The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-17

y
every device known to sopbistry are
trying TO-. throw dust in the eyesof
the masses. Plain speaking is best
and NE shall not minee words We
propose to show that there is deep
dyed treachery to white supremacy in
this antagonism to a new constltu-
ton.
In the so-called convention COM
posed of selfappointed 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 betrays the whole
damnable scheme was passed and the
opening gun for '96 thereby fired:
s.Resolved, That while this conven-
ton desires 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 the State
aad the instinct of selfpreservation
deshand that q hard and earnest fight
be made against the proposition to
call constitutional convention to
create q new fundamental law involy-
ing the rights of every man in the
State without providing for the sub
mission of it's work to the people.
We tender to the opponentsof this
iniquitous, undemoe1stic, tyiannicaI
aud dangerous proposition the service
of the organization herein provided
for, and invite them to join with us
in fighting it at the approaching gene
raj election
What does this resolution mean !!
It's purpose is shown by the fact that
at the time Of its passage there was
in the hall . negro representative of
the Republican party, while half q
dozen colored aud white leaders of
that party were waiting in the lobby
Of the State House ready sto join
hands with the Independents move.
ment as soon as it had been launched
Now, who are the Opponents >of
this "iniquitous, undemocratic, tyran.
nical and dangerous proposition"
who are invited "to join with us in
fighting it at the aproaching gene
ral election p None bnt the ne
eroes, of course. Thissis shown sby
the offer of the notorious ex-Con.
gressman Smalls to canvass the State
in opposition to the convention
Why do these selfappointed guardians
who have been repudiated by the
people; appear so solicitoue for the
negro's right to vote? Plainly be-
cause they want to be bene6ciaries
of that vote two years. from now.
Why do they want to- preserve to
the ignorant and debased negro his
ballot? Simply because their feb
purpose iss to cover the bsllot Of
every poor white man with the
ballots of two ignorant negroes and
thereby restore themselves to Office
and power. ,...,....,..,. ..........-..
While charging that it is the pur-
pose of the predominant faction Of
the Democratic party to disfranchise
the poor, iIliterate white men along,
with the negro, does not any reasens
able man know thst that factiops
being largely made up Of this classs
would not disfranchise its 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 are now the arbiters of their
own fortunes, and, if they miss the
opportunity of taking guarantees in
the new constitution for the con.
tinued supremacy OF The. Anglo.Saxon
in South Carolina, wes predict con-.
6denfiy that. commencing with '96,
our political campaigns in this State
will witness return of more
terrible and demoralizing conditions
than ever confronted this people,
even during the days of Scott, Moses
and Chamberlain. The reckless,
desperate men whose machavellean
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
the white majority, the
morals and faith of white men in each
other being once destroyed, the
negroes inevitably will seize power
for their own benefit
We say to the white men who are
by the Independent news,
papers with disfranchisement, that