The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-13
A PRIMARY ORDERED.
AN IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE
STATE COMMITTEE.

What is Wanted Is = Constitution Conven-
ton Composed OF the Best Material and
Determined to Make this White Mans
State.
COLUMBIA, S. G., Feb. 1.-THE De-
mocratic executive committee met here
tonight and referred all of its work to
special sub committees. The meeting
was we'll attended, the following
members being present: J. Y. Jones,
w. M. Jordan, j. P. Glenn, R. H.
Sweeney, P. H. Gadsden, T. ]. Cunn-
ingham, NJ. F. Jackson. j: T.: Davis,
A. E. Williams. R. B. Watson, T.
w. Traylor, R. M. McCown, ]. W.
Gray, J. P. Derham, j. Gentry, T. j.
Kirkland, Ira B. Jones, j. L. M. 1rby,
G. M. Efrd, J. D. Montgomery, w.
D. Evans, J. A. Sigh, O. r. Lowman,
T. G. Robinson, Willie Jones. D. E.
Keels, N. L. Burnside, A. G. Lyles,
M. L. Donaldson, Secretary D. II.
Tompkins.
AS soon as the roll was call
ed Chairman Irby arose and said:
Gentlemen of the Committee: 1t has
been customary for the chairman of
this committee to open its proceedings
without any remarks, but on this oc-
casion I deem it necessary to have
something to say in brief. In, view of
all that has happened in this State
since 1890 it is well that we should
take our bearings now and meet the
situation face to face like men. can
not congratulate you on bright out
look for the Democracy. You and
those who we represent are in no way
responsible for this. When the De-
mocratic party came into power In
1876. under Constitution that was
forced upon the people by a Republi-
can Government, one of the first ques-
tons advocated, the first demand made
by the people, was for Constitutional
Convention to frame an organic law
that would be adopted to their wants.
The powers thas controlled between
rs and go, for reasons satisfactory to
themselves, but unexplained to the
people, dalled with this question and
refused their reasonable demands.
Fortunately for tile State the people
took charge in 1890, and after long
and hard struggle succeeded in ratify.
ing the call made by the Legislature OF
1888. The Democratic party of the
State, whom you and I may represent,
and may say the only Democratic
organization in the State, proposed in
it's Convention of last September to
make it party question. The Re-
publicans and Independents, aided by
some loyal Democrats, came very near
defeating this call at the November
election. You and considered it as
our imperative duty, representing as
we did the will of that Convention, to
urge the people TO sustain it. After
fair and free election it was carried by
short margin.
had hoped when this call was
made and the Legislature has passed
an Act carrying it out that its white
enemies, for good of the State and
white supremacy, would have ground
ed their arms and allowed a peaceful
and harmonious solution of this ques-
ton. But not so, we are confronted
to-day first by a Republican organiza-
ton, which, outside of few Congress
sional districts, has been regarded asa
political corpse, through its represent
atives, and its black hosts are now at
tempted to be marshalled for desper-
ate Struggle. But for some things,
which / shall hereafter mention, it
could be easily overcome, for the Re-
publicans in this State are tired of
politics and cannot be organized in
such numbers as to threaten this Con-
vention and white supremacy.
Second. There is quasi organiza-
ton made up uuder the leadership of
the State. They, calling themselves
Democrats, are unwilling, and have
been since 1890, to submit to what a
majority of the white people demand,
and are ready, not only to defeat the
call and objects of this Convention,
but to unite in an unholy alliance
with the negro leaders whom they
helped to overthrow in 1876. ! rejoice,
however, that this number is small
and cannot assume dangerous proper
tons. There is still another element
that is the more conservative (so-cal-
ed) element-who are unwilling to
unite with the negro, but who are un-
friendly to the present Administration
and its officers.
There is still another that belongs to
what is known as the Reform party,
most, if not all, of whom were opposed
to the election of Governor Evans.
Lastly, there is the Reform move
ment, upon whom, thank God, this
committee, with all its scattered forces,
if necessary to maintain white supre-
macy, can rally and rely. and even
with the great detection among the
white people can defeat the Republi-
cans and save the Convention. 1t is
our duty, and the white people of the
State expect us to perform it, to see
that Republicans are defeated for del
egates to this Convention. There is no
use to mince words about it. We must
carry this Convention or white supre-
macy is gone forever.
The Constitution under which we
were elected does not give us the ex-
press power to act in this matter, but
it does by implication. It was ques-
ty. This committee took charge of it
as such and urged its ratification at
the first election. They talked of
peace, of harmony in the Democratic
party. There is as much peace and
harmony in that party in South Car
olina as there is in any State in the
Union. 1t is only tho whole of the
minority who will not submit to the