? We
have a responsibility, not of our own
making perhaps, but it is on US, and
what an all-ruling Providence has
placed man cannot remove. We have
our own race to preserve and we nave
another race to protect. Our govern
ment is dual in its object, but single in
it's representation. The white man is
to govern, but the black race is to be
protected. This is not only our moral
duty. but the violation of it is, and
justly so, our temporal ruin. We feel
no assurance that the Tillman govern
ment, an unrestrained, powerful mino-,
. ritv, will be other than reckless and op-
!, pressive in its execution as 1t has been
!; in its incipiency. therefore uneQulv-
ocallv advocate an opposition ticket, to
organize a minority if we can do no
!, more, but to control the government if
possible. With this Democratic ticket
in the field we should ask the support
and maintain the rights OF colored
voters as we did in 1876. would not
mistake the colored people. The white
man controls the property and will con-
troll the government, but when the
white race divides it is aqueStion with
the colored race which party will bsst
govern the State On this their vote
; must depend. The wretched spectacle
of purchase and bribery is almost sure
to follow. Therefore l wish that the
race could lie disfTancnised if we could
: have guarantee Of their protection.
But that is impossible Their right of
suffrage is their nominal protection;
the class OF white people they support
is their real protection
Friends may raise a great outcry
against any ailUsion to colored voters.
l ask them is it without precedent? l
ash; them and some of the most virulent
to name the municipal elections, out