The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-03-14

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peal to the Reformers especially fol
harmony in our ranks. Shall men in
spired with a high purpose who have
worked together nobly for popular
rights and political justice bring re
proaeh and possible danger to the
whole party, by suspicious and recrlm
inations? We want unityin our ranks
and peace and justice for the whole
State.
The principles of the Reform party
are right. They will stand the test OF
all fair criticism. The government is
as honestly administered as ever in tie
history of the State, and will continue
to be:as long asit continues to be ID
the hands Of the white people, or any
factien of them.
But should we divide into two poll.
tical parties, they will surely in the end
appeal for negro votes, and then cor
ruption and disgrace will follow.
What are the Reformers contendins
for? To secure a fair consideration of
all measures affecting the interests of
the people, under agreement, that any
or alemeasures, about which differ
ence of opinion might arise, shall be
settled at the primary election. The
object,betng to secure, without danger
to honest government, free political ac-
tion and progress, such as is secured to
Statessof homogeneous populations by
two political parties. The farmers
through the Alliance seek to establish
a political status, as will of itself deVe.
lop the best talent, not only OF their
clase, but of the whole population, to
aid in ayerting further ruins from
them, and to the. Republic itself. They
want men of humanity and men of sin.
eerity. The first step to this end
is to get out Of the old ruts,
get ridlof prejudice and passion, and let
men who aspire to public honors know
they can't secure them by coquetTlng
with a few convention managers, but
by winning the confidence of the peo.
pie. We cannot 60 backwards, influ.
ence by any supposed plan Or device of
the Conservatives. Neither fear of the
opposites nor mistrust of our friends
should deter US from doing right. X
I krow that some of my friends say
that amtoo conservative, and perhaps
they are right. l am more conserYa-
tive as 1 grow older. l risk less in busi-
ness enterprises. While folty years
effort to reform myself has given me
larger charity for my fellow men. I
may, therefore, be too conservative, but
my whole experience has taught me
that rashness is folly, that passion is
lunacy, that extremes are dangerous;
and history shows that all great popular
movements have come short of their
aim, by passion, by the extremes to
which they went and by the inordin.
ate ambition Of men,. =.
The Conservatives, although with
the advantage of a monopoly of politi-
cal experience and training, were.easi-
ly,defeated. because passion bereft them
of reason, judgment and justice.
Let it warn the Reformers.
A convention on the Colleton plan Is
right, not to make nominations but to
lay down a. platform on the lines on
which we have been moving. organizes
theReform fore to secure their unity and
full strength, and to devise some means
of avoiding confusion in choosing elec-
tors at the Democratic primary. Or if
possible to secure direct primary,
which in my Judgment is the only safe
ty for the Democratic party, and for
the un6Sy OF. the white racein the fu-
ture. Respectfully.
T f. TINDAT