The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-05

x78OO0 year In interest
an. The establishment OF the Winthrop NOT
mai and Industrial college for Women.
7th. Election OF the Raiiroad Commissioners
by the people. and allowing them 10 n4 passon-
ger and freight rates. =
9Th The inauguration Of the primary system
n.narty nominations for all offices in the g1ft
Of the people.
The Inst is not function OF government, and
belongs rather to party management put Dy
sn6tar,ussatt- -1nG the. battle .iou2ht ,to obtain
ft. All The rest have come. By those who nave
fought us so doggedly it win be charged tnat
the unity OF the Yhitesraee has been desloSso,
the democratic Hast nsaSlasas 5 .ne a
nlaced nv factional bitterness and strife.
Be ft 80. The blame rests with those who,
rhile claiming to represent the masses, were
eutrenched in our high places as the TOOLS OF
CORPORATIONS, and advocates OF special ps1st-
lepes for the few and political slavery ana n
nancfal Serystude for. the many. Per1Sh tne
democratic party OF both state and nation,
democracy does not mean the greatest gooo 10
the greatest number, and the rule OF the ma
iorfty Let white unity go II the bona Wnlcn
binds IS not that Of brethren with equal rights
but links aristocratic privilege and the claim
of inheritance by. divine right, to servile sur
render OF the. rights OF frec.nen- The National
democracy betrayed the people and broke an
ef its pledges It has been given q deserved
chastisemeot, II not death stroke, oy the
voters. But the state democracy, although
staa,beGl In the back By white men calling them
selves 'sour best people" and the only true
democrats" has triumphed over Bourbon1Sm
and treachery. The presencSan t9eses.hattss s0i
an increased number Of refcfmerS SHOWS tnat
the people are content with the government as
ft has been administered, and intend to con-
aox>o Freedom 8U0
tyrany cannot revolve ir the same orbit In an
elective government. unless the tyrant is on
ton. The position having been inverted by the
election OF 1896. placing the free people on cop
and the tyrantS below. the natural repubtcanS
among our white people-the believers In
special privileges and class legiSlatton-have
slouxhed OF into party OF their own, and have
gone to the negroes at last. They nave nos
been content, however, to go In decent sneace
and vote as they pleased. But remembering
the possibilities Of the election machinery OF
their own contriyance, and how they had cheat
ed in elections in the past, they have raised
one general chorus O. Fraud" Fraud all
over the state; and this without producing any
reputable witnesses to prove single allega-
tion. and IN face Of the fact that no motive for
is shown. and the vote the lightest on record.
tits disgraceful spectacle that South Car
olinianS will so slancer their own state: but
political malice and lying for money can &C
complish great deal OF noise In the public
prints. The courts are open to them, the law
provides for contests before the county can
yassers and state board. But they have not
dared attack the legality OF the election be-
fore either tribunal, except at few precincts
which could not change the result. They SIM
DIV charge fraud over anonymous signatures,
or through the mouths Of brazen tools bought
to do the dirty work Of slander.
This cry of fraud, under the circumstances,
can only emanate from hearts reeking with
dendish malice and envy, or it is paid for by
the whiskey ring, which organized the bolt
and furnished the campaign fund. The vote
was very light. because the people were not
aroused and did not know Of the intended
coup d'etat OF the allied republicans and inde-
pendents /: but when it is remembered that the
same managers who returned Evans 1najori-
ties returned large adverse votes against the
constitutional convention. which was specially
linked to his candidacy. it can be seen how un-
reasonable and false is the accusation Of bal
lot box stuffng and false counting. II there
had been any concerted or orgaaiZed purpose
TO cheat among the managers, these contra
dictory votes would not have been returned.
assert that the election was as fair and mark
ed by as few irregularities as any ever held in
the state since the reconstruction period.
But cannot refrain from congrarulating the
people upon the opportunity now offered, after
long weary years Of waiting and struggle. to
nut our beloved state beyond the reach OF 1g-
norance and vice in controlling elections.
The constitutional convention has been call
ed by popular vote, though by small major
itv. Ts will be your duty to provide for the
election Of delegates to it, ane to appropriate
a snm OF money for defraying its expenses.
This is an additional achievement, by and
+hroueh the reform movement, which will have
more to do with the future veal and woe OF
our commonwealth than any OF all the rest
have heretofore enumerated. 1t is nttlns
capstcne to the triumphal arch which the COM
mon people have erected 70 liberty. progress
and Anglo-Saxon civilization since iS9o.
There is one aspect Of the convention OK
penses TO which would direct your attentaon'