The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-05-12
A SO-CALLED REFORMER,
J. HENDRIX MCLANE WORKING FOR
HIS MONEY.

Interest OF tho "Reformed Republic
cnns"-TryinG to Dupe tho Democrats
by Abusing His Old Friends.
WAGENER's, S. C., April 25.-J. lien
dirk LcLane arrived in town last Sat
urday, and after remaining short
time left here. He returned this morn
ing and held conversations with several
gentlemen. knowing that McI4ane
represents the Reform Republican
party and that a meeting has been
called for the 7th of May at this place
Dy the ReformerS, and assuming that
his visit bore relationship to this meet
ing and the propagation generally of
this so.called Reform party, i made In
qulries and received the following in &.
formation direct from the gentlemen
whom McLane had approached.
The second gentleman who McLane
spoke to describes the interview as fol-
lows:
McLane said: 81 want some one of
intelligence who can fairly represent to
the people of this country what we in
tend by our meeting on the 7th. Our
ultimate intentions will not be made
public just yet, though our speaking
and our election OF delegates TO Min
neapolis will be public. The true OBJ
Ject OF this leauge now is to rid the
people of the dregs of this old line party
OF carpet baggers and to create conf
dence between the North and South by
not making question of race or color,
but by selecting the best men for the
Offices. Where it would best influence
that race we would use the negro for
puoiic Office. We mean Grid the State
or all such VillanouS men as Webster,
Brayton and Tom Johnston, since they
are a disgrace to the party, and none
deplore it more than the knowing Re-
form Republicans do.'
lie also stated that these men, about
seven IN number, claimed to represent
the en- tire white Republicans in South
Carolina at the last National Conven
tlOn. Harrison was in favor Of the best
men until he was misled by false rep.
reservations and petitions. lie would
not have removed any Government Of
hclal or employee in South CorOlina, but
Brayton, Webster and Johnston repre-
Sented that the men they recommended
were honorable, hightoned men, and
had done great and invaluable work
for their party and suffered much for
the cause. He stated that the most
prominent citizens of Columbia had
gwen him great encouragement, and
not only there, but everywhere he had
been, and that a great many prominent
men had intimated that, in the event
thaG Tlllman got his foot on Sheupard's
neck, majority of the Sheppard party
would Join them in the event that they
put ticket in the field; that matter
they would consider at the MINNEAPOLIS
Convention. And if the Tillman party
saw that the Sheppard party would win
they would do likewise. lie said their
great aim was for national affairs,
though, If they saw at any time it was
probable to do effective work, they
would turn their attention to State af-
fairs.
70 another gentleman McLane thus
delivered himself: "You are aware
that there will be meeting here on the
Ith, and l want to Say that or some
one else will speak on that day. We
want all the good people of the country
TO attend, and we want good quiet
meeting. The object for holding the
meetlng here was on account of it's be-
Ing white section of the State. The
Northern people want this State to
send delegation composed of its best
men to Minneapolis, to give the party
q true statement of the affairs Of this
State. The State has been misrepre-
Sented by such men as Brayton and
webster, who are low dirty men. John
ston,. OF the Custom House, is low and
nnothlng more than libertine, and not
llt TO represent us as a people with for
eign (navaD people. Our Reform Re.
publican party wants to get rid of ne
groes, carpet t-baggers and scalawaps.
ana get the people of the North and
South together. We need their influ
ence ana their money. Our party wants
to fill all Offices with good men ire.
spectiye of politics. At the meeting
on the 7th we want meeting of white
people, not niggers."
McLane said that the nationa, com.
mlttee had made arrangements with
the Louisville and Nashville Railway
company so far, and would complete
tnem with other roads. to TRANSPORT
the delegates for half fare, and
Ihat IL would not cost the delegates
anything and they would be paid
handsomely. lie said The News and
courier mad failed to find fault with
them and left off the usual criticisms
that had been put on the old line Re-.
Pu0licans. Continuing, he said, q
decent man would not 20 into Rrav-
tons Office among his negroes unless
compelled to do so, that the North had
no confidence in the Southern people,
from the fact that they could get no
justice before the Courts; that the few
good people of the South had to resort
to lynchings, the bowie knife and the
pistol to punish their criminals, and
the North regarded any investment
IN the South as unsafe on account of
the rottenness of the old Bourbon Dem
ocratlc rule; that the Democrats of
the North were, as a class, as inferior
to the Republicans as the nigger is to
the white man in the South. He
stated in conclusion that their mission
mere was to create confidence amoGp
the people; that later on they wonld
consider what they would do as the
prospect for effective work brighten
ed; that would be more fully develop
ed by the time the Minneapolis Conyen-
tion convened.
a few days previous to the Conyen.
tion held in Columbia hicLane wrote
aietter to Mr.. Larkin Garvin, of this
pace, a prominent citizen and a
staunch Democrat, inviting him to
aStend the Convention. MIR. Garyin,
abeef abo ere reading the letter, tossed it into
t MeLane asked the town authorities
80 provide some extra policemen on
lA