The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-24
WHITE MEN, BE WARNED!
Your Rights and Liberties Depending on
Your Vote Next Election Day.


tive and earnest "reformers' in Union
county and represented tin the legis-
lature as performer. He is still a
member of that party in good standing,
and in private note, accompanying
his letter, says Union county will vote
down the convention scheme three to
one, and that he knows Of but one.
performer" at his box who will gcte
for it: ~
JoSEsv1LLE, UNION COUNTY, S. c. b
October 18th, 1894.
To the Editor of the Greenrille'
Ne,cs: am glad to sec you standing SO
firmly and supporting and defending
the poor white voter. am glad to-
see the light held up that the people.
may see that iniquitous move that is
being made on the political board Of.
our State.
The cali for a constitutional conyen-
ton is the most dangerous move that
has ever confronted the people Of our
State.
We need not say that we will ops
pose it unless it is sent back to the
people for ratification. That PROPOSE
tion was urged when the resolution
calling for convention was passed,
which puts the matter beynd reason
able doubt at rest. Besides the CAM:
paign committee of the State demo-
cratic committee settled it further.
Now who has the authority to send it
back for ratification
The responsibility Of those who can
read the handwriting on the wall I'M
creases every flying hour.
The first tap of despotism is sound
ing now at the very door Of the tenn
Piles of Justice and Liberty.
The campaign committee has
thrown off the disguise and saysit
must not come back to the people for
them to accept or reject.
They come in pleading tones to the
people and ask them to vote for o
convention that the all important
question of suffrage may be regulated.
Regulated for what :?
Is it because the white people (the2
voters) have been unfaithful !? Is it
because after they have followed for
the last four years the campaign
of political education they are
able to see the quirks of political
tricksters ?
Reason answers in her loudest voice
the classes aud not the masses shall
have voice in the structure of our
government.
What bosom does not heavo at the
very thoughts Of such Capitalization
of power.
It has no parallel in the history Of
our State and only has its equal in
those countries where there isa thirst
for absolute power and control by the
few over the many.
One argument that is used to fur
ther the scheme is the colored voter.
They say this vote must be silenced
and it is better to disfranchise some
white voters in order to get rid of the
Negro voter. That would notlook all
together so ungratefulif they had not
used them and his ballot for their
own elevation to power. 1t is an in
suit and bears one construction only.
That is this, and this only: It's bet
ter to reduce some poor, uneducated
white men, their wives and their chill
dren down to an equality with the coll
ored people than to hold the ballot in
the Negro's hands.
It is simply ungrateful to propose
such measure. 1t is an effort to
snap the shackles Of slavery on some
of as good white men as ever defended
our flag, and put them in brace with
the Negro. l know this is plain LAM
guage, but the occasion requires the
truth in it's fullest. So if the qualiftion
vote that is contemplated is put into
the constitution it will not only de-
priye the poor white men of the bal
lot. 1t will let the rich, educated
Negro vote and stand the poor, uned-
ucated white man off. They want to
let themselves off easy by saying that
some way can be fixed to let the white
man vote. They certainly know bet
ter. Hear what the fifteenth amend.
ment to the constitution of the United
States says. It reads:
"The right Of the citizens Of the
United States to vote shall not be de-
MED or abridged by the United States
or by any State on account OF race,
color or previous condition of serYi-
tude.
In the face Of that amendment they
tell you to vote to disfranchise the
Negro that you will be doing good for
your children.
Voters, the destiny of this republic
is in your hands. On that little strip
of paper that passes through your fin
gers on election days hangs your lib
erty and the liberty Of your children.
You are asked to surrender it. In our
great reform movement in which our
ballot has been the sole factor have We
only accomplished change of mas:
ters ? Is the reform movement to end
in the destruction of our ballots, the
greatest heritage that any people can
possess ?
Justice and humanity cry out and
say: By all you ever hope to be, re-
sist every advance on your liberties
and every attempt to smother your
public schools or extinguish your sys-
tenn of public instruction.
In conclusion, let ME say: The
main object has come to view. 1t lies,
fortunately, hope, above the line and
is touched by public thought. itia
useless to depend upon the colored yo"
ter, if souch should be thought Of.
The colored man, to great extent,
don't believe would care snap OF his
finger if the white men vote away their
ballots and become his equals in lgno"
rance and standing.
The question Of equal rights and
liberty is now in the hands of the vo"
ters. The question Of whether a
white man shall vote or not has never
been raised in South Carolina before.
Your right to tie ballot has never been
challenged before.
It appears now that this instead of
being the land of the free and the home
IL j