The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-01

fled suffrage, and denied the ca.
Paclty or the right of the masses
TO participation in the government
are to-day loud-mouthed i'm their
declaration that they are cham
plons of the poor white man whose
= vote is threatened, as they say.
Every newspaper controlled by
this class is teeming with all man
ner OF specious and false argu-
ments against voting for conven-
ton. They say that the white
voters who are ignorant and poor
VIII have cast their last ballot if
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 speak
ing is best and wo she'll not mince
words. Wo propose to show that
there is deep-dyed treachery to
white supremacy in this antagon-
fsm to a new constitution.
| In the so-called convention COM
posed of self-appointed delegates
which assembled on the 25th of
September for the avowed purpose
OF nominating an Independent
ticket and appealing to the negro,
the following resolution, which be-
trayed the whole damnable schome
was passed and the opening gun
for '96 therefore fired:
| "Resolved, That while this con-
ventlon desired to avoid doing
anything likely to cause increased
strife among our people, we believe
that the principles of Democracy,
the safety of every interest in tho
State and the instinct of self-pre-
servation demand that a hard and
earnest fight be made against the
proposition to call constitutional
convention to create new funda-
mental law involving tho rights
of every man in the State without
providing for the submission of its
work to the people. We tender to
the opponents of this iniuuitoue.
undemocratic tyranny and dangor-
Gus proposition, the service of the
organization herein provided for
and invite them to join with us in
fighting it at the approaching gem
eral election"
What does this resolution mean?
l ts purpose is shown by the fact
that at the time of it's passage
there was in the hall negro repre-
sentative of the Republican party,
while q half n dozen colored and
white leaders of that party wero
= waiting in the lobby of the State
, House ready to join hands with the
, independent movement as soon as
1T had been launched. Now who
are the "cpponents' of this Gin
lqultous, undomccratic, tyrannical
and dangerous proposition ?" Who
are invited "to join with lie in
} fighting it at the approaching gen.
eral election?" None but the ne
groes of course. This is shown by
the offer of tho notorious ex-Con.
gressman Smalls to canvass the
State in opposition to the con.
vention. Why do these sele-ap
: pointed guardians who have beer
1 repudiated by tho people appear
so aolicitlous for the negro's right
to vote? Plainly because they
. want to be bcneficiaries Of that
vote two years from now. Why
. DO they want to preserve to the ig-
. norant and debasod negro his bal
lot? Simply because their fell pur-
= pose is to cover tho ballot of evory
= poor white man with the ballots
3 of two ignorant negroes and thero-
2 by restore themselves to office and
G power. Whilo charging that it is
tho purpose Of the predominant
y faction Of tho Democratic party to
disfranchiso the poor illiterate
white mon along with the negro,
does not any reasonable man know
that that faction being largely
made up Of this class would not
disfranchise It's own followers?
What political party ever commit
ted suicide or relinquished volun-
> tarlly the control of public af-
= fairs2
The poor white mon of the
State have never received recog.
, milton until within the last four
q years. They are now the arblters
y OF their own fortunes, and, if they
{ miss tho opportunity of taking
guarantees in the new constitution
of the continued supremacy of the
= Anglo.Saxon in South Carolina,
u we predict confidently that, COM
8 mencing with '96, our political
= campaigns in this State will wit
8 moss return Of moro terrible and
a demoralizing condition than ever
t confronted this people, oven du-
ring tho days Of Scott, Moses and
Chamberlain. The reckless, dos
1 L.