The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-16
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.
THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
ISSUES A STRONG APPEAL.

A Call Upon the White People t.
Vote for a Constitutional Conven
tion-Removing the Negro from
Politics on the Mississippi Plan.
Chairman Irby of the State Demo.
cratic Executive Committee has pro.
mulgated in behalf of the Democratic
campaign committee the following
important address to the Democratic
voters of the State
To the Democratic Voters of South
Carolina:
The executive committee being
charged with the welfare of the party
and the success Of its policy as out
lined in it's platform, which policy
carries with it the welfare of ma
jority OF the people, we feel constrain-
ed to direct the special attention of the
necessity and Importance of the plank
in the platform adopted by the recent
Democratic State convention urging
every Democratic voter to sustain the
call for constitutional convention.
1t is well known that there are
great differences existing between the
white factions in the State, one Of
which has yielded relutant obedience
strained relations which have existed
since 1890, with the factional bitter.
ness displayed by that portion of the
State press which has opposed the
governing majority with a malevo-
lence and factional spirit almost un-
precedental, point inevitably to per-
manent division in the ranks of the
white people, for which this minority
alone must be held responsible. Con-
fronted as we have been by colored
voting population 10000 in excess of
the whites, since the revolution of
1876 white supremacy has been almost
the only test OF Democracy, and its
maintenance the compelling motive
spoken at the conventions and pri-
maries. But there are many evidences
that the tics which have bound our
people together are being systematic
cally rivon asunder and the public
mind being educated to appeal to this
ignorant, debased vote to restore to
power those who have been unable to
command majority of the white
vote.
The State newspaper, the organ
which was started by the Independents
in 1891 and which has recently ex-
bausted all it's expedients to bring
about another bolt and defeat of the
party nominees, has time and again
ridiculed and sneered at the possible
danger of an appeal to the colored
vote. This newspaper, backed by
large number of other. papers, is now
called "true Democracy" and boldly
announces the purpose to ignor the
present party machiaery and the ex-
ecutive committee as at present com
posed as being representative OF the
Democratic party. These facts are
known of all men and they can have
but one meaning-the purpose on the
part of the minority to appeal to the
negro as the arbiter of our politics in
the campaign of 1896. During the
past spring and summer strenuous
efforts have beer made ostensibly at
the iustigation of the Republicans to
overthrow the registration law. We
have reason to known that the Inde-
certain newspapers, have instigated
and sympatized with these attempts.
So that it cannot be reasonably dis
puted that there is desperate faction
in the State bent on regaining power
at any cost. We deem it unnecessary
to direct attention to the inevitable
consequences which will follow divis-
ion of the whites into anything like
equal factions, and the bringing in
of the negro as the balance of power.
The only reason why we are not now
in the throes of a political agitation,
with contending factions mobilizing
the black army OF voters, Is that the
movement was considered hopeless.
1t was II question Of expediency and
not one of principle or patriotism with
or frlD1 tn II th,f he,
failure of the plot which came to the
surface on the 9th Of August is due to
the patriotism and self-control of the
large body OF conservative men who,
while voting with the minority in the
campaign Of 1892, submitted gracefully
to it's results and were unwilling to
jeopardiZe the public welfare by such
desperate venture. Fortunately the
opportunity is offered the white peo-
pie of the State in the coming election
to obviate oil future danger, and
fortify Anglo-Saxon civilization against
every assault from within and without,
and that is the calling of constitu-
tional convention to deal with the all
important question Of suffrage. By q
strange and unaccountable change of
always stood for qualified suffrage,
and denied the capacity or the right
of the masses to participation in the
governm, Mt are to-day loud-mouthed
In their declaration that they are
champions of the poor white man
whose vote Is threatened, as they say.
Every newspaper controlled by this
class Is teeming with sll manner of
specious and false arguments against
voting for q convention. They say
that the white voters who are ignorant
and poor will have cast their last bal
lot II they vote for convention. They
dwell with pathetic concern on the
injury to the free schools and by every
device known to sophistry are trying
to throw dust in the eyes OF the masses
Plain speaking is best and we shall
not mince words. We propose to show
that there is deep-dyed treaehery tc
white supremacy in this antagonism tC
new constitution.
In the so-called convention com
posed of self-appOinted delegates
which assembled on the 25th OF Sep
tember for the avowed purpose o.
nominating an Independent ticket
and appealing to the negro, the follow
ing resolution, which betrays the
whole damnable scheme was passed anC
the opening gun for '96 thereby fired
Resolved, That while this conven
tion desires to avoid doing anything
likely to cause increased strife among
our people, we believe that the prin
ciples OF Democracy, the safety o
every interest In the State and the in
stinct OF self-preservation demand tina
o hard and earnest fight be made
against the proposition to call con
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