The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-09
soUTH oARoL1xA PoBrrros.
a Cats Presentation 90 Gov. Tinnsn's sra,
81 ths to-

a Gals Personalities 90 Gov. Tinmsr's etss
OF the Case.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suw-sr. In view
Of the many libels. deliberate and uninten-
uonal published respecting the Darlington
riot, and the causes leading up to Il, do you
not think It would be in order to give the side
Of the majority Of the citizens Of the State 90
deeply wounded by internecine strife?
beg that you will publish a brief statement
Of the case. ss viewed from a dispassionate
standpoint. by one acquainted with the causes
which eliminated in the recent upheaval.
To understand the situation in South Caro-
lima II must be borne in mind that there are
political differences in that State unknown
elsewhere in the Union. There exist mark
eddy in South Carolina two types. represent
ing the old and the new South. The trouble
there is not 30 much over the Dispensary law
as It is fight between these two factions.
In 1875 q strong political organization was
formed In the State. fnthered by the blatant
seions OF the so-called old South Carolina aris-
tocracy men who had owned vast numbers Of
slaves, who held Official places in the ante
belum days. and who. prompted as much By
self-interest as pride and patriotism. exercised
all their arts Of inlsm matory oratory to In.
duce the common people. non-owners OF
slaves to ioin In the civil war Prior to 1875 the
State had suffered many indiRnities from the
men elected to office by the recently enfran-
chised negroes The rallyinR cry OF the time
was. No negro dominationp and at the polls
In the fall Of that year. and by the aid OF q
self constituted militia. Wade Hampton was
N ade Governor
For fourteen years although Rrowlings were
occasionally heard from the people. the So
called sristocratlo element. the representa-
tlvss OF the old South kept the white voters In
line This was done By constantly harping on
the evils to be feared from negro supremacy
In case Of . division among the whites. to-
gether with systematic waving OF the bloody
shirt These were the men who did more
than any other class. North or South. to keep
alive the bitter feelings left By the war
In the summer OF 1883 the farmers and in
habitants OF the towns who Rrosned under the
glazing class legislation Of the old timers be-
gan to organize The movement was known
as the Farmers Alliance. and was started for
the mutual benefit Of members. The order
was secret. and soon the dissats tion felt by
the great majority Of the agricultural class be-
gan to be expressed at their meeting Is, and to
had long been known throughout the state as
one OF the foremost agitators OF the farming
were strong enough to make q light m ct in
convention and dominated Tillmsn for Gov
W s%ay
Men who. impoverished By the war, had long
the oSscrp TSes sSe NJ
very thing they had them selves SO long prac-
Used After some difficulty in getting can
and one Of the. most bitter campaigns ever
the. speakers at all the public meetings went
wee and
debate. The men who In 1876 had rallied all
soe.s naas s6d X ds G4 tRs
ex:slave's ballot.
the 1oEs. Of Tfs ssts Se8d 81
was also sent to Columbia Tillman and his |
lieutenants were active in remedying the evils |
taess Of the opposing faction were all on him:
Eensary bill. It is well known. at least In
opposed to this measure. which had the APP
proval Of the men who bad elected him;
both Houses. In conformity with public opin-
Ion, and 1t became law.
almost eiciusiysly to the cities and md tsWns of
the the STATE sta The liquor trsiie ip those places
ton and the msn snsassd IN il ta We're m
rule. as c9ntemptuous OF law as the moon
wSS II the h s.s Ssn9
in defiance Of law. under dimsy Dig Uses, as
lions did little II anything. to enforce the pro-
State authorities to induce them to cooperate
were unayailng The citizens who had elected
the LEGISLATURE that passed the bill demanded
its enforcement; This started the Governors
so-called crusade against =" blind tigers"
The most notorious thing connected with
this unhappy affair Is that many OF the better
class Of citizens living in the towns and cities
Joined with the law breakers against the State
authorities, simply because their pride had
been hum bled by the triumph Of their oppo-
nents. The law breakers resolved from them
tacit II not active SUPPORT In Darlington the
support was emphatic. Men OF reputation,
who would have been supposed to be iudicious
and peaceable; Influenced alone py their bitter
hatred OF political opponents, Joined with q
mob composed OF the worst element OF the
mixed society Of the Southern town not only
in armed resistance OF officers, butin open war
on the authorities.
This 10 In brief the status OF affairs In South
Carolina and can be proved by an inyesttga-
ton. II the seeker after inform alton will go to
other sources than those hostile to- the party
In power. have no desire to defend the poll
tics OF Tillman or OF his supporters but a.
believer in the right OF the people Of State to
make their own laws and In the enforcement
OF law ! would like to see Tillman bad as he is
painted. receive justice when Judged by people
not influenced by the bitter spirit that hovers
over his State. j. Il STEVENSON.
New YORK, April g