The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-11
The RefaWm Convention.


The eColleson idea convention
composed Of one Reform delegate frou
YER county in the State. met il
Columbia last Wednesday IN the Hal
of the House Of Representatives. Th'
meeting was secret, even those. Re
formers who were not delegates being
excluded from the room.
The meeting was organized tempo
rarily BY the election Of Mr.. j. a
Sigh chairman, and Barnwell ant
Oft Of Union secretaries.
The Reform committee decided
to hold . convention on Angus
IA for the purpose Of nominating
Reform candidates for Governor ane
Lieutenant Governor. A long address
vas issued which Is as follows:
Four years ago, after years Of ssrog'
gle in the arena Of reason, with ths
forces Of wealth and culture aud trained
leadership combined against us
combustion confident, exultant in the
pride and prestige of power long enjoy;
ed-the Keformers of the State joined
issue squarely before the people. and a
the ballot box Won their fight BY an
overwhelming majority. But the strug.
ole did not end there. An active,
Intelligent and aggressive minority has
kept mp the fight with a .enacity that,
in . better cause, would command the
admiration of all men. Every resource
known to legislative aud judicial
obstrucsionists has been laid under
tribute to re.ard the performance Of the
pledges Of the Reformers Of the State to
The people of the State, and to defeat
the operation of these pledges even after
enacted into law.
Notwithstanding this active and
skillful opposition, under the most
adrois and as.ute leadership. We have
performed every pledge made to the
people in 1890, in so far as such pledges
can be performed under the organic law
of the State. We have worked out the
reforms we promised the people and
more than we promised. With a clear
record behind US, We now stand face to
face with the future, ready and eager to.
erapple with new questions aud new
issues that shall make for the upbuiidiog
Of the material prosperity Of the entire
people in larger degree and upon
broader lines than eve before.
Moreover, with full control of every
department Of the machinery of gov
eminent, with q constituency unified
aud solidi6ed by successful struggle, We
are in position not only to project larger
things for the, people, bus we are in
position to perform what we project.
Let us not forget. however, that all
though we have rectifed many Of the
wrongs Of the past aud accomplished the
REFORMS demanded in 1890, there are
still important issues to be settled In
carrying ont the pledges of the past.
questions Of the most vital aud far
reaching import have been raised
questions that 60 to the very foundation
of governments by the people. The
issue has been sauarely raised between
organized capital aud the organized
people, by whose suffrage aggregation
Of capital became possible. The crca-
tare has grown so powerful and arro-
CANT that it has dared to measure arms
With It's ereator-the State. So hot
have the Reformers made this Sight that
corporate monopoly has been driven
from its cover and forced to fight in the
open field. Its subtle grip upon the
peoples throat has been looseoed and
complete emancipation for che people is
only q question Of time. It lisa proper
subject for congratulatiou that in this
mighty struggle, worldwide in it's
scope, South Carolina Reformers stand
veil out in the trout It ooly needs
nov that We be true to our principles,
to our country and to q people, and
the victory is sure.
To insure continued success. a GER
tain amount Of organization is necessary.
In 1890 the necessary organization was
accomplished by a March convention.
For various and sufficient reasons such
. convention was deemed inexpedient
this year ; bat after full discussion in
the press, the plan of holding mass
meetings to elect State Reform cam
raign committee was adopted. Meet
ipgs we're held, committeeman we're
appointed. and that committee 10 its
assembled wisdom formulated a plan of
suggesting Reform candidates for Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor. This
plan, as will be seen in the published
proceedings, meets all the requirements
of a primary for Governor and Lieuten-
ant Governor. 1t meets the reasonable
demands of the people to see aud hear