The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-16

ers. But in South Carolina our white
people are divided, and will continue
to be divided. Turn so 900 negro voters
loose upon our State, and you can't
manufacture magnifying glass large
enough to discern the remains Of the
reform movement.
Rut let US dive still further into this
report IF Senator Tillmap's suffrage
committee and we will find where, from
the hour of its adoption, that the poor
white voters in our towns and counties
are dsfranchised. Here is clause
that speaks for itself
AT any specia! elections 10 incor-
porated cities and eowns Of this State
for the purpose Of bonding the same, all
resident owners of property 10 said
cities and towns of the assessed value
of 200, who are qualified electors under
this Constitution, shall alone be enti-
tied to VOTE
1T matters cot hov honorable and
Intelligent aud upright be may be. a
voter living in Spartauburg city can
have 20 voice in voting on the issuing
OF bonds unless be is worth 5000.
''Whcn you begin to restrict the suf-
frage of white men there is 20 telling
where it will stop There is where the
danger lies Only a few days ago Sen
stor T;llman worked for, voted for, and
carried through, measure permitting
the incorporated towns 20 exempt manu-.
featuring enterprises from taxation
for series Of years. The poor laborers
in those mills had &c such clemency ex-
tended to them. They must pay their poll
tax, and even tax upon their POT, kettle
and mattress, while the rich northern
investor is allow to 60 scot free Now
cannot see with what consistency
Senator TilIman can say that those
operatives, who honestly sustain the
government, shall not vofe in certain
election because they have DOT $500
worth Of property, while the wealthy
stockholders in that mill, and who we're
exempt from taxation, have right 10 a
vote? ibis is net in keeping With the
addresses that Senator Yillman made
upon the stump, mhen he wanted ota:e.
II have uusheathed my sword and
thrown away the scabbard. am in
the battle to the end No poor aud un-
educated white man will lose his vote,
if have the power TO prevent it. |
shall deuouuce this outrage upon the
floor Of the conventiou, and | shall de-
bounce it upon the stand before the
people. We can preserve white suprem-
acy in South Carolina without either
disfranchiziug or hu miliatiug g single
white voter. The report of Senator
Tillman's committee certainly vindicatcs
the position of the Piedmont Headlight
when it opposed the calling Of the Con-
stitutiooal convention. It would have
been thousand times better to have
never had that assec, bly, meet than let
it pass the suffrage qualification pro-
posed by that committee You will tlnd
every Conservative applauding and eu-
dorsing this plan, for the simple rea-
son that it will strike down the vote
that they could never secure. and give
them political control of our State.
81 believe that some of the mem.
bers Of the committee sigued this report
at the earnest solicitation of Senator
Tillman without due consideration or
appreciating its danger. l do not know
how single member of the convention
stands upon its adoption, but you can
say to the poor and uneducated white
voters of South Carolina that they 5ave
in John L. NJ Irby friend who will
stand by them to the end, and will
fight this mons'rous proposition TO the
very last ditch.
Senator, why did you vote for the
name Of Butler, for the pew county, in
stead of Saluda p
Il am glad you have asked me this
question, for I desire TO state my posi-
ton and my reasons iu language so
plain that all may understand l did
not desire or intend to honor the name
of ex-senator NJ. C. Butler, but I had
in my mind at that time the name Of
William Butler. one of the most gal
liant soldiers of the revolution, and a
hero from whose loins sprung long
line of the ablest statesmen and war
riors that our State has ever produced.
Did William Butler, the founder of this
ilIustrious family, to-day survive be
would be Reforner. When our State
was a bowling wilderness Butler left
Virginia on horseback. his wife riding
behind him. because he could not hold
his own With the rich and aristocratic
families Of the old dominion. He built
cabin upon the Saluda river. and