The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-04
EDI,ProRIAL NOTES.

I.et 1t not be forgotten that Constable
McLendon, q peace officer. fred the
FIRST shot in Darlington and at an
unarmed man.
Gov. Tillman's determination to take
control Of tho police forces Of all the
cities and towns Of the STATE will lead to
more trouble. But this is his purpose
The result Of the primary yesterday
will Be satisfactory to the people Of Sum,
ter. The city ia safe in the hands Of
the men elected. and they will see that
progress is the w~aschword. The white
people have settled their differences
among. themselves, aud the members Of
che mex. city council are to be coDgtasu-
lated that they are the choice Of the
Democrats Of Sumter.
Mr.. W. h. Commander. who is a
nephew Of the wife Of Sheriff Soar
borough. Of Darlington. took dinner on
last Friday at the house of Sheriff Scar
borough in company with the d~ispensary
spies who we're staying there. He.
states most positively that many Of
them were drinking, aud at least six Of
them we're drunk and disorderly. These
were the men who precipitated the fight
aud killed Norment.
Let it be remembered that when the
troops we're 6ually sent to Darlington.
the alleged state Of insurrection had
wholly ceased to exist, if it ever had
existed, and that the sole reason of
their being sent was the Cars desire
and intention to make a show of his
power. and further to huniliase a COM
munity already subjected to an out
rageoas and vindictive process of
threats aud insults, aud a baptism of
blood caused by the hasphemous
reeklessness of one Of his peace officers.
turned into a human tiger by unbridled
passion.
Gov. Tillman on yesterday morning
made a speech that We hoped to get IN
to-day, but it is crowded out. He
shows his hand in the speech more
plainly than ever. He is determined
to goad the people on to the point of
desperation. he is digging out OF OBJ
liyiop all the old Radica, statutes framed
by the carpe.-baggers for the purpose
Of expressing and marrying the people.
and be is hell bent on making them
more oppressive than even Scott e
imagined. The occasion Of his speech
was the sending home of the troops re-
sained in Columbia when the detail was
sent to Darlington.
Let it be recorded that in addressing
the troops about to depart for Darling
ton on Sunday afternoon. the Gar, IN
terms of monstrous insult aud aneEdur-
able iDsinuation, spoke of Charleston's
Fourth Brigade as ''those Charleston
cowards." who did just like those at
Columbia" thus seeking to brand with
The stigma Of an inefable disgrace, men
as brave as any in the world. After
such an accusation from the lips of their
late commandments, it is not likely
that Cbarleston's aud Columbla's self
respecting sons will again put them
selves in a position to be %ipsulted by SO
reckless and disreputable a calumniator.
Gov. Tillmao, if he does not admit
to himself at least, that his hands are
red with the blood Of Frank Norment
aud Redmond, of Darlington 10
addition to others killed by his spies
since he armed them aud instructed
them to shoot. then be must be even
more than the selfish, brutal and truth
disregarding denagogue he has shown
himself to be. He has encouraged
these spies to murder by bis instrac-
sions, and by conveying the impression
that be will protect them. right or
wrong. Gov. Tillman may attempt to
shifs the responsibility. but it is fasten-
ed upon him, and he stands before the
people as an accessory to murders and
an alder and abetter in the escape of