Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-17
THE VIEWS Of CHAIRMAN IRBY


udice.
State Chairman Irby gave out the
following interview to the daily papers
last Tuesday:
"What have you to say about the
pacitication conference plan and the
plan of the Forty?"
"Well, as far as that is concerned, |
l think the Reformers of South Caro-
lima have arrived at verdict and it
has already been published. We have
all had our say, and I have nothing
further OH the subject. AS far as the
State executive committee adopting it
is concerned that is the merest nom
sense. We are nonpartisan. I am
chairman of the whole party. We
want the followers of the Forty and
Hemphill to behave themselves, and
lock hands and hearts in the fight
against the "nigger." If they want
convention to adopt certain lines of
policy, let them advocate them before
the people in a general primary and
abide the result. 1t is well enough
to understand the issue at once. 1t is
white man against "nigger," white su-
premacy and honest government
against Negro rule and corruption.
The time has come when every white
man should show his colors. He that is
not with us is for the "nigger."
"What about Judge Goff7s decision
and its effects?"
~ am not alarmed by COTS decis-
ion. In 1876 the Negroes had the
machinery of government and were
thoroughly organized and backed by
the military. We persuaded them by
argument that is known to some, and
is not necessary to be known to others,
that this was white mans govern
ment and we intended to rule. Hamp-
ton believes that enough voted for him
to elect him. AS to that question I
will not argue it. I am thoroughly
satisfied that he believes it now. How
many others in the State believe it
l don't know.
"Now, the Democratic party has the
election machinery and it is organized
to man. The Negroes are thorough
ly disorganized, except what influence
a few renegade white men, some Re-
formers and some Conservatives, with
good sprinkling of hired "nigger"
preachers can exert, and with an ab-
solutely fair election, with the persua-
sions the Negroes will get from the
truly loyal Democrats, I feel in pre-
dieting that majorities will not only be
increased, but largely increased. The
situation is just this: There is no use
for me to disguise it. This intelligent
minority claims a divine right to rule
the masses. They tried in 1890, 1892
and 1894 to rule our primaries, and
twice by independent tickets. The
laboring element of the State repudi-
ated them, and it is no use for any one
man in South Carolina to think this
crowd, or any other crowd of white
men in this State, can 60 to the Negro
and destroy the votes of the white peo-
pie, and thus control the State. That
may happen, but it is a long, long, long
time off. For instance, the farmers
are almost bankrupt, the towns and
cities are prosperous; the only labor
that the farmers have is that of the
Negro and their own. Up to the time
of the Haskell movement, the Negroes
were satisfied and contented, and max
ing reasonably good laborers on the
farm but with all this the farmers
were losing money every year. If the
Negro is taken from his chosen retire
nent, and put into political scramble,
it is not very hard to tell what kind of
u laborer be will make, or how long he
will carry out one of his contracts he
makes with his landlord. We would
have nice state of affairs, with the
Negro farm hand running off every two
or three days and going to some Negro
trial justice, appointed by some gov
ernor Of this class TO indict some white
man on some foolish grievance. The
white landlord, on the other hand,
would be in very pleasant state Of
mind, seeking redress before "nig-
ger" trial justice and "nigger" jury
for violation Of contract to labor on
a farm. Oh, well, it is no use to dis
cuss this thing; it is too preposterous
for white men to bother themselves
about. 1 don't know whether the law
is unconstitutional or not. I am farm
ing now but l am satisfied that there
will be enough Negroes "persuaded"
to 60 with the Democratic party TO
keep our majority above the average"