The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-18
AN APPEAL TO UNCLE SAM.
THE NEGROES WANT HELP FROM
THE ARMY.

THE ARMY.
The Rcfurmers Are Denounced
Strongly-Ready 10 Join With Al
Opponents Of the Administration.
The negroes hold u conference las
week In Columbia, which was ATTENDED
by fifty or sixty, mostly preachers
The following is the address issued b.
the conference:
10 the people of the United States
AS q part Of tho constituent clements
from which our national government
draws it's ifc-blood in time of peace,
and from whose life-blood 1t eXacts
tribute in time Of war, under the broac
reciprocal relations that should exist
among oil the people Of one common
country, that should be elastic, often
sive or defensive weapons for every
American citizen. however humble ut
home or abroad, in order that the
theory of government handed down by
tho fathers might be fully realized
and enjoyed by every individual on
every inch Of national territory, we
submit that IL small but desperate
minority Of the population has declal'-
ed it's purpose to perpetuate it's power
by unlawfully trampling under feet
us by the Federal Constitution as a
means of protecting life, liberty and
property.
We have used every means in de-
Tense Of our constitutional rights and
franchises known to law-abiding citi-
Zens in this State without effect and
us u last resort are forced to call upon
the strong arm of the national govern
meut for Il defense Of rights granted
and guaranteed by itself.
AS the army and navy are held in
<~1x 4
thoritios in every State, the Federal
government in order not to be impose
upon and used to support anarchy
under tho pretensc OF suppressing it,
should SEQ to it that u republican form
of government which We understand
to be government instituted by the
sovereign will OF ma .ority of the con-
stitutionally qualified voters, actually
exists in evory State.
We humbly crave your influence
with the constituted authorities of the
nation in order that their consciences
and arms might be strengthened in
laws Of the nation upheld so that each
American citizen might have lie
equal protection Of the law without
which constitutional guarantees are
mere mockeries and life itself Il burden
to the people of the State.
We assure the Iair-minded white
people Of this State that We are will
ing to use every means within our
power to aid in the overthrow of the
small but designing clique now in
possession Of the government which
has busted itself in the reorganization
of the courts and militia for the pur-
pose Of perpctuating its power and
which has been SO embOldened with
success in former revolutionary steps
as to declare under cover Of the uncon-
stitutional registration laws, its de-
termination to hold Il convention of its
own make and liking and disfranchise
the vast majority Of the voting popula-
tiOn regardless OF constitutional pro-
hibitiOns.
1t assigns rs it's reason for such UNI
constitutional and revolutionary stops
that constitution must be made to
prevent what they are pleased to call
"negro domination and to establish
white supremacy,' which means, re-
duced to it's essence the supremacy Of
the faction now in control.
As the facts Of history themselves
prove, we deny that there has ever
been II desire or attempt on our part
to dominate the government. With
the largo body OF us voting, most Of
whom are illiteratc and poor, there is
"
government as there is Of the laboring
classes in massachusetts, New York or
Pennsylvania, who with unlimited
suffrage, cOntrastcd with Tillmanite
following, do not control.
While we are EMIT tied to participa-
tiOn in the government commensurate
with our wealth and intelligence re-
presentation is only secondary con-
sideration compared with our right
to retain our right of suffrage which
cannot be annulled by any constitutions
III means.
Under our theory Of self-govcrnment
in order that every man may posses
the means within his person to protect
life, liberty and possessions, tho gov
erning power is divided into as many
fractional parts us there are male
adults, to each OF whom is decided an
equal portion designed to be used in Il
representative capacity and the ballot
made It's instrument
AS undcr our form Of government all
officers and administrators of the law
are designed to be the creatures of the
governed and are therefore the servants
return to all continuation in Office,
which means protection for all, the
danger to the governed in such form
Of government does not exist half SO
much in poverty or i]litcracy as the
accumulations of vast fortunes by the
few, the influence of which may be
used to Swervc the servants of the
people to administer the government
or law in the interests Of Il few to the
deteriment of the many. Besides il
there is to be a privilege class govern
ment, restricted to persons possessing <
certain amount of property or educa'
tion, what reasons are there for not
further restricting the governing class
TO few college professors or million
aires?
by making the officers of tho law
who shall be the servants of all, TIL,
dependent creatures of class only
you make them the willing or un
willing tools Of that class alone, ant
they will be bound to construe and ad
minister law to please members there
Of only in which system it is apparen
that the class shorn Of power il with
out even as much protection as slaves
whose masters ballots protect them
Such form of government VIC hat
in Il limited degree before the war
x.y1 no 4l,< -, /.