The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-16

Is shown by the offer of the notorious
ox-Congressman Smalls to canvass the
State in opposition to the convention.
Why do these eself-appointed guardians
who have been repudiated by the peo-
pie appear so solicitous for the negros
right to vote I" Plainly because they
want to be benefciaries of that vote
two years from now. Why do they
want to preserve to the ignorant and
debased negro his ballot? Simply be-
cause their fell purpose is to cover the
ballot OF every poor white man with
the ballots of two ignorant negroes
aud thereby restore themselves to
office and power. While charging
that it is the purpose Of the predolni-
nant faction of the Democratic party
to disfranchise the poor illiterate
whito men 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
committed suicide or relinquished
voluntarily the control of public
affairs?
The poor white men of the State
have never received recognition until
within the last four years. They arc
now the arbiters of their own for
tunes, and, If they miss the opportuni-
ty of taking guarantees in the new
macy of the Anglo-Saxon in South
Carolina, we predict confidently that,
commencing with 96 our pol .ticai
campaigns in this State will witness q
return of more terrible and demoraliz-
ing conditions than over 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 in each other being
once destroyed, the negroes newt
ably will seize power for their own
benefit.
We say to the whito mon, who arc
threatened by the Independent news
papers with disfranchisement, that
Mississippi with q colored voting
population larger than ours has adopt
ed constitution, which, without dis
franchising a single white man, has
reduced the registered negro vote of
that State to 5000. What Mississippi
has done South Carolina can do.
South Carolina alone of all the re-
constructed States still keeps the con-
stitution forced upon her at the point
OF the bayonet by scalawags and
aliens.
The cost of a constitutional conyen-
tlon, while of no Importance in COM
parlson with the benefits to BE derived,
need not under any circumstances ex-
ceed sou, 900. There are many benefits
other than the regulation of the suf-
trage to be secured by changes in the
organic law. While these might be
obtained by the slow and unsatifac-
tory process of amendment. we can
dldly ask any sensible man what hope
there would be for securing the adop-
tlon OF a new constitution involving the
regulatin Of suffrage, If it had to be
submitted back to the people. 1t has
been the settled purpose of the trusted
leaders Of the Democratic party for
years to call constitutional conven-
tlon, and obviate the dangers which
have lurked in our midst so long,
only waiting for division among the
whites to rear their horried heads.
mat division is now moro than APP
parent. Thereality is upon us. The peo-
oeto - viz CSCuGtUlNcSl III Cllc
Legislature and in Democratic conven-
tions have time and again demanded
shats uch convention be called. Those
newspapers which claim to be Demo
cratic and which antagonized this
great reform are either blind leaders
OF the blind or the servile tools of the
cohspirators.
we warn the white men who love
South Carolina and would see q con-
tlnuation 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 interests. 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 dele
gates is to take place. 1t is slan6er
and an insult to say that the people
nave not the patriotism anu 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
Ihe Wlsest and best of our citizenship
can chose to perform this delicate
and patriotic duty without regard to
faction, 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 GER
tainly Is not likely to soon recur. If
the people fail to seize it and the evils
OF mongrellsm, 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 tho consti.
tutional convention.
j. J.. M. IRBY, Chairman,
WILLIE JONES,
@. M. EFIRD,
ID. e. kEELs,
0. r. LoWMAN,
j. A. SLIGH,
Campaign Committee of the State
Democratic Executive Committee.
- .. n~----~--
SOLID FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
The Washington correspondent o
resentative Shell had another talk
with Secretary Gardner to-day at De
mocratic headquarters and he con
yeyed the encouraging intelligence tc
the members Of the committee tha
South Carolina expects to send a solit
Democratic delegation to the mex
House Of Representatives
He says the fight will be made OF
the lines drawn between the witt,
and the black mems party, and, there
fore, the full Democratic strength will
be called to tho polls. 1t was expected
fhut tho 6rot XIV diokpicte ,uo,,ll l.,