The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-02-26


and honesty of each side towards the
other have no earthly doubt that the
Reformers would readily grant to their
j opponents equal representation. 1t will
depend entirely on the attitude and
utterances OF the leaders Of the Con
servative faction and the enewspapers
which represent them, whether such
an arrangement can be contaminated
III the charges of fraud and ring rule
and the bitter sneers, which have be-
come To be the daily theme of the
newspaper reader and scheming Office
seekers are continued, it is utterly
hopeless to ask the majority to trust
those who show so much distrust them
selves and who, while claiming to be
honest themselves, accuse all who
oppose them OF being dishonest. Con-
tidence Is the first requisite to compro-
mise"
Senator, do you mean TO say that
you are willing for the Conse servatiyes
70 have half of the delegates to tho
convention ? was asked him on the
strength OF what he had just said.
provided we can be assured on cec-
tain points, yes. l can conceive of no
harm that could result, and of great
benefits that might accrue therefrom.
To illustrate: a purely factional con-
vention would be q misfortune, and If
the delegates to the convention arc
elected as they should be because Of
high character, intelligence and libe-
rality OF thought the attritioh of such
minds against such minds in intellect
ual combat, seeking after truth and
the best Constitution possible, would
make the convention an ideal one. Ii
the convention were composed of o fac
tion or dominated absolutely by fac
tional feeling, 1t would be far moro
radical and likely to incorporate un-
reasonable provisions in the Constitu-
tion; and we must never forget that
wa are to live under the Cons titution
to be framed as we'll as our opponents,
and that we would hurt ourselves as
badly as we would hurt them by max
ing q bad Constitution. A sense of
fairness should compel us to give them
fair share OF representation, or even
more than a fair share If thoy will let
us. A Constitution is different from
an act Of the Legislature in that it can
not be repealed by the Legislature but
cCnntrols the Legislature, hence its i'm
portance All classes aiiiifa siifa&a a ter 81 tts t
of the State should, therefore, havo
representation in the convention.
How Is it TO he brought about, Son
ator, and how would the Conservatives
get their half?"
"There's the question. II our pco-
pie could by common consent forget
the factionai strife which has divided
thom and elect delegates without re-
gard to factionul lines it would be far
better, but that il q mere theory and
we are confronted by q condition. The
factions are here, the bitterness is
here, the distrust is here and last and
most threatening, all the negroes are
here to create dread on the one side
aud to produce temptation on the
other. Understand me, il the fight
has to come | have no fears OF the
result. White supremacy and Anglo
Saxon civilization win inevitably
triumph, but it will be the saddest day
shall be recorded that sensible, practi-
cal, patriotic men would not meet ON
such common ground ias exists and
cAasc their strife for a time in the i'm
terosts of the State and of posterity."
You have just spoken of conditions
to which the Conservatives must sub
scribe. What are they ?"
THE main one have already men
tioned-the preservation of white SUI
premacy by qualification Of the bal
lot. Another is that no delegate shall
be elected who docs not pledge him
self to vote against submission to the
people OF the Constitution adopted, for
1T goes without saying that tho fight
which we are seeking to avoid would
be precipitated in such an event Next
that evory delegate must subscribe to
the general proposition that no whito
man should be disfranchised, except
for crime. Still another that the
Constitution shall deal only in general
principles Of government, and leave
the Legislature absolutely untram-
mclled on the questions OF police re-
gulations and free schools. With all
delegates Loyalty supporting these geu-
eral ideas, together with the pre-
servatiOn of the homestead, 1t becomes
u matter OF Indifference to theupeople
whether the Conservatives or the Re-
formers are in the majority in the con-
vention.
There are various other questions
which will enter into the discussion
which will precede the election Of
delegates, but they will settle them
selves, and the people can INSTRUCT as
to their wishes"
How will the division be made ?"
was the next inquiry.
THAT / cannot say. Each county
important matter is the reuniting the
people in support OF tho primary for
the election OF delegates. Give both
sides representation on the boards OF
managers, or If the delegates are
chosen by convention let it DO under
stood that all parties are committed to
the support OF the nominees"
Would you be willing to take the
stump in advocacy of these general
propositions ?" was asked him
Ii it becomes necessary, yes, but |
trust the matter can be adjusted by
the good men in each county getting
together without any such necessity.
The only trouble see that may arise
Is that those who have sought to be-
tray the people under the guise OF
pacification may eudeavor to throw
obstacles in the way. [ would say
further that those views are not new
and have not resulted from any recent
developments. Last fall, when | was
strainiDg every nerve to'have the con-
vention called, 1 expressed practically
the same ideas. II will depend upon
the spirit in which the Conserv atives
meot our people. "A soft answer
| turneth away wrath, and II We begin
a race to see which shall outdo the
other in obliterating the scars Of our
past battles satisfactory results are
bound to follow. The Reformers can
: be persuaded il the right means are
useG They cannot be bullied or
| drivon."
Suppose after the primaries were
| held or the nomination made it were
found that the Conservatives had not
secured half of the delegates 7"
"Well as n matter of simDle iustice