The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-07-20
Into . Trap.

The question of how to keep the negro
out of our politics was for long time
living one in this State. 1t was at last
solved by Edward McCrady, Of Charles
ton, with the present eight box and regis
tration law. ~
) By the way, not as strictly part g. this
subject, but as an independent observa-
ton, has anybody noticed how the men
who did most for the State during and
since 1876 stand in this present contest?
James l.. Orr was the first man OF the
Wallace house In the storming OF the
State House that year; John c. Sheppard
was close behind him. Samuel Dibble
led the forlorn hope in the fight for Con-
gress in the then black district. Wade
Hampton ia on the same side with them.
Edward Met Grady, who devised and intro
duced the eight box law and gave us
guarantee Of peace and security SO long as
we stick together, was the first signer Of
the thirteen call.
But, to return: The eight box law made
us safs so long as there was white unity.
From s condition Of doubt and anxiety
and new fight every two years we pass
ed into feeling Of serene security and
South Carolina was taken out of the
doubtful column and put in the list Of
States surely and always Democratic.
AS chronic kicker, neighborhood
oracle who could improve everything
while knowing but little Of the facts of
ANYTHING, B. r. Tlliman, in 1888. sought
to improve on the eight box law. In a
letter to the Ne,oS and Courier he urged
as one Of the things to be done by con-
stitutional convention the adoption of
property or educational qualification for
voters. Il
His friends talk of his nerve. He said
at Barnwell that if he believed thing
was right he would do it if every man in
the State was against him. But he hasn't
had the nerve to propose or support Oh
the stump as candidate what he propos-
ed and supported in the newspapers as a
citizen who would The promised) accept
tural College.
TIE last Senate adopted resolution
calling Constitutional Convention. A
proposed amendment requiring that the
work of that Convention be submitted to
the people was defeated by Governor Till
mans friends and supporters. The reso-
luton failed in the House-the "drift-
wood" House only because two-thirds
majority could not be mustered for it, the
anti -Tillmna men standing fast against
it.
IfGovernor Tillman is reelected with
q Legislature to suit him." which he de-
mands, the poor people Of this country
may find that they have been led into o
cruel trap.
The governor has shown and spoken his
purposes. They are plain.
II he controls the Legislature the Couu-
ty Government Bill, proposed and de-
feated in the last Legislature, will be pass
ed.
The governor will then have control of
the Legislature, Of the Courts, OF the
County Governments. He will have the
appointment Of all the township road
commissioners, who will make the
County Government and control all con-
tracts of the commissioners of the poor,
Of the Jury commissioners and trial justi-
ces, With this power in his hands and the
appointment of election commissioners
and control of the party machinery he
will control the election of members of
the constitutional Convention.
What does he want that Convention to
do?
Make three dollar poll tax.
Fix it 80 that unless man hf GER
tain amount Of property or has certain
degree Of education he shall not vote,
shall have no voice in the choice OF his
government.
The poor white people are being led
into trap by the loud talk Of the farm
ers' government and popular rule. They
are being put in position where they
will be helpless slaves, denied a vote,
subject to the will of the rich or educated,
deprived of all privileges but paying.
tribute of three dollars year for the
schools and being sold to contractors
eight days in every year for work on the
public roads.
There is cunning claim that the whole
thing is against the negro. Thousands OF
negro farm hands working at 80 month
would rather stay In Jail twenty days and
be fed and lodged than pay their 93 poll
tax.
Abolish the eight box law and fix an
educational or property qualification.
Then the white man, who cannot come up
to the standard must pay $3 a year to help
the SONS of colored parents to 60 to SCHOOL
and learn enough to vote while the white
man is turned from the ballot box and
left without voice or power.
We are doing very well as 1t Is. Every
white man has his vote and the State is
surely Democratic under the eight box
law.
Do YOU want white men and Democrats
to be denied the right to vote because
they are poor or have been unable to find
means to learn to read or write, while
negroes who have gathered property or
education under the government white
men fought and have paid for walk freely
to the polls?
Do you want the laboring men of this
State to be subjected to three dollar
poll tax?
Do you want free white men and South
Carolinians to be given into slavery eight
days a year at fifty cents day, while
their weather. neighbors take their ease
by paying Sl.50 communication tax?
II you want all these things and war
against money and corporations to Keep
and drive both out of the State
Vote for B. r. Tillman for Governor
GreenviIlc Meas.