The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-01-15
THE REPUBLICAN, oHALnESuE.
The Duty of the Hour OF the White
People of South Carolina.

4 Ahc sSuty Ot the hour Oh inc w ntt
People of South Carolina.
To the Editor of The News ant
Courier: The circular letter OF com
mittee of Republicans calling for q
Convention of that party, with the
view of meeting the issues of tho Con
stltutional Convention, suggests to my
mind the duty of tho hour on the part
OF the white people of South Carolina.
1t is not my purpose to review the
! State politics for the past four event
| full years. What is known as the Re-
form Movement has developed princi-
pies and policies of government and
phases of sentiment that have not COM
mended themselves to my Judgment.
But have been far from considering 1t
an unmixed evil. have seen in it germs
which, rightly cultivated, would pro-
mote the good of tue Commonwealth
When the sober second thought of the
whole white people of tho State shall
assert itself, US | firmly believe it will,
l cannot but believe that tho resultant
OF the recent opposed forces will be
the good of South Carolina. But let
ting the dead past buJy-its-dead, what is
the duty oi tnS present and the sug-
gestion of the future We must eX-
tract from the Legislation of the four
years past all that Is valuable and pro-
mote for the advantage of the State all
pending measures.
The great impending open measure
is the call for a Constitutional Conven-
tion. Although admitting that the
time for such q Convention is in some
respect inopportune, yet havd favored
the call for weighty reasons. This is
the imperious necessity that devolves
upon us to put at once upon granite
base the question of white supremacy
in South Carolina. There should be
provision for such supremacy in the
fundamental law of the State. am
for meeting this issue boldly before
the whole country. Let it be under
stood that it is the purpose OF the
white race in this State-conformably
to the Constitution of the United
States, which it is our duty and our
necessity to hold inviolate-to fix
white supremacy in our organic law.
How this is to be done is for the
Convention, after grave deliberation
and wise consultation, to devise. 1t is
not for me or for any one citizen to an
ticipate the solution of so great
question of statesmanship.
But one thing is certain. If there
was ever time for the union of the
white people of the State now is the
time. Let us meet this proposed Re-
publican organization by such coun-
ter organization rs will make reunit-
ed Democracy irresistible and relegate
forever to the rear the exponents of O
party that would rear again it's "mis-
created front" in our fair State and
ondanger our highest civilization.
No greater work can address itself
to the wisdom of statesmen than the
framing Of Constitution for q free
State. Hence it goes without saying
fhaf l,n sn,, a1>sx
Convention calls for the purest, ablest
and wisest men that united 'Democ-
racy can offer. Let the selection be
made regardless Of faction, and with
the acknowledgment of the principle
chat minorities have rights which
should be conceded and views which
should beG"espccted. | do not propose
to enter now into details. | am sug-
costing what seems to mo tho dictates
of patriotism for South Carolina.
In South Carolina there are laws
enacted and policies established which
do not command the approval Of many
good people. But it Is wise to accept
the verdict OF the white majority and
to trust to time for such notifications as
may be effected.
For ono have faith in the white
people of my State. AS one who has
identified himself wholly with neither
of the fdctions of the Democracy
have the right to make my plea. as
do now, for q reunion of the Democracy
of the State upon the basis Of peace
with honor as to the past and of con-
certcd action for the future, so that
South Carolina may attain tho bless
ings Of unity and prosperity and make
sure the. foundations Of her statcship
for all time.
Under ordinary circumstances the
writer would not obtrudc his views
upon the public. But as it is, it scc,ns
to him that at this juncture of our
State affairs, when some people may
be contemplating an unhallowed al
lance, it, is the duty of independent
citszenshtp that knows no ambition
but the veal Of the State to assert
itself in the expression of matured
views.
Ihave undertaken only to forcshadow
apolicy. | am willing for it to GO for
what it is intrinsically worth.
JOHN =. THOMAS.
Columbia, S. c., January 7, 1895.