The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-01
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE,
The Campaign Committee Issues
A Strong Appeal.

A CALL UPON THE WHITE PEOPLE
TO VoTE FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES THE Me-
GRO FROM PoLITIcs ON THE MIS-
sIssIpPI PLAN.
| Chairman Irby of the State
Democratic Executive. Committee
has promulgated in Behalf of the
Democratic campaign committee
the following important address to
the ID e IN ocra t 9 voters of the
State:
| TO the Democratic Voters of
South Carolina:
The executive committee boing
charged with the welfare of the
party and the success of its policy
as outlined in it's platform, which
policy carries with it tho welfare
OF n majority of the people, we
feel constrained to direct the spe-
ial attention of the necessity and
Importance of the plank in the
platform adopted by the recent
Democratic State convention urg-
ing every Democratic voter to
sustain the call for a constitutions
al convention.
1t is we'll known that there are
great differences existing between
the white factions in the State,
one Of which has yielded reluctant
obedience to the will of the ma
jority. The strained relations
which have existed since 1890,
with the factional bitterness dis
played by that portion of the State
press which has opposed the gov
erning majority with q malevo-
lence and factional spirit almost
unprecedented, point inevitably to
q permanent division in the ranks
of the white people, for which this
minority alone must be held re-
sponsible. Confronted as we have
been by q colored voting popula-
ton 10000 in excess of the whites
since the revolution of 1876 white
supremacy has been almost the
only test of Democracy, and it's
maintenance the compelling mo-
tive for submission after the party
had spoken at the conventions and
primaries. But there are many
evidences that the ties which have
bound our people together are be-
ing Systematically rivcn asunder
and the public mind beng educa-
: ted to appeal to this ignorant, de.
based vote to restore to power
those who have been unable tc
command a majority of the white
vote.
| The State newspaper, the organ
which was started by the Independ-
cnts in 1891 and which has recent
~ exhausted all it's expedients to
bring about another bolt and de-
teat OF the party nominees, has
time and again ridiculed and sneer-
ed at the possible danger of an ap.
peal to the colored vote. This
newspaper backed by a largo mum.
:, Der of other papers, is now urging
tho organization of the so-calleG
"true Democracy" and boldly an.
nounces the purpose to ignore tho
present party machinery and the
executive committee as at presen
composed as being Representative,
of the Democratic party. Thes,
facts are known of all men an(
they can have but one meaning
the purpose on the part of the mi
nority to appeal to the negro as
the arbiter of our politics in thu
campaign of 1896. During the
past spring and summer strenuous
, efforts have been made ostensibly
at the instigation Of the Republi-
cans to overthrow the registration
, law. We have reason to know
that the independents, as shown
by the columns of certain news
j, papers, have instigated and sym
pathizod with these. attempts. So
that it cannot be reasonably dis
, puted that there is desperate
faction in the State bent on re-
gaining power at any COST. We
deem it unnecessary to direct at
tention to tho inevitable consc.
, qucnces which will follow division
of the whites into anything like
equal factions, and the bringing il
, OF the negro as the balance Of
power.
The only reason why we are no
now in the throes Of politica
agitation, with contending factions
mobilizing the black army of vot
: ers, is that the movement wa
= considered hopeless. 1t was
2 question of cxpediency and nor
Z ono of principle or patriotism
with many. We are glad to know
that the failure of the plot which
!, came to the surface on the 27th
!. Of August is duo to the patriotism
8 and self-control of the large body
r of conservative men who. while