The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-01-31
possible for our opponents to Civ
THAR strenoth To some one of thne

possible for our opponents to Civ
their strength to some one of thos
who would be least Objectionable ant
most inclined to trade with them o
make concessions if elected; and there
by the Conservatives in some of the
counties, and possibly in TIE State con
vention, might hold the balance o
power. This is the only argument tha
has ever presented itself to me, and
think it is the only one to any one; bu
I think the people are sufficiently edu
Gated and can be relied upon to watch
the words and remember the record:
of the various candidates so as tt
choose wisely who shall be Governor
and who shall fill the other offices.
"On the other hand, If we hold 6
convention the trouble is that large
con singent of our people, 3 majority
probably, would take no hand in 1t, fol
it is very early, and there are no signs
of any perturbation among the masses.
although there is a vast deal of effer.
Vescing in the minds of those who want
to get Office. In due time, after the
CROPS are laid by or at least after they
are well under way, the issues of the
coming ampaign, which l take to be
the Dispensary law and the holding of
a constitutional convention, will be
thoroughly discussed by Reformers
and ants; and the people will no doubt
elect such men as will carry out their
wishes"
eff after four years discussion and
agitation and another canvass our peo-
pie shall not have become sufficiently
educated to make wise selection and
see that only good men are put on guard
l fail to see how the holding Of con-
vention and forestalling their action
will better our condition. The danger
of some weak men, who are lacking in
backbone and nerve to continue and
perfect the reforms which have been
inaugurated during my incunDency,
being elected Is as nothing compared
to the danger Of the people feeling that
they have been betrayed and that Office
is the paramount object rather than
the welfare of the commonwealth"
"To return to the convention system
after proclaiming our belief in the abil-
ty and right Of the people to govern
themselves, is like dog returning to
his Yomit, and 1 would be ashamed to
90 on the stump as the nominee of
such convention. Let tie men who
desire to rule South Carolina win their
spurs, as I won mine, by open discus.
sion and a fair fight, and all will be
well. Let any self.constltuted leaders
undertake to call a convention and
nominate ticket and the order to the
army of Reformers to advance will on
ly be obeyed by small contingent.
Decentralization and recrimination will
surely follow and, while the 10000 Con-
seryatives are ranged in serried. pha-
lanx, moving as one man, the Reform
forces will be scattered and divided.
It we cannot trust the people, they
should not trust US; and, if my advice
has any weight, they will absolutely
refuse to countenance any attempt to
cheat them of the right of seeing the
asptrants for Office face to face and
judging them on their merits.
II do not wish to say more and in
justice to myself and those who have
trusted me cannot say less. Of course
if the people want to hold convention
it is their right and they will do so any
way. No one can object, least of all
the candidates"