The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-17


the offer of the notorious ex-Congress
man Smalls to canvass the State in op'
position to the convention. Why dc
these self-appointed guardians who
have been repudiated by the people ap'
pear so solicitous for the negro's right
to vote? Plainly because they Want
to be benefciarles of that vote tive
years from now. Why do they want
to preserve to the ignorant and de-
based negro his ballot? Simply be-
cause their fell purpose is to cover the
ballot of every poor white man with
the ballots of two ignorant negroes
and thereby restore themselves to
office and power. While charging that
it is the purpose OF the predominant
faction of the Democratic party to dis
franchise the poor iiliterate white men
along with the negro, does not any rea'
asOnable man know that that fac tiOn
being largely made up OIL this class
would not 0iSfranchise its own follow
ers? What political party ever COM
mitted suicide or relinqulshed volunt-
arily the control of pubic affairs? The
poor white men of the State have never
received recognition until within the
last four years. They are now the ar
biters of their own fortunes. and, II
they miss the opportunity of taking
guarantees in the new constitution for
the continued supremacy of the Anglo
Saxon in South Carolina, we predict
confidently that, commencing with '96 -,
our political campaigns in this State
will wiGueSs return OF more terrible
and demoraIizilg conditions than ever
confronted this people, even during
the days OF Scott, Moses and Chamber
lain. The reckless, desperate men,
whose Machavalian cunning is now
playing the double game Of bidding for
the negro vote, and claiming TO be the
guardians of the poor whites, are bent
on regaining control Of our affairs at
any cost. They are Obliyious Of the
fact that the vast horde of ignorant
negroes, ence organized and disciplined
to oVerpower the white majority, the
morals aud filth of white men N each
other being once destroyed, the negroes
inevitably will sejZ9 power lor their
own benefit.
We say tD the white men, who are
threatened by the Independent news
papers with disfranchlsement, that
with colored voting popu'
lation larger than ours has adopted
constitution, which without disfranch-
ising single white maD, has reduced
the registered negro vote of that 5 ate
to 5000. What Mississippi has done
South Carolina Uan do. South Carollua
alone of all the reconstructed Ststes
still keeps the constitution reed upon
her at the point OF the bayoEet by seal
awags and aiie0s.
The cost Of constitutional conVen-
ton, While of 10 Importance in CON-
Darison with the benefits TO be derives,
need not under any circum stances ex-
ceed $4,000. There are maay benefits
other than the regulation OF the sufr-
age TO be secured oy changes In the or
ganic law. While these might be o.
tanned by the slow and unsatisfactory
process Of amendment, we candidly
ask any sensible man what hope there
would be for securing the adoption Of
q new constitution Involving the regu-
lation Of sufferege, If it had TO be suo-
nitted back to the people. 1t has been
the settled purposee of the trusted
leaders of the Democratic party for
years 10 call a constitutional conVan-
.ion, and obQiate the daogeTs which
nave lurked IN our midst so long, only
waiting for division among the whites
TO rear their horrid heads. That dlYis-
on is nov more than apparent. The
,sality is upon US. The people through
;heir representatives IN the Legislature
snd IN Democratic conventions have
.ime and again demanded that such q
oa called. rhos3 neTSpap-
srS which claim to be Democratic and
y &tllch an5agoniz5 this great reform are
either blind leaders of cue oilnd or the
3ervile tools OF the conSplrators. We
warn 5ne WaIJe m5o wlo love South
Carolina and would see continuation
Of good government, and e rule Of an
intelligent white majority, to thrust
aside and pay no heed to the arguments
Of those VINO seek to blind them to their
true interests. After long years of
the opportunity is presented
to them of fixing this thing forever. all
questions be passed on by tne conven-
JIon can be d1ocussedwhen the election
delegatesls to take place. II is a sIand-
5r aud an insult to Say that the people
have not the patriotism and intelli-
gence to elect men from among them.
selves, to frame an organic laT better
suitea to our wants tnan that imposed
On us by the carpet-bagger and alien.
The WiseSt and best of our citizenship
can b chosen to perform this delicate
and patriotic duty without regard to
faction, once the convention Is ordered.
The point which we would urge with
Ell the Yigor at our command Is that
the opportunity Is now here. 1t certain
" is not Likely to soon recur. If the
people fail to seize it and the evils of
governmental debauchery
and political decentralization shall de-
cend upon the State after the next elec-
ton, they will have none to blame
but themselves.
Let all true Democrats and patriotic
white men go TO the polls on the Oh
Of November and vote tor the constl-
tutlonal convention.
J.L. NJ. IRBY, Chairman,
WILLIE JONES,
G. NJ. EFIRD,
D. E. kEELS,
0. R.LOWMAN,
J. A. SLIGH,
Campaign Committee of the State
Democratic Executive Committee.
Runaway Trsin,
AsHvILLE, n. c., Oct. 9-Tne S)uth
bound freight on the AShVille and
Spartanburg road ran away down a
heavy grade on Saluda mountain at 5
o'clock this morning. The crew remain
ID on the flying tram which ran to the
bottom of the grade, four miles, and
shen left the track, the engine and
twelve cars piling up in deep cut.
Latest reports to the Citizen say that
Engineer Broom and colored train
1and had not been found. Fireman
York was seen buried under the wreck
sge and 1t is thought is dead. Conduct
or viii Patton had leg and hip badly
crushed.
The first train from the wreck on
Saluda mountain came in tonight,