The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-23
rhey Hope to Get Control OF the
State -WOrded I'm Poor
English. hut Using Strong Langu.


English. hut Using Strong Iangu'
age.
| Columbia, S. C.. Jan. 18th, 1895.
| To the Negro Ministry 10 South Carolina.
| Dear Brethren in Christ: BY fraud, greatly
| SURPRISING. the glaring robberies in accordance
| with when the elections In South Carolina
have been conducted for 80 many years; by
| methods that are Il burning disgrace 10 4 CIV
lliZed people much less proieSsed democratic
form OF goverDment-to say nothing OF their
tendency 10 pervert, viLiale and surely de.
stroy the public's moral sense OF honesty and
right; by Vaccinations so grossly outrageous
that the alleged end sought,vz, ITO Keep the
negro eternaily down, Is inadequate ior the
Al convention was counted in" In The recent
election and accordingly called by the last
Legislature to meet at Columbia september,
95. Though changing the very organic law
OF our State, The work OF this convention VIII
be amendable 10 no power other than. the
wishes of It's members; for II has been de-
cided that The duIngs of It's nody shall not be
submitted to the people for their approval.
AmOug other things OF a partisan nature.
PROVISIONS are to be made whereby the negro
can be effectively and perpetnally robbed of
and by the operation of the very same law
the white man, In similar or more degraded
condition. shall experience no political incon-
seinces ln fact, the only arsnment offered
the line of more thoroughly intensifyinS The
lire tuy abnormal and by circumstances nn-
warranted prejudice against The unofending
negro. AS the eInbeZZler begins his career by
stealing smaller sums and using every pre-
caution that skill can employ or ingenuity
invenJio cover what he has done, grows more
reck less HIS success makes him the more In
vuived aud The greater rogue, aud finally In
embroidered desperation takes everything III
sight, leaving mis- suffering virtins the couso-
lation contained In the question. What are
you gong To do about it? So has been Lhe
history of the present Democratic party In
south Carolina. 1t began It's career by break.
inE every Sugar.cOated promise maze n tne
negro, Hhtnp ON ana the representatives. ot
his government, declaring In the meanwhile.
however. Ia the outside world-both through
leading men and powerful neTspapers-that
dishonesty was unknown In the States pollt-
ical realm: growing bolder becanse OF the
success attending its methods OF fraud. sup
preston and intimidation, aud, rs Is natural,
perhaps, less seusiive OF right and more de-
.rianL To sentiment; we have, as climax, the
assorauce. given by ttose empowered 70 80
.peak, that our right OF franchise and all the
accompanying privileges will be taken away
from uS W Lhout the qIesl ion OF how we ike
It being raised 10 the dignity OF conslderation.
The present IN not the Time, nor does the oc-
casioo Justify, minciDS OF words, much less
4 lack of activity. A desperation born OF and
foStered by u righteous cause and deep sense
OF what we have 10 gain or lose should hre us.
Since our people AZ u race have but few lead
ers In whom they have any confidence other
than their preachers, and since II Is our God
given mission TO cry aloud against wrong, at
ali times and in ali places-even high places
we, the negro ministry OF South Carolina, re-
yardless oil denominations, must awaken 10
the responsibilities which our vocation, the
demands of the hour and the otherwise help-
iessnesS OF our people impose. Too long AL
ready have we been content to lift up y stand
ard OF right and honesty for the Individual
life of the governed-Without even. attempt
ing to manifest our righteous indignation
against The indispuiaoie dishonesty on the
part or tnuse governing We who preach
with the ardor OF our spiritually awakened
ttNa. dor 10 md hfNNa-
dlence To lhe command, "thou shalt not
sIeal," can do no wrong II, acting on the prln.
cipie that "un ounce OF prevention Ia worth
pound Of cure" we do all In our power, by
The employment sof legitimate means, TO pre-
vent our fellow man either from stealing or
himself from being robbed. The fact Thai the
coveted thing in question is right which
God has given and civilized ana honestly
managed governments unq uestiouably grant
IN NO way changes the matter-unleS5, per-
chance, IL Is made thereby the more ooliga-
tory upon our profession TO be other than
placid spectHi0rs.i
Now, we do not forget that. in the midst of
so much political dishonesty, there have a.
way been a large and constantly increasing
number OF white men VINO are sutnclentiy
and lar seeing enough to under
stand that dishonest methods in affairs OF
government must. in the very nature OF
things, contain In themselves inciplent germs
of bickerng, discord and q retarding, Ii not
complete destruction OF the common wealth's
prosperity. Among the Reformers these men
are found. In the ranks OF the Conservatives
they are not absent. Even In the Repuoli-
can party there are some broad minded, pa
trioLlc men. The emergency which confronts
us, however, demands that we shall be tied TO
no party or leaders-that We shall stand and
contend on the broad plane OF eternal right
rather than Oh the circumscrlbed platform OF a
particular party. Men and measures III ust be
our aim. |
Moved by these considerations and views,
we hereby call upon fellow workers Ia the
IN iafr m Carolina.
meet In u State convention at Columbia.
Thursday, February IA, 95. ll:3O a. m. in the
Calvary baptist Church, that We may delio-
erately advise and wisely plan as to the
means we shall employ 10 secure for our State
AL honest govern ment. 10 the poorer whites
and ignorant negroes the puolic schools more
des,rably equipped and OF longer terms, and
TO at least the Intelligent citizen, regardless
OF the color Of the skin, The unhampered right
Of citizenship. since the conditions making
one eligible To vote for electors to the conBti-
tutional convention are such that nearly
every negro having become OF age can COM
ply, II Is desired that We shall take cnunSel OF
each other to the end that vigrous campaign
by the ministry may be arranged for the pur-
pose OF getting the negroes registered TO a
man and standing ready 10 vote for any set Of
men, regardless OF their party name. who are
IN favor Of an honestly managed government
and opposed 10 radical, class or lnipracticable
measures being encouched In the new Constl-
tuition.
Asking your earnest prayers for this right
eous undertaking and begging you, al any
reasonable sacrifice, 10 meet your fellow work.
ers In the above mentioned convention, we
are your brethren In Christ Jesus,
f. II. Wilson,
]. C.. Daniels,
+. II. Colt,
H. Fl. Ralfords
r. f. Hart,
Jno. r. Wilson,
W.D. Chappelle,
A. L. Dunbar,
J. H. Johnson,
II w. Baylor.
C.. p. Nelson,
j.. Z. Tobin.
~,, THE OLD FORT.
People. CAtile, CEeps and Things
-. G6er eeho6t.
"a s slaefyisi$. b.G., Jan. 2lst, 1894.
We are glad 70 state that snJne of our most
observing and practicable farmers think the
grain crop will be found In better condition
than We we're led to believe last week. The
wheat Ia certainly not Injured much, neithef
the barley or rye. hut the oats are worse off
but com paraLively good crop will be left.
Mr. Joel p. Burnett u first class teacher and
young man has charge OF the Mt. Moriah
school.
1t will be remembered that some time be-
fire Christmas MIR. L. &. Turner had two bales
| al A.