The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-02

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I feel outraged at the malicious meanness
of these attacks. Yours truly,
(Signed) JOHN L. McLAURrN,
Mischief Brewing.
Ellery NJ. Brayton, the member Of
the Republican Executive Committee
from this State has gotten up a flaming
address to the Republicans Of the State,
in which be calls upon them in the
most in%sinuating way to ''hasten to
register" Ordinarily such important
moves as this by the Republicans is
done on the quiet but in this case the
chairman has come out in a bold way
and called upon bis fellow Republicans
to register and prepare for the coming
election. Apparently the most i'm
portant consideration seems to be
in the constitutional question and the
possibility Of a%nnulling the 2 per cent.
tax for schools, fixing an educational
and property qualification for the cleo
tive franchise, establishing the chain
gang aud whipping post. aud other
obnoxious provisions, are held up as
the red flags to the colored voter.
What there is behind the call on the
Republicans to prepare for action re-
mains to be seen, but it is evident that
there is something up in the Repub-
lican camp, as the following address
indicates:
"Only three registration days re-
main. 1t is the duty Of every Repub-
lican who is not registered, OF who has
lost his certificate, or changed his resi-
dence. to 60 to the supervisor at the
county court house on the first Monday
10 May, June or July, and obtain a
certificate. The approaching election
will be one Of vast importance and
great opportunities to the Republicans.
The scheme to set aside the State Con-
%stitution and make a new one should
instantly arouse the voters. 1t is
fraught with danger and involves
momentous changes, among which are
probably the annulling Of the 2 per
cent. tax for schools, fixing an education
and property qualification for the
elective franchise, establishing the
chain gang and whipping post. and
other obnoxious provisions. The new
Constitution will not be submitted to
the people for ratification ; so that the
only chance to defeat the scheme will
be at the next election, when the ques-
ton for or against the Constitutional Con-
vention is to be voted on. No Repub-
lican who does not have his registra-
ton certificate can vote. The danger
is imminent. and those who now fail TO
exercise their privileges will be respon-
sible for the deprivation Of the
rights, liberties and privileges grant,
ed by the present Constitution.
The hostility and disintegration
among the Democrats affords a chance
for the Republicans to exercise their
political rights Do not throw the op.
p%ortunity away. If remiss or recreaut
it may be the last chance many will
have to vote in South Carolina. The
whole country is sick Of Democratic rule
and incapacity. A revolt against the
deplorable condition into which it has
plunged the country, and the distress
and poverty brought upon the people, is
now sweeping owe the land. The
strongholds of Democracy in the North
have been o%verthrown, and the South is
doomed to a breakup. The principles
and policy Of the Republican party are
being vindicated. In this Stste the way
is open to elect seven Republican Con-
gressmen and defeat hostile Democratic
legislators as we'll as to preserve Cousti-
tutional rights from destruction. If sys-
tematic methods are adopted in each
county to enumerate and organize
the registered voters by forming them
into clubs it will result in separating the
active and useful voters from the drones
and be a stimulus to registration. The
emergency is critical, and the call to
duty imperative Therefore. rally Re-
publicans, and register. Be alive to your
interests and responsibilities. A man
who is not registered is not a voter, hav.
ing no more voice IN the affairs of
the State than a woman, a felon, or a
%lunatic, and is a political outcast."
The colored Republicans aye more
interested in the constitutional conven-
ton than any others, as they believe
that should a new Constitution be ad-
opted it would have some such %restric-
tons as vas adopted in Mississippi,
which would materially decrease the
political strength of the Republicans.
One of the leaders, in conversation with
a representative Of the State remarked
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