The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-26
THAT INFAMOUS LAW.
What is Thought of it in Sumter

The Metropolitan Police question has been
the main topic of conversation on Sumter's
streets for several days. Opinion is divided
as to whether metropolitan police will be pat
on in the different towns and cities of over
1000 inhabitants whether they are needed or
not, or whether the administration will hold
the power vested in it over the heads of muni-
cipalities to make them take the place of the
dispeosary copatables, and enforce the Dis
pensary Law.
1t is the opinion of many, however, who
are conversant with the former tactics of the
dominant element, that the Metropolitan
Police Law was passed simply for the pur-
pose of creating new Offices for the hundreds
of hungry refo;mers.
The fact that County Treasurer, D. E.
Keels, the refaN'm leader in Sumter County
openly declares himself candidate for Chief
of the possible Metropolitan Police of Sum-
ter, gives rise to the belief with many that it
is only matter of time when the
Metropolitan Police law will be enforced
for the money that there is in it. When
sbrewd political leaders of the Reform
facticn like Captain D. E. Keels, become can
didates for Offices in sight, it is safe to pre-
die: that the political pretext is close at hand
to create the Offices.
The reporter mas listened closely to the dis
cussion of the Metropolitan Police issue, and
has asked many citizens what they thought
the outcome would be. Some citizens are of
the opiaion that the people will submit to tie
Metropolitan Police, which they believe will
be put on duty everywhere that is consistent
with the law, III order to have peace, while
not few predict that bloodshed will be the
consequences. Some citizens are very iudig-
nant, but as rule bride their wrath aud in
dignatlon in the interest of peace and order,
but there are also men who do not hesitate to
predict revolution and swear that they do
from the State Government, and ofthousands
of people leaving the State, rather than sub
nit to tyranny and oppression, and the rule
of the autocrat can also be heard. Local self
government is perhaps dearer to the hearts of
South Carolinisns than any people, at least
those who are not inuoculated beyond recoy-
cry with reform selhshness and political
grudge. or Intoxicated with dominant pre-
negatives, are very sensitive on that score.
What seems mystery to those historically
posted is, how South Carolinians who thirty
years ago seeded from the Union, for the
cause oflocal self.goverpment, should enact a
law, so tyrannical as the Metropolitan Police
Law
There are already number of applicants
from the refawm faction for position on the
probable metropolitan police force of Sumter.
About the first Insignificant conflict be-
tween one or more Metropolitan Policemen
will start.a.riot in some town that will develop
into civil war, and o. S. Troops will be sent
to South Carolina.
1t took Federal bayonets and true South
Carolinians to redeem South Carolina in
1876, and it will take them again to down
the autocratic administration.
"God pity old South Carolina.
"Whereis her chivalry and her independ-
ent spirit.''
"Where will all this end?"
Such are some of the expressions to be
heard. Cool heads, however, are likely to
avert trouble, bult many coel headed and con-
servatiye citizens freely admit that "endu-
rance has about ceased to be virtue.''