The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-02-27

a word, then, IN that meetlnS we Irleu
to arrive at an understanding, which
will unite the people of the State once
more without any surrender of prlncl-
pie on the part of anybody, and pre-
vent any struggle over the convention :;
and we realize very fully the delicacy
and difficulty of the task. The more
radical and unreasonable elements OF
both factions will necessarily be dis
eruntled and endeavor to antagonlze
the scheme. But we cannot give any
serious consideration to the. opposl-
ton of such men as these. We must
appeal to the patriotism and good
sense of the large conservative mass
of both factions to make the conces-
sions which are requisite to bring them
together. As the victors and the rul-
ing majority, the concessions mustne-
cessarily come from the Reform side,
the conditions must be subscribed to
by the other side.
'What concessions do You allude
to?"
s:To begin with, would say that the
one oyerpowering and essential idea
which made the convention necessity
was the preservation of white suprem-
acy by such qualification of the suf-
frage as will save US from negro dom
ination in future under any and all
conditions. If this essential and fun
damental requirement shall be sub
scribed to by all those seeking admis-
SION to the convention, along with a
very few other changes in the present
Constitution, the other questions like
| " to arise in the discussions before the
convention will inevitably be decided
on theirmerits as general propositions
in government ana cannot by any pos
sibility excite any factional debate. 1t
follows then that If the factions can
unite in formulating the basic prlncl-
piles to be incorporated IN the Constr
tuition by common consent, the ques-
ton as to whether the convention
shall be composed of majority of
Reformers or Conservatives is of mi
nor consideration. But for the suspl-
cion and distrust which exists as to the
! good faith and honesty Of each side
towards the other, / have no earthly
doubt that the Reformers would read
ily grant to their opponents equal rep
resentation. It will depend entirely
on the attitude and utterances of the
Conservative faction and the newspa-
pers which represent them whether
such an arrangement can be consum-
mated. IF the charges of fraud and
ring rule and the bitter sneerS which
have become to be the daily theme OF
the newspaper writer and scheming
office-seekers are continued, it is ut
Eterly impossible to ask the majority to
trust those who show so much dlstrust
themselves, and who, while claiming
to be honest themselves, accuse all
who oppose them of being dishonest.
IConfdence is the first requisite to
compromise. "
"Are we to understand you to say
that YOU are willing for the Conserva,
tives to have half of the delegates to
the convention"
Provided. we can be assured on GER
tain points, yes. ! can conceive OF nc
harm that could result and Of great
benefits that might accrue therefrom.
To illustrate: 4 purely factional con.
vention would be a misfortune, and II
the delegates to the convention are
elected, as they should be, because OF
high character, intelligence and llberal
ty of thought, the attrition of such
minds against such minds in lntellec.
tual combat seeking after truth and
the oest Constitution possible, would
make the convention an ideal one. Il
the convention was composed OF a fac
ton or dominated absolutely by fac
tional feeling, it would be far more
radical and likely TO incorporate unrea
Isonable provisions in the Constitution
and we must never forget that we are
to live under the Constitution to bs
framed, as well as our opponents, ano
that we would hurt ourselves as badly
as we would hurt them by making .
bad Constitution. A sense Of fairness
should compel US to give them a fair
share of representation, or even more
than fair sha. if they will let us. A
| jConstitution is different from an act
of the Legislature in thatit cannot be
repealed by the Legislature, but con
trolls the Legislature, hence its import
ance. All classes and all interests Of
the State should, therefore, have rep
resentation 10 the convention.
'sHow is it to be brought about anc
how would the Conservatives get then
half2"
There's the question. II our peo
pie could by common consent forget
| the factlonal strife which has divided
them and elect delegates without re
gard to factional lines, it would be TAI
| better. but that is a mere theory anc
we are confronted bya condition. The
| factions are here, the bitterness IS here
the distrust is here, and last and most
threatening, all the negroes a: here te
create dread on the one side and tt
produce temptation on the other. I'm
| derstand me, if the fight has to come
have no fear OF the result. White
supremacy and Anglo-Saxon clvlllza
ton will inevitably triumph, but i
will be the saddest day in the history
! of the State when it shall be recorded
that sensible practical. patriotic me1
/! would not meet on such common
ground as exists, and cease their strife
| for time in the interests of the State
and of posterity. y"
=''You have just spoken of condition!
| to which the Conservatives must sub
scribe. What are they.
ssThe main one, as have already
mentioned-the preservation of white
supremacy by a qualification of The
ballot. Another, IS that no delegate
shall be elected who does not pledg'
himself to vote against submission t
the people of the Constitution adopted
. for it goes without saying that tn
| feht which we are seekingto avoie
, woa,d be precipitated in such an event
Next, that every delegate must sub
.o,,;h, 10 tho oapera1 rronOSitlOn tha