The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-21
Why Tindal Didn't Speak at
the AbbeVille Meeting

Messrs. John R. Blake, R.. R. Hemp
hill, John H. Morrab, Isaac q.
McCalla, and John E Bradley, Com
mittee, Abbeville, S. G.
Gentlemen =
have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your invitation to address
the people of Abbeville as a candidate
for Governor. desire to express my
thanks for the compliment. bat | had
y declared that I would or would
not be a candidate. | had not sup
posed that the Reformers would again
place candidates before the people by a
convention ; bat thought the people of
their own motion would gravitate to
some man or men in sufficient numbers
to warrant him or them in entering
upon a canvass of the State with reason
able hope of success.
At present our people are puzzled
aud in a somewhat chaotic condition.
Unless We proceed wisely, discords and
danger are before us. My judgment
opposes any nominating convention.
either early or late. 1 am no schis-
matte and will cheerfully abide by the
decision of the majority. but I deem it
my duty to earnestly advise against
it.
I was one Of the first promoters
of the Farmers Movement. the aim
Of which was an Agricultural College
We expanded that into the Reform
Party. aud appealed to the people
Of all classes against a political COM
bination called a ring" which had
opposed aud, for a time defeated the
college and had practically deprived a
majority Of the people of their proper
Influence upon public affairs. Our OBJ
ject was to secure to every Democratic
voter in the State the privilege of
casting his vote direct for every officer
from Governor down.
The farmers being removed and
scattered from the centres Of political
information were practically disfran-
chised, because before they could be-
come aware Of what was going on.
states we're made, conventions packed
aud nominees declared.
This was due to the convention
plan of domination in presence Of a
negro majority, which prevented revolt.
The men who composed the so-called
ring were Of no worse type of human
nature than politicians generally. No
one believes they were. But a ring
is inherent 10 the convention system
under our political conditions. If we,
therefore, return to it another ring
must inevitably evolve sooner or
latter in our ranks And who will
compose it? Evidently, the most
extreme and violent. The scare-crow
Of the old ring was Radical rule. The
scare-crow Of the future ring will be
"Anti rule" The people will throw
up their hats in honor of a victory as
they suppose of their party, while in
fact they are re-enslaving themselves.
For what do they, when they commit
their rights, power. liberty and means of
self-defence to a few, who are auto
cratic, absolute and responsible to no
body. There is no way to punish
them 10 case they battered the Offices
among themselves. There is but one
way for the people to maintain their
influence upon pubic affairs, and that
is to use intelligeutly their votes.
[ am aware that true and unselfsh
Reformers are advocating the Conven-
ton. although it is going back upon
oar principles. Why? 1st,-Because
We have not established a square
primary. but a primary, for electors.
2nd,-Because as several candidates
for Governor may be in the race, it is
feared that this will give the Conserva-
tives some supposed advantage.
uto lC1t III ldCC vi Out ldlHC
majority must arise from distrust of the
Reformers themselves, which is ground
less. This mistrust has grown out :.of
unfortunate personal r%ecriminations
between some influential Reformers.
All danger can be, and must be ayerted
by thorough organization Of the Re-
form forces to secure their full strength
at the Democratic election.
Our real danger is from passions and
prejudices which exist. A violent minor.
ity in the State mixes a violent majority.
There are Reformers already, who, if
they could would not allow the Conser-
vatives to vote at the democratic prima-
~; and there are Conservatives who
would disfrapchise the whole Reform
party.
It requires moral courage for a
Reformer to be just to q Conservative
and vice versa. Passion is %supp!antiug
reason. Mud singing aud pulling
l. -: ---l.- =.