The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-12
YouMaNs IN FAVOR OF INDEpEND.


ENTISM
Editor Register: Your communi-
cation of the first inst. received this
afternoon and in accordance with
your request I reply Immediately.
In this communication addressed to
me you say 5: "Knowing you to be
a stauncl, and unccmpromising foe
of aught that tends to disturb white
supremacy, aud that your words
carry weight and influence, | ask that
you write The Register letter CIV
ing your views upon the new lnde-
pendent movement about to be
started and outlining the duty of
the hour. Hoping for all early re-
ply, am," " &c.
As to "white unity" /" that was dis
turbed four years ago, when Cover
nor Tillman. conceiving himselfto be
the only man with the nerve and
the brains aud the ability to array
the common people against the
aristocracy, for the accomplishment
of his own selfish purposes, spread
discord and division among the white
people BY inaugurating what he chose
to term family quarrel in the State.
As to "white supremacy, it
should be remembered that whilst
negro domination in the recon
structed States has been one of the
most marked features Of the policy
of the Republican party that the
Northern Democracy, through all of
the political vicissitudes Of the last
quarter of a century, has been the
unfaltersng friend of the South. 1t
was due to its persistent demands
that white supremacy was restored
in '76 and TT to South Carolina and
Louisiana and its aid was freely given
to defeat the force bill and to repeal
the election laws. On the other
hand all of the new political organi
zatiens which have sprung up like
Jonah's gourd, and will wilt about
as soon, have generally acted with
the Republican party against the
interest of the South. The Green
hackers, many of whom were elected
in part by denouncing Democrats,
whom they were trying to defeat as
not sufficiently Democratic, when
elected were found voting with the
in the interests of all
dragooning the South In
favor of negro domination.
The Populists and third pariyites
are no exception to this rule; they
went over bag and bagging into the
camp Of our enemies during the
consideration Of the House bill to
reduce the tax burdens of the tariff
and placed themselves under the
leadership of the gentleman from
Maine, Mr.. Reed, and Mr.. Boutelle
to prevent the Democrats from even
considering a bill designed to lift
the burden of tariff taxation from the
farmers of the South. They joined
the Republicans in body and voted
almost solidly against the repeal of
the 10 per cent. tax on State banks,
a measure which if it had been
into law would have given
great financial relief to the South
These new departures, whenever
they have taken place in the South,
have nearly always resulted in an
appeal to the negro and termination
within the Republican ranks, Witness
Malone, McLane, Tom Watson and
r. F. Kolb.
The originator and autocrat Of
your political faction, for he dicated
to it not only as to measures but
men, has admitted that he was halt
Populist in the canvass of '92; that
he is now like McLane Greenbacker,
and has served notice on the voters
of the State OF his early expectation
to desert the Democratic party. |
think this "new Independent move,
ment about to be started" by Cover
nor Tillman and those pledged to sup
port him should bel met by an immediate
reorganization of the Democratic
party in the State and that the "duty
of the hour'' is for every Democrat
who has any manhood or political
principle or Owns any property
that binds him to the State or inter.
ests him in it's welfare to aid this re-
formation with all of his m light.
As to placing Democratic ticket
in the field at this late day | stand
confirmed in my opposition to it, were
it not for the bloody lawlessness
of the present administration and the
,rom;so of ifs continuance bV the