The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-11-21
The Lesson OF the Hour.

The Lesson OF the Hour.
The election last week in this State
was very damaging to the unity of
the white people. Men are boasting
that they broke away from all the re-
straints of the past, and cast their
ballots openly and advisedly for Re
publicans. Hundreds and thousands
voted for an Independent, claiming
that they were fully justified by the
conduct of the dominant faction, and
that they acted in this manner as a
rcbuke to the leaders of that tactlon.
White men were aiding and abettlng
the negroes in trying to defeat the
regular nominee of the Democracy,
and some went so far as to confer
with negro leaders in order to obtain
their support for an Independent.
On the other hand, it is freely
charged that the commissioners and
managers of election stuffed ballot
boxes, falsified returns and counted
out the opposition in many places:
The daily newspapers have teemed
with such charges every day, while
DR.. Pope and his friends are prepar-
ing to make contest, which will in
tensify the troubles already existing
and widen the breach already made.
The vote on the constitutional con-
vention is very close, and it is alleged
that orders were issued from the
leaders of the Reform faction to
manipulate the returns SO that ma
jority would be secured for the con-
yention, whether or not the votes
counted out that way.
This state of affairs is truly lament
able, and presages greater trouble in
the future. The charges of fraud
will not be sustained in many in
stances, but there is no doubt that
gross irregularities have occurred in
the recent election, as indeed they
are always occurring where the laws
are not stringent and carefully guard
ed. 1t is doubtful whether strictly
legal election has been held in South
Carolina since the war, if mere irreg-
ularities are to count against it, and
since the passage Of the registration
law it has been easy enough to find
fault with the registration of voters
or the manner of holding elections.
So long as those irregularities did
not effect white men, there was an
Indifference in the public mind as to
the result, but with the recent divis-
ions and dissentions different feel
ing has arisen in regard to the mat
ter.
The Legislature should provide at
once for ballot reform in South Coro-
lima. We have reached that point
when it is necessary that strict and
uniform law shall be enacted, which
would guarantee fairness and justice,
and for the violation of which an ad-
equate punishment will be meted
out. It is entirely feasible to frame
law which will guarantee to the
voter that his ballot shall be counted
just as it was cast, and to take away
from partisan or factional managers
the opportunity Of annulling the
wish of the voter. The gravity of
the situation to-day in South Carroll
ma is made more serious by the con-
viction in the minds of many that
the election returns do not represent
the popular will. All hope of white
unity will be destroyed forever unless
measures are devised in a short time
for the restoration of good feeling.
The Legislature can do much in every
way to allay the existing dissensions
among the white people, but in no
particular can they make a greater
stride than by passing an election
law which will give assurance of fair
and honorable conduct in future
elections. But this is not the only
thing to be done at this juncture,
when the tension is 50 great that the
bonds Of unity are swapping on every
side.
The opportunity for bringing
about a better state of affairs lies
just before US. The constitutional
convention has been called by a
small majority on the face Of the re-
turns, and it is going to be held. The
election of delegates to that conven-
ton will naturally arouse much in
terest among the people. This means
an irrevocable division in our State,
and every interest is going to suffer
from such madness and folly. Some
thing must be done at the start to
heal the breaches already made, or
else the gap will widen without much
difficulty. In our Judgment, the in
itiative must be taken by the leaders
of the Reform faction, because they
are supposed to represent majority
of the white people.
The election of delegates to the
constitutional convention furnishes
the test as to whether reconciliation
will take place, and the Reformers
have It in their power to show un-
mistakably that they do not wish to
ostracise and punish their white
brethren. Will they do it? Can
they rise superior to a factional spirit,
and lead the way for the choice of
solid, substantial, intelligent, far
seeing and patriotic men who are to
constitute the mainstay of our peo-
pie in a great emergency? The rank
and file Of the Reformers are ready
to follow their leaders in a move
ment which will surely obliterate
much of the past estrangement, and
they will vote for men who can best
serve the State in the capacity OF
delegates unless they are stirred by
passion and prejudice. Are these
leaders equal to the task before them
Upon their answer will depend the
veal or woe of South Carolina for a
generation.--Greenville Mountaineer.
Pure blood is absolutely necessary in Or
der to enjoy perfect health. Hoods Sarsa-
parilla purifes the blood and strengthens
the system.