The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-27
What the Negroes VIII Do
In the Matter of the Regis
stratlon Law Test.
State, March %.

Last night the negro Congressman
Geo. W. Murray appeared here de!lv.
ering a speech in the county court
house to a big crowd of negroes. The
court house was packed with the
negro men of the city, and Murray's
u~tterances elected frequent applause.
There was really nothing sensational
in the speech.
The meeting was called to order
by the Rev. W. D. Chappelle, and
the Rev. R. E. Hart delivered a fer
vent prayer. The Rev. W. D Chap.
pelle introduced Murray, and asked
all to listen to his words Of wisdom.
He said there was spiritual weakness
in the high Offices. he referred to
the white people who were willing
TO lift them up. He said the Preach
er's were working to have Murray
travel the State.
Murray said he was appearing in a
t.doubl-efold capacity" and was
sorry the whites were not there also.
He would speak Of the duty tue
whites owed them, aud their duty to-
ward themselves. For eighteen years
they had not shown the interest in
their own welfare that they should.
After thirty years Of freedom the at
tempt is now being made to take
"our ALL" They have come to the
conclusion that we don't want any
liberty. He said that the colored
mar was not attempting to get cen.
troll CT the government. The attempt
now was to prevent the negro from
helping other white men getting con-
troll of the government. He describ-
ed the forms of government. He
went on to detail the plans for deal
ing WITH the negro question suggest
ed in the reconstruction period. 1t
was no easy job to take the Negroes
rights away from him, if"they acted
as men," He referred to the 10th
amendment, and said no such a con
stitution as is contemplated a
stand under it. He then touched on
the registration law.
-Four years ago I wanted Mr.. Web.
ster. your leader, to make a case and
fight the registration law. He said:
Murray, you make the ight." And
when | told him that he was a leader
and was drawing a support from the
Office he held he got vexed and we
have not been friends since. You
have had only the SHADOW of an or
ganization-only enough to send
delegates to conventions and control
the patronage.
Murray then made the point that
white officers we're not prejudiced
against the negroes, but that they
acted in selfdefense in favoring
white men, because white mems
votes counted aud negroes votes did
SGT He was in favor Of manhood
suffrage, and when the Federal cleo
tons repeal bill was under discussion
he had inquired of Senator Kyle if
manhood suffrage was not right III
principle. Kyle hesitated and finally
said no, but ne ard Boutelle took the
the wind out OF his argument.
Tillman was determined to disfran.
chise the negro permanently, and to
carry out his heliish scheme now
while the negroes are temporarily
DISTINGUISHED. Lawyers in Washing
ton had been called into conference
by HIM Murray and had agreed
unanimously tina, the registration law
could be gotten into the Federal
courts and believed that it would be
oycrruled The South Carolina Judges
would declare it unconstitutional. but
they are handcuffed and were put in
Office to maintain their faction III
power They know that if they were
to declare it unconstitutional they
would be ousted at the next session OF
the Legislature, and we amt going
to get any decision from them uutil
we get a new Constitution. They will
then declare it unconstitutional and
wilFb be stultiied before the civilized
and enlightened world
have employed lawyers to ties;
the law, believing that you vii! sus-
tain me The cost Of the whole work
will be 1920. This will carry j:
through the United States Supreme
Court. Don! you think you ought
to raise ii? (Boisterous cries of.Yes,
Yes.") White men viii assist Us, 100,
because they know that the power
used to disfranchise US nov will be
used hereafter to disfranchise them.
You must go to the ballot box and
fight every inch for your rights
ight lawfully, not unIawfully, that is
You must give your time and your
u In addition to these law