The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-17
What does this resolution mean?

o.
What does this resolution mean?
It's purpose is shown by the fact that
at the time of its passage there was in
the hall q negro representative OF the
Republican party, while half dozen
colored and white leaders of that party
were waiting ia the lobby of the State
House ready to join hands with the
Independent movemen: as soon as 1T
had been launched. Now, who are
the "opponents' of this ubiquitous,
undemocratic, tvrannical and dangerous
proposition?n Who are invited ITO
join with Us in fighting it at the
approaching general election? None
but the negroes Of course. This is
shown by the offer of the notorious ex-
Congressman Smalls to canvass the
Safe in opposition to the convention.
Why do these self-appointed guard
ians who have been repudiated by the
people appear so solicitous for the
negro's right to vote? Plainly because
they want to be beneficiaries of that
vote two years from now. Why do
they want 10 preserve to the ignorant
and debased negro his ballot2 Simply
because their fell purpose is to cover
the ballot of every poor wife man with
the ballot of two ignorant negroes and
thereby restore themselves to office and
power. While charging that it is the
purpose of the predominant faction OF
the Democratic party 10 disfranchise
the poor illiterate white men along
with the negro, does not any reasonable
man know that that faction being
largely made up of this class would not
disfranchise its Own followers? What
political party ever committed suicide
or relipquished voluntarily the control
of public affairs? The poor white men
of the State have never received recog-
milton until within the last.four years.
They are now the arbiters of their
own fortunes, and, if they miss the op-
portunity of taking guarantees in the
new constitution for the continued
supremacy OF the Anglo-Saxon in
South Carolina, we predict confidently
that, commencing with '96, our politi-
cal campaigns in this State will witness
a return of'more terrible and domoral-
izing conditions than ever confronted
this people, even during the days Of
Scott, Moses and Chamberlain. The
reckless, desperate men whose Ma
chavalian cunning is now playing the
double game of bidding for the negro
vote, and claiming to be the guardians
of the poor whites, are bent on regain
ing control of our affairs at any cost.
They are oblivious of the fact that the
vast horde of ignorant negroes, once
organized and disciplined to overpower
the white majority, the morals and
faith of white mea in each other being
once destroyed, the negroes inevitably
will seize power for their own benefit.
We say to the white men, who are
threatened by the independent news
papers with disfrar cbisement, that
Mississippi, with colored voting popu-
lstion larger than ours has adopted
constitution, which, without disfraG-
chlsing single white man, has reduced
the registered negro vote of that State
10 5000. What Mississippi has done
South Carolina can do. South Carolina
alone of all the reconstructed States still
keeps the constitution forced upon her
at the ut Of the bayonet by scala
wags AM aIiens.
The cost of constitutional conven-
ton, while of no Importance in compari-
son with the benefits to be derived, need
not under any circumstances exceed
$4,000. There are many benefits other
than the regulation of the suffrage to
be secured by changes in the organic
law. While these might be obtained
by the slow and unsatisfactory process
of amendment, we candidly ask any
sensible rnau what hope there would
be for securing the adoption of a new
constitution involving the regulation
of suffrage, if it had to be submitted
back to the people. It has been the
settled purpose of the trusted leaders
of the Democratic party for years to
call constitutional convention, and
obviate the dangers which have lurked
in our midst so long, only waiting for a
division among the whites to rear their
horrld heads. That division is pow
more than apparent. The reality is
upon US. The people through their
representatives il the Legislature and
ip Democratic conventions have time
and again demanded that such con-
vention be called. Those newspapers
which claim to be Democratic and
which antagonize this great reform are
either blind or the servile tools Of the
conspirators. We warn the white men
who love South Carolina and would
see continuation of good government,
and the rule of an Intelligent white
majority, to thrust aside and pay no
heed to the arguments of those who
seek to blind them to their true in
terests. After long years of struggle, the
opportunity is presented to them of
fixing this thing forever. All questions
to be passed on by the convention can
be discussed when the election Of del
gates is to take place. It is a slander
and an insult to say that the people
have not the patriotism and intelli-
gence to elect men from among them
selves, to frame an organic law better
suited to our wants than that imposed
on US by the carpet-bagger and alien.
The wisest and best of our citizenship
can be chosen to perform this delicate
aud patriotic duty without regard to
factien, once the convention is ordered.
The point which we would urge with
all the vigor at our command is that
the opportunity is now here. 1t cer-
tainly is not likely to soon recur. If
the people fail to seize it and the evils
of mongrelism, governmental debau-
cherry and political decentralization shall
descend upon the State after the next
election, they will have none to blame
but themselves.
Let all true Democrats and patriotic
white men go to the polls on the 9Th of
November and vote for the constitu-
tional convention.
J.L. NJ. IRBY, Chairman,
VILE JONES,
e. NJ. EFIRD,
D. E. KEELS,
o. r. LowMAN,
J. A. SLIGH,
Campaign Committee Of the State
Democratic Executive Committee.
First Snow in the Northwest.