The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-23
Johnnie Draws His Gun.
And Scores a ''Bulls Eye" in
The aR1ng'' of Rings.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. l3. 1895.
70 tie Editor Of the Register

70 the Editor Of the Register
Dear Sir: As there seems to be a
lull in State politics, and without a
positive knowledge of what is doing
or going to be done, submit here
with my own peculiar opinions Of the
situation.
The time for action, it seems to NE,
has arrived, and thus believing, I
shall not longer stife my convictions,
but shall speak frankly and unreserv-
edly as / think the necessities of the
situation require, and abide the con-
sequences, whatever they may be
The general poverty and depres-
sion in the country at large is inten-
sifed by local conditions.
No one expected the movement"
Of 1890 to divide our people into two
absolutely hostile camps. And the
whole thing can be largely traced to
the abandonment of the primary elec-
ton principle last summer to promote
the interest of certain individuals.
The Constitutional Convention is
upon us, and, with it and our inter-
necine strife, the "nigger in the
wood piIe'' is reyiving.
"Not dead, but sleepeth" is writ
ten over the attenuated corpse of the
Democratic party north of Mason and
Dixon's line, and even in our own
section and among our own people
signs of decay are visible. Our old
allies will not help us and can no
longer be relied upon.
Let us help ourselves. The inter.
ests Of ninety-nine out Of every one
hundred of our citizens are identical.
A convention of a faction, no mat.
ter how able its membership or good
its work. will be disastrous and drive
US further apart Everyone admits
that, but unfortunately we have be.
come such astute politicians that each
Of US is afraid to move for fear of
injuring his chances of securing some
Office, from that of county coroner to
President of the United States. We
are breeding tyrants and political
towards in South Carolina. Too.
much policy and not enough of
patriotism. Why, my dear sir, i
came within an ace of running my
Aattering political prospects last
summer by few innocent ard kind
observations made to "My Dear
Appelt' But whatever the result,
I have the satisfaction of knowing
that coined at least one or two apt
words and phrases, which, if they did
not enrich the English language, will
live fer some time descriptio
personae.
Ever since | wrote that letter Gin
which, God knows, was honesty, l
have been maligned, misrepresented
and misquoted. Every time I open
ed my mouth | was charged with
being in league With Butler but
that can be done no longer, as Gen.
Butler is out of politics and will soon
be private citizen; while we differ
on some things politically, he will
carry with him my undying friend
ship and respect. Had it not been
for the misconstruction which true
friends, whose opinion l value. would
have placed upon my conduct, |
would have died thousand political
deaths before submitting to what /
did. The people have bonored me,
l love them, and have studied hard
and tried to give them value receiv-
ed.
l have come to the conclusion that
/ do not care whether l ever hold an
other Office or not, if it involves the
least sacrifice of dignity, honor or
principle, and I do not propose to
occupy any equivocal or uncertain
position. I am in favor of harmonic
ing the factions, if such a thing be
possible, but in order to do that we
must destroy "Ring" more despe-
rate, more autocratic, more tyranni-
cal, more unscrupulous than ever
dominated the State or controlled the
destinles of free people, defy
them Let them take the Office !
hold, if they can. They cannot
muzzle my tongue nor stife
my manhood or independence.
They are now making prepana-
ton to control the Constitutional
convention and thereby perpetuate
themselves in power, and if neces-
sary to accomplish this, white men,