The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-02-13
Gen. Farley Talks Again.
How He Views the Situation
Since the Events of the
Past Week.

EX-A01utant Oenerai ailey, VINO te-
mained over in Columbia to see what
the results of the committee meeting
and Republican convention were, was
on Saturday asked what more he had
to say The general thereupon gave
the following statement to the press
eyes, l would like to say that |
AN somewhat surprised at some OF
the comments on my suggestions as
published few days ago. ! thought
had given sufficient evidence of
independence of thought and action
to put myself above the suspicion of
being controlled by anyone, and |
hardly need say that az | have dared
to criticise other administrations
the Haskells' and Hamptons and
Tillman $50 should this, if proper
occasion arose. Criticism, however,
does, or should, not consist of mere
fault finding, and encouragement
given to a new administration is very
different from commenting all the
acts of an old one.
1.-The views expressed in the inter
view were my own, uninfuenced or
suggested by any one, just as these
are, and are perfectly consistent with
my record on this matter. After
hearing that the executive committee
would propose some plan, | conclu'
ded that they could suggest no other
than primary. and reasoning it out
as the only means of settling the
difficulties between the white people
in counties where they could not
agree, thought it best, and now
think it best, to adopt it ! have
always been an advocate of the r.l-
mary as court of last resort and |
condemned the Colleton plan last
year because ie not only anticipated,
but ruined the primary which follow
ed, as fair test of public sentiment
If anyone supposed, however, be.
cause | did this or anything else that
l have ever contemplated going out
side of the Democratic party or the
Democratic primary, they are badly
mistaken. feel safe in saying as
much for "the Forty" who did me
the honor to confer with me as to
their action. AS | understand it
their work is of a mediatory and
conciiatory character. They are not
trying to dictate to anyone, but are
only encouraging our people to come
together in fraternal way in each
county and to agree upon ticket of
their best men for the convention,
and in this they ought to be encour-
aged and seconded by every patriotic
citizen.
eve see now the result of misman-
agement of the primary and the evil
effects in want of confidence among
our people, and the only remedy lies
in demanding and having perfectly
fair primary, wherever our people
cannot otherwise agree upon their
delegations. After we have exhaust
ed the methods advised by "the
Forty" what can we do hut submit
our differences to white primary ?
If we cannot agree upon this, then we
cannot agree upon anything, for its
rejection means all appeal to the ne
gro vote-nothing more nor less. |
have hoped and believed that tie
great majority of our executive com
mittees were disposed to be fair and
would give US fair rules. and | feel
sure that the time has passed when
our people can he trihed with in so
important matter. On the other
side, however, | am sorry to say that
the developments of the last week
have shown that there is already a
settled purpose on the part of certain
parties to ignore and reject all efforts
at compromise and to go or appeal
straight to the negro. Here lies our
great danger.
1T will be remembered by all who
read the papers that have labored
on this line of reconciliation for
wears. and that took the position in
my Christmas article of 1892 that the
hope of the State lay in the conserva-
tive men of both factions, or as it
was then put in "the real Refcrmers
and the real Conservatives , They
are more largely in the majority in
the State now, by far, than they were
then, and if they can only manage to
get together aud make their nomina-
ton either by conventions, by mass
meetings OF primaries, they can save
the State from impending danger.
The real conservative citizens of
State are always its greatest re,
lance in time of trouble and danger,
and this is our OILY hope nov Of
saving the State from the contending
factions of extremists on both sides,
who are careless of what they say or
do, or who suffer SO that they
&c 49,. -, 1;oo nr NM L;4in,,