The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-03
POpE'S PRONUNClAMENT0 TO.
he ANNOUNCES HIMSELF A FULL
PLEDGED CANDIDATE.
Dr. Pope Says He is In the Race to q Finish
He Withdrew from the Primaries to
Checkmate the Ring, Which He De-
clares is More Despotic than Tam
many-The Dispensary Law
Strongly Denounced.
Especial to News and Courier.

Special to News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, S. c., September 29.-Dr.
Sampson Pope has been in the city sew
eral days, looking after his political
fences. Tonight he issued an address
to the people of tie State which, he
says, fully presents the platform upon
which be expects to win or meet defeat.
The address is as follows:
To the Democratic Voters of South
Carolina:
AS there are some persons who seem
to think because / withdrew from two
primaries that I will not run the race
for Governor to the finish, | desire to
say that my withdrawal from the pri-
maries was to checkmate the ring, who
thought they had me in a position to
tie my hands, and to put myself in a
position to run at the general elec-
ton.
Ipledge my friends my word of honor,
if life is spared rne, that [ will run the
race to the finish.
In making the race I am fighting a
ring rule more despotic in character
than Tammany itself; ring whose ex-
istence is acknowledged by Editor
CAN'T even in the last issue of his paper;
a ring that threatens to destroy not
only the Reform Movement, but the
Democratic party as well; ring, the
mem bers of which laugh in their sleeves
at their power to fool the people, not
only out of the Offices, but also in so
shaping the platform that none can un-
derstand; playing the role Of tricksters;
a ring that is using the machinery OF
the dispensary to perpetuate themselves
in power, even through blood; the
blood of citizens of the State shall he
spilled to carry out their designs for
perpetuation in power.
Peace is preached at the laying of
the cornerstone of the Winthrop College
at Rock Hill. The opposite is hurled
in the teeth of the citizens ofColu mbia,
after the primary.
You can have no peace until you de-
stroy the power of these people, and
until you strike the dispensary law
from the statute book. for it is vast
political machine and has been used in
some counties if not in all, as such, and
I predict will I've used at the general
election.
Then let US join hands and fight ring
rule, the dispensary and the Constltu-
tional Convention, unless the Constltu-
ton to be formulated is to be submitted
to the people for ratification.
Let past differences be forgotten in
this struggle for the rights and the lib
erty Of the people.
To accomplish anything you must
not only elect a Governor, but Legis-
lature as we'll. In thus joining bands
for the rights and for good government
history is but repeating itself. More
than once our forefathers of opposing
factions in England came together by
force of circumstances, threw off an
odious yoke and restored civil liberty,
and with it the rights and liberty of
her citizens. While We may disagree
on many minor points let US agree and
agree quickly on matters of vital issue
to the people at large. Fraud vitiates
elections as it does everything else.
Men voting at the general primary
were many of them made to believe
that they must vote the whole ticket
or their ticket would not count; ickets
were counted for the electoral ticket
where the names had been crossed out.
The oath prescribed by statute was
added to.
These and many other frauds were
committed which vitiated the whole
election and made the voter free to vote
as he pleased at the general election.
Every man is the keeper of his own
conscience; he has DO master on earth
to fix bis conscience and say what he
shall or shall not do.
A general primary in 1896 is called
for in the new Constitution, put there
to try and satisfy the unrest. Another
convention may be called before that
time to change back to old plan. You
have no sssur nee that it will not be
called. The time is short between now
and the general election. organize for
success aud see to it that there is free
ballot and fair count.
Respectfully,
Septembe 2S, 1891. SAMPSON POPE.
DR.. Pope says he feels perfectly sure
of election, that all indications point to
the success of his candidacy. His man
ner is that Of perfect confidence.