The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-05


get what support l can from the Re-
fawmers." He went into the campaign
and fought through it; then, seeing
defeat inevitable, be announces his
withdrawal from the organization which
takes the place Of the Democratic party
in South Carolisa. He calls upon all
opponents Of Tillman to rally to lis
support. There can be no doubt but
that his main reliance aud hope is the
uncompromisiug opponents of Tillman-
ism and the sham of refawm with which
South Carolina is cursed. We believe
his appeal is too late and is made by
the wrong man. Senator Butler has
failed in bis plan ard in desperation
turns to those be repudiated at the
outset. For one we would not, under
existing circumstances, lift hand in
Senator Buffers favor, and we trust
Sumter County will have no part in the
eleventh hour attempt to inaugurate a
Straightout ight in behalf Of Senator
Butler. We.have made the only fight
possible to us. single handed and alone,
aud have won everything We contested
for. We expect the Reformers to
abide the result, aud We should do SO
to the very letter, including the support
of DR.. Stokes. If Senator Butler
appeals to the General Election let him
appeal IN vain as far as Sumter County
is concerned.
Threats Of boycotte do but solidify
the voters Of Sumter against the politi-
cal faction which countenances, as lead
ers. men capable Of attempting to gain
votes BY such disreputable methods.
Neither do promises Of immunity to
illicit whiskey sellers seem to have been
more effective in gaining votes for the
Reform ticket. Perhaps had the blind
tigers had confidence in the men
making the promises their votes might
have been Won. The influence of the
substantial and generally respected men
in the Reform faction and the sincerity
of the rank aud file of the faction in
Sumter County are discounted BY the
.hreats Of boyeotte against the leading
merchants of Sumter and promises of
State protection to the municipal law
breakers. The City of Sumter is
almost a unit politically. aud the
methods of certain Reformers tend to
solidify us more and more. 1t is all
bosh and nonsense for defeated can-
didates to come whining around aud
saving that lit would have been much
better had Sumter split and supported
some Of the Reform ticket; that as
business matter the merchants would
have prodted BY supporting the Reform
ticket, and they should have done so as
matter Of policy that the political
action of Sumter as a unit will antago-
nize the Reformers and the business of
the town will suffer from this time
toward that the merchants should
have thought about this and supported
the Reform ticket" To all this we
can make but one answer. The Con-
servasives vote from principle, and for
the men whom they believe represent
their principles Would the Re-
formers have the Conservatives to re-
pudiate and sacrifice the principles they
hold as right to gain a few hundred
dollars 10 trade ? Do they. hold princi-
pie so lightly that they would have
their opponents debauch themselves to
the end that they (tbe Reformers) may
obtain Office Which is the greater
crimeY To buy floating voter, who
is an alien to principle or to threaten
men of principle with business ruin
unless they will sacrifice their prioci-
ples and vote as their tbreatepers die
tate
.GREATLY REDUCED MAJOR