Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-10-23
Irby on Suffrage.
The Patriot, jim rarks's Paper.

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and we have tried to pass judg-
ment upon it impartially,
Personally, we do not know the
Senator, and there are several
things in his recor'l as a man,
that DO not impress us favorably;
yet we must admit that, so far as
we know, his political record is
straight, and always for the best
interests of the masses.
But here comes in the nice point.
Whether Irby's concern for the
poor illitorate white man, or for
his own seat in the U. S. Senate,
prompts this outburst of loving
solicitude for the poor man-that
is the question.
1t is generally believed and
generally conceded that Governor
Evans has his eye on Senator Ir-
by's seat IN the U. S. Senate. lr-
by knows this. He knows, furth-
ermore, hat he can gain nothing
by silence and delay.
It's everywhere conceded that
Irby is the best political general
in South Carolina politics. lie
examines his grounds carefully
and locates all the "boogers" be-
fore he enters the woods. He ls
master of both offensive and de-
fensive warfare. He is keen, and
quick and resourceful. If an op-
ponent abandons good position,
Irby quickly captures it--and he
holds il. If an enemy lays down
good weapon, Irhy quickly picks
it up-snd he uses it. Very often
on the ether fellow.
He examines not only his grounds
and his forces and his weapons,
but he even scrutinizes the ammu-
nition he is to use. More than
this, he masters his forces, thus
keeping many a man fighting
under him and in his ranks, who
does not admire him as q man
but they admire his g neralship
and follow him accordingly.
Irby kunws that The great masses
were with him in his opposition
10 the "equal division, reconciIa-
ton" scheme. He is using tie
club that Senator Tillman and
Governor Evans put INTO his
hands-and he is using it with
telling effect.
We predicted that The 'recon-
ciliation pills" would prove TO be
loaded with the wrong stuf-that
somebody would get very sick Of
them. SO they have.
If a complete diagnosis ct a
case is all that is necessary, lrby's
effort on the suffrage plan is what
might properly lie called 'howl-
Ing success" JIe holds it up be-
fore the poor, i!lite'atc vo'ers and
makes it look mighty ugly. lie
picked the plan TO pieces and al
most annihilated it-in theory.
And right here he committed
big error, which, in our opinion,
he couldn't help-it was inevita-
bic. After making complete
diagnosis of the case and telling
The patient what an awful condi-
deli Deliberately walked of Without
prescribing a remedy. In our
opinion he had no remedy. If he
had, or if he has now, let it be
trotted out.
In our opinion, the Tillman
plan is about tho best we can get
that will not bump up against tue
U. S. Cons tuition.
True it leaves great power in the
hands IF the dominant party, in
the registrars, and in the manag-
ers of the election. That is the
case to day under the old law.
True, it presupposes discrimi-
nation and pa 'es the way for
sharp practice. Such was The pur-
pose and intent Of the eight box
law and the present registration
law. Who doubts it? Who de-
nies it?
And yet, this discrimination has
not been used against white men
though divided into most hostile
and determined fact ons.
We ha 'e seen occ ;sion 20 differ
with Senator Tillman and to crlti-
else him, but we have never be-
lieved that be would advocate
to the hurt of the men
who made him, politically speak
ing, and whose votes he will need
again. The clause permitting all
to register, up to Janu-
airy 1898, who can sun elstand
and explain it 1.-THE cons tuition,
or any part of it when read to
him" is evidently gap, made
purposely, and wide enough for
every poor illiterate man to enter.
Some fear that the Ants may
again get in power and will use
the law against US. Suppose they
do get III power. They were in
power not many years ago; and
never did a faction show more
reckless disregard for the wishes
Of the people than they did.
But When they got too bad, the
rose up aid put them out
in spite Of their control Of e.ec-
tions.
If Reformers should ever become
too bad, too big, or too corrupt to
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