The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-11-13

ing the amendment to the suffrage ar
ticle-yet when we calmly consider
the entire matter in the light of past
events there is nothing strange or IN
explicable in the incident. SenatoE
rilman recognizes that he has enter
ed a broader field than the State, and
he evidently intends shaping his
course of action by the public opin.
ion of the country. at large, to as
great degree as possible while hold
ing on to the political leadership in
South Carolina. With this intention
in his mind, he must protest against
the brazen unfairness of refusing both
political parties representation on the
board of managers and canvassers
for he knows and admits that the con-
census of public opinion is over
whelmingly against this species OF
machine politic which places pre-
niam on fraud. On the other hand,
his subordinates have attained nelth-
er bepolitical nor official prominence
that Senator Tillman has, and they
have no place in the wider field of
national politics What they may do
and say is not considered as emana-
ting from individuals, by the public
beyond this State, but is charged up
against the State, and the people OF
the State are condemned as a whole,
if their actions run counter to the pre-
vailing sentiment These lesser po-
litical leaders know this and knowing
t have no fear that condemnation will
fall upon them and blight their polltl-
cal aspirations. Their field is South
Carolina and all political prefe.ment
is to be won in the elections held in
this State Hence, controlling the
election machinery at present, they
are determined to retain their grip
on it, even though decency and COM
mon honesty are violated, the Con-
stitution of the State stained by a
palpable fraud, and the respectable
public sentiment of the nation and
the civilized world outraged by their
act. They wish to make a certainty
of retaining power and office, and,
having knowledge of political con-
ditions they realize that this is to be
obtained only by controlling elec-
tions and declaring the result as they
desire that it should. Call it what
you may, it is fraud, and fraud insti-
gated by greedy sel6shness. There
is no trace of patriotism about it,
for all the high-fown eloquence Of
some of tue gentlemen. Il is fraud,
and brazen fraud, at that.
Senator Tillman has placed him
self Oh record and his words should
be remembered by all. We believe
that mnch of his statement Is pro.
phetic for it is inevitable that certain
effects shall result from specific
causes. Senator Tillman reads the
political situation with a discerning
eye and perceives the results that
will follow from the action of the
Convention. The student Of politics
should preserve Senator Tillman's
remarks, which were as follows:
/ do uot desire to make a speech.
| merely mean to make statement.
The Convention will remember that
the article as reported by the COMMIT
tee had this Identical provision in 3
different place. The other evening on
the motion believe. of the gentleman
from Marlboro, and with only one
speech from the committee, this pro7i-
sion was stricken out The committee
met yesterday afternooa and after the
careful consideration Of the euti1e sab.
ject. not in connection only with South
Carolina, but 10 connection with the
matter frora national standpoint, de-
cded that this Convention canpo: at
ford to put itself on record that the artl-
Gle having been brought in here with
this provision 10 it that it will not
keep it there, and the committee are
unanimous iu this, that it should be an
;ntooral mort of of the constitution