The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-03
Wednesday, April 3, 1895.
The Forty

We publish full notes Of the convention Oh
the Forty" to which is appended the re-
marks of Senator Tillman on the action "l
that body.
Two things are notable:
LIST. That it seemed difficult TO keep 'he
Forty" from dividing or quarreing.
I'd. That Tillman is square against lhe ac'
ton of the "Forty.' He seemed 10 see Tue
shadow of Trojan horse. He thlnhS il 'pe
Forty succeed, that the onvention may oe
turned over TO the Ants, the poor "hite man
disfranchised, and the old set restored 10 Oh
fee, when the Reformers would be relesateu
TO the rear, or words TO that effect.
Senator Tillman is still ready TO stump the
State. in advocacy of the principles or plans
which were formulated by the Peace Confer
ence OF which he was the leading and inspir-
ing spirit.
Peace and harmony in the State is greatly
to be desired, but we do not see how any ne"
plan is TO be formulated that wonld be oetter
than that which has been in vogue Tor time
out of mind, namely: For tile defeated lac
tion, during the time being. to yield acquies'
cence TO the rule OF the majority. when tne
leaders OF the defeated faction could align
themselves with the people, from whom all
mowers. all honors, and all prefermentS must
come. Or, if this plan is not acceptaoie W
the malcontents, why then let them a'one'
and let them squirm and die nara. ii theS
aspire to be disturbing factors on the pooy
polite, by so doing they may in the emu turn
out to be public benefactors, and their efiorts
may result in much good, even II they never
secure office for themselves. A little aglta-
tion purlties the waters, and anything is oel-
ter than stagnation.
The Peace Conference may recommend
whatever they please, and then the people
should, as they please. accept or reject their
suggestions. II the Peace Conference had moi
met, does anybody doubt that the life and
death of the Forty would have already passed
into anclert history"
Speaking for the Press and Banner, we ac'
cept the plan of the Peace Conference with
some degree OF misgiving. In the first place.
the plan looks too much like bossism, too
much like pressing down the throats OF the.
people cut and dried dose, 10 swallow which
the people must yield all independence oi
thought, while surrendering the primary to
the convention plan OF nominations Under
that plan only men holding to particular
PRINCIPLES would be eligible before the people
10 a candidacy for the convention. All 9th
ers would be ruled off the track, and as a con-
sequence, the delegates TO the state ConSen'
tion might not represent the sentiment OF the
people. Free discussion and free speaking
would be at an end.
The Withholding from the people the ratiti-
cation OF the new constitution appears 10 us
TO be proposition of which the people
should be afraid. If that convention Is made
up solely OF men who can stand the measure
ment of principles by the Peace Conference
yard stick, then it will be in the power OF
eighty-one men to fasten upon this State
constitution for the government OF million
of people, and which the million OF people
will have no power to endorse or reject.
Their hands will be tied. Their right to vote
will be denied, and they will be the veriest
subjects of a convention whose members II Is
proposed to elect by unhcard-of and unprece-
dented methods. Who, in the history OF this
country, has ever heard of committee OF
gentlemen assembling at their own motion,
within closed doors, aud secretly sign
ing articles, going before the people under the
name OF peace. while presuming 10 tell them
TO what principles their candidates must be
pledged, and, as If TO clinch the chains around
their necks, tell the people that they
must not question the right Of convention
thus chosen TO fix the constitution on the
State.
The patriotism and wisdom OF the members
OF that Peace Conference is not to be ques-
toned. No man in the State of South Caro-
lima could fairly claim 10 possess greater love
and fidelity to the honor and glory OF inns
Commonwealth than we yield to the indiv1d-
ual members Of the Peace Conference. But
for all that. we hold that they may be fallable,
and that it is possible for them to make
mistake.
In the first place, Governor Tllman has
been elected TO the United States Senate.
This should retire him from State politics.
Or, at least, it retired Senator Hampton. In
1890, when he spoke to our people on local pol
itics and local interests, it was held that be
was intermeGdling with affairs that did not
concern him. Governor Tillman having been
elevated to the exalted position OF United
states Senator, he is no longer local politi-
clan. He should aspire to craftsmanship
He has no divine right to dictate to this peo-
pie the qualification of members Of the State
Convention. He has no right TO assume to
tell this people that they are unfit TO reject OF
to ratify the constitution by which they
should be governed
He has no right to expect the people of this
State to surrender their own Judgment, their
own preference. their own humble right to
open their mouth in approval or disapproval
even of his own manfestoS which have been
drawn up behind closed doors.
To show the utter and absolute abSurdity OF
Governor Tillman's proposition TO name the
qualification Of delegates to. the convention /,
would be only necessary TO ask the people
what they would think OF anybody attempt
ing TO fix the qualification OF candidates for
the House of Representatives. And If any.
body would see, in all its hideOuS de-
IOrmity, the monStrous fear Of submit
ting the constitution to the people, let him
see how the rule would apply to the election
of members to the Legislature. If he is
afraid OF an election TO ratlfy or reject tho
constitution, why is he not opposed to sub
mittIng to the people the chances OF election
OF members to the Legislature? wouldn't he
he equally justifable In proclaiming the dan
ger of having any more elections, and then
extend the term of all officers and Legislators
to suit is own sweet will. One proposition Is
lust as reasonable as the other. If the people
can't be trusted to vote for a constitution
tn,. ln, L.