The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-30
! GdUgrtiSer
3 8. q. oct. 80, 1884.


The CONSTITUTIONAL Convention Again.
Should a 6ajority vote on the 9th OF
Novemberfor q constitutional conven-
.iong the legislature elected on that
day will order the convention. 1t will
be mandatory to them and they will
have no discretion in the matter. The
convention would probably be called
TO sit as early as May. Chosen at this
juncture by a partisan faction the ma
jortty would be tools in the hands OF
extreme factional leaders and the re-
suit would be o constitution made by q
half dozen scheming selfish Office
holders, looking to perpetutte them
selves in power and office. The leaders
now in office have probably heard Of
the Mississippi constitution, adopted
recently, and hope to adopt some such
scheme as Its provisions and tickle the
people with the pretense of having in
vented something to settle the difficult
problems presented by the conditions
In this State and especially as result
the presence of the negro as
a factor in u political and social
fabric. But the Mississippi constitu-
tion Is an experiment as yet and the
future must determine its value as a
safeguard against the threat to civili-
zation in that State. The negro voting
majority in this State is probably
twenty-five thousand, while in Miss
issippiit is'ffty. AS we understand the
Mississippi constitution it DISTINGUISHES
all who cannot read and explain that
instrument. Besides it provides that
o Legislature shall only be elected once
in four years. Walthall, n of their
u. s. Senators, was elected for nine
years. We are in no such strait as
our neighbors, the Mississippians, and
our eight box law meets the present
demand that the white r'al shall rule
In this State.
Again there is no provision that the
-c~e&stitution when enacted shall be
submitted to the people. Those who
vote "yes" hazard life, liberty and
property upon the casting Of q die. 1t
is certainly taking a leap in darkness as
black as Erebus. Be sure of one thing.
The present oficeholders will vote
themselves into office for q term equal
to a life tenure. The white voters in
South Carolina arc perfectly compe-
tent to Judge of Il constitution that af-
fects the rights Of their children and
the happiness Of at least q generation
of people to como and they will repud-
late this attempt to take a snap judg-
ment against them. We can only
give guesscs and hints; we, with
you, good readers, do not know what
r the deep laid plots, what devilment
is intended. Better be on your guard.
"The price of liberty is eternal vigil
lance"
Mr.. Roddy, q gentleman of New
York, formerly Of South Carolina,
now in the cotton business has written
O letter upon tho subject of the low
price of cotton. 1t is we'll worthy OF
the large attention it is attracting. In
brief he proposes that cotton pro-
ducers organize q syndicate with one
hundred million dollars with which to
control the cotton crop, and the man
ner of its being put upon the market.
He attributes the low price now pre-
vailing to the crop being dumped all
at once upon tho worlds market and
false iniorr@ ion disseminated by in
terested pgost2s c~xaggerating the
on.n,nf ohx,.S.a rron r. etrilxoc nc that
there is a great deal in what he says
and something ought to be done.
While his scheme involves vast COM
binations and takes in ar immense
1aiiritory it may be made practicable.
mere should be a cotton association
embracing the whole cotton territory,
with o working bureau, with capital
at its back, looking to the combining
cotton production with reference to the
worlds wants, and putting it on the
market Systematically, and also giving
truthful information as to the condition
of the crops and the supply.
In no sense can the scheme be re-
garded as q trust in the ordinary
sense. The product is SO large and
covers SO much ground and so vast a
population, no monopoly can eve be
established over the American crop.
Without any s~entimentality upon the
subject Of 'trusts' we give our voice
for any effort looking to the capturing
of IL great staple by spectators at
half its value. We must fight fire
with fire and fight with organization.
*x*
Colleton is the empire county in this
State, with the biggestterritory. Four
new counties could be carved out OF it
and our neighbors wanting convcn-
lent Court Houses, could emigrate to
those fine hunting grounds and the
Colietonians would be glad to greet
them. Then Berkeley is q wide do
main and to Mt. Pleasant requires a
voyage by water. Consider Berkeley.
Gov. Tillman (says The Statc) has
appointed q Clarendon lawyer to the
whiskey c~onstabulary. AS 'lowli-
ness is young Ambitions ladder" the
Legislature NAV endorse the Governor