The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-29
Raising a Spectre.
Charleston Sun.

cracy of South Carolina which will not down
at any mans bidding: II is the ghost OF q
and by appeal to the highest and first law o
nature, the right OF sef.preservation.
Gentlemen Democrats! White men o
South Carolina! cling to the political anchor
as you would to the cross for your souls sal
vution. For by 1t we are justified or damned
as certainly as there is any truth in the law o:
moral reason
We do not clearly see-we think no man
OF events is working out. That II is TO some
good purpose we trust as implicitly rs we be
lieve that God is wise and just.
But, for the present, 1t seems to US that linen
have lost their reason"
Here is the position OF Judge Haskell, ac-
cording 10 his letter to "Mr. Charles" publish
ed in the News and Courier this morning.
Having entered the lists as the champion
and vindicator ofthe Democratic regime since
1876. against the majority voice and wisdom
of not alone his own faction, but Of his own
assisting him to overthrow the white supre-
macy in the Stale established in that yenr,
and offers them, by all the pledges OF Wade
Hampton to them In 1876 to see that they have
n tree vote and fair count II they vote for
him against Tillman, who without having
ever been in power) has violated those
pledges.
By virtue, we suppose, Of the control of the
election machinery, he promises to give them
Il free vote and affair count as an inducement
to vote for him.
lie seals his promise with an oath taken on
TIL" pledges TO them OF Wade Hampton In
1876.
lie wisely refralns from saying, anything
about how those pledges were fulfilled,
And he asks them to sustain him in vinai
eating the various administrations since 1875
because of their truth and fidelity to the ne
gros rights and Hampton's pledges in 1876.
These overtures arc made to people who
though in numerical majority In the State
have been rendered an absolute nullity as a
political factor by the methods pursued by
the administrations which they are called
upon to vindicate and sustain in justice to
(Judge Haskell takes the negro for a bigger
fool than we believe him to be If he thinks he
will swallow this bait.)
All this was done, we say, upon the plea OF
q higher law-that OF SclfprcservatiOn. Once
that ground is deserted, where in the name OF
God, do we stand!
Justice and equal political rights to all I!
What madness to assert IT?
1t is true that Wade Hampton only pledged
himself In 1876 to 'accept" the 18th amend
ment "in good faith"
Does Judge Haskell propose to carry out It's
conditions ain good faith ?" He lordily
brushes away the impu,ation Of fraud.
Does he propose TO sail into office, If he can
under false colors?
under just and equitable conditions, we bold
ly assert, would be the act ofa statesman.
If his permission to vote for a ruling class,
in the name of"the true Democracy" IS the
only excuse, we pronounce IT a mere tempor
airy dodge which is unworthy of his accrp-
tance.
1t is nothing more than we have always
contended Political eXpedients are always
der0g atory. We shared the negro out of gov
ernment, without regard TO political principle
(under the pressure OF necessity?
The sin, II 1t was sin, redounded upon us.
We, the majority OF US, were. 10 turn praci.
caly shared out of participation in public
affairs for fourteen years.
The negroi is docile under domination.
The Anglo Saxon is restless under the un-
lust assumptions OF rulers
In the history OF South Carolina no ruling
class has survived q quarter OF century's
existence without modification.
The suppression of the negro vote by the
superior Intelligence and tract Of the white
minority was In time further improved upon
by the suppression of the majority of that
white vote. The eXpcdient which could be
safely practiced upon the negro, however,
was quickly recognized and repudiated when
turned against the white man. He might
admit it's salutary character when exercised
against the black. but he never could consent
to 1t as against himself
Hence the appeal ofJudge Haskell and his
defeated clique from the majority decision of
men Of his own race TO the more uudescern.
ing and malleable masses, as he imagines, OF
the coored people.
And he invites their support now not that
they may share with him in political power
but that they may help rivet upon the white
majority the same political disabilities as
those under which their vote has been rem
dered passive" to use Judge Haskells own
word In his first manifesto.
The recent Democratic contest, against the
decision OF whlchlJudge. Haskell revolted, had
no relation to the right OF the negro TO vote
ana the question was never thought of until
after Judge Haskells action In appealing TO
the negro against his party. 1t was not until
after he took this reckless step that Tilman
had any occasion to make the foolish utter.
ances he did.
But submit the question on Judge Haskers
own grounds, as one which has altogether to
do with the right OF the negro TO vote: Tlman
may have threatened to prevent the negro
voting. but, for fully n decade, under the
reg ime which Judge Haskell appeals to him
to vindicaie, his vote has had no more effect
upon the affairs of this Stale than a passing
breath Of wind. What Tillman threatened
they have carried out to the utmost possible
limit.