The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-27
STANTARNE WILSON'S VIEWS
The RcfOrmcrs Will Control the Con-
StllMtiOhal Convention

The itcformcrS Will Control the Con.
stitutional Convention.
The Piedmont Headlight has inter-
view congressman Stunyarne Wilson
since his recent visit to Washington,
ana on political topics he speaks as
| follows: W.
Now what about politics Wou,
aont think ever saw quite so much
ol them and in such variety. The
most iastldious cannot complain of an
Insufficient assortment. If II man can
not now get the kind that he wants,
nc was never made to be happy. Tho
most striking feature to me is that tho
people are on top, and everything in
dlcates that they arc going to stay
there. There can be no bcttcr condi-
| tion for any State than that, for the
| people or tho State. Judge Coil has
come and gone, but the people are still
| in the middle Of the road, and are nc
more affected by what he did, of at.
tempted to do, than by the reprovings
OF some of the little tom-tit. inconsc.
qucntial, featherwcight editors of this
State, who think they are shaping
public sentiment, but whose influence
is confined within their own imagina-
tons.
"My belief is that if the influential
conservative newspapers had submit
ted to the Democratic doctrine Of lot
ting the majority rule. instead Of con-
stantly inlaming their conservative
readers by bitter appeals to their pas
sions and prejudices, none Of that
large class OF our citizens would ever
have thought OF cutting themselves of
from their race and OF appealing to
the negro. The only deplorable thing
about Judge Goil's decision is that it
disclosed to the people some of hc.'
citizens who were SO bent on rule or
ruin that they gladly rushed Into tho
arms Of the negro to mako common
cause with them against their own
people. 1t was II sad spectacle, but
one that our State can never sec again,
us Inc opportunity will not again bo
presented.
"Thc election for delegates to the
convention, in August, will be con
tined to those who have registration
tickets. The nominees for that cleo
tion Will be selected by tho white
mans primary, which will be held on
the 30th Of July. At that election
every white man can vote, and no man
will be made to go with tho negro,
except OF his own choice. Tho Con.
serVatlve leader arc very persistcntly
determined in their assertions that
they will not go into that primary, and
don't suppose they will. They refuse
to recognize the organized Democracy
OF the State, although There has never
been any question Of its legality
Every voter vt that primary will Sc
lcct his own seven lavoritcs, and the
seven nominated will be elected
There will be no attempt TO agree
upon any compromise or division of
delegates. do not bclicvc any man
has the right to make any contract or
agreement about his ncighbor's vote.
My opinion is that this county will So
lect men upon whom. the people urc
confident they can rely on represent
ing their interests and political senti-
mcntS.
"Thcre is one mattcr Of especial i'm
portancc thnt ! will mention. If mon
of ccrtai.' ideas get control of the
they will most certainly
adopt an educational and property
qualification, either on both, in ordor
to disfranchise the negro and the poor
white man. There arc
men who are unfit to vote. But there
is no white man in this State, not IA
pauper or convict, who should be de-
nicd his vote. lie and his people have
rendered too great IL service to the
State in her struggles Of lSGl-'G5, and
III Illc CiuSc Oh llclOfm since lSJU, 10
have the bal,ot-box closed against
them.
- have been talking longer than
| intended, but will say this: My
Judgment is just what it was last Feb
ruary in Columbia, and the results
haze justified what ! then stated. We
will have the primary, every man will
vote us he pleascs (cXcepL in some
counties whore compromises have
been made) and the convention will
be la control OF the IScfOrmers, by q
good majority, and tho State could
not desire anything better than that
The Reform movement has done q
great deal for South Carolina, but It's
best and most enduring achievement
will be the constitution which It will
frame next fall.