The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-03-01
ne Presidency to the Republi ,an


born OF despair and with the immova-
bic purpose to throw Off the yoke Of
ignorance and vice let the cOnse-
quences be what they might. But it
was period of doubt and gloom and
the minds of men have never been
kept at such high tension for so long a
time. The campaign OF 1876. with the
exciting scenes which it engendered,
the Hamburg and Ellenton riots, the
Cainhoy massacre, the red shirt caval-
cadcS, the troops at the polls, all these
were fresh and vivid pictures in the
minds OF our people. South Carolina
had been and was then in sore strait.
Her citizens had been subjected to
tyranny such us has never been borne
by an English speaking people "since
the Saxon wore the Normal collar"
Tho sun. of hope had been in eclipse
for eight long, dark years and their
liberties hung in the balance. But true
to their lineage and the love OF free
dom inherited from their sires, South
CarOlinaS > true sons came together IA
one man and whcn thus united her
contest was no longer doubtful. Tue
States vote was counted for the Re
publican candidate for president, but
we held our State government, and
the Governor of our choice was duly
installed and assumed undisputud con-
troll as soou rs the troops were rcmov.
ed. while the horde of miscreants who
had dehlcd our State House fled be-
yond our borders for safety.
1t is not pleasant to recall that sad
period of our history, but some of our
people seem to have forgotten it,
while others were too young to know
aud realize the terrible conditions and
tho almost supcrhuman Efforts which
were necessary to rescue the 5 ate,
can read the story with profit, II they
will heed the lesson Of the States res
cue from the darkcSt period it has even
known. White unity alone wrought
our redemption. White unity alone
kept the government in the hands OF
the intelligence and virtue of this
State. Obedience To the wilt OF the
white ma jprity and II loyal support OF
the candidates chosen by the regular
party acGinCry alone preserved the
puri;y OF the victory which WAS Won
against such fearful odds in 1876. The
slogan, An independent Is worse
than a Radical" has been no idle
phrase, but Il living, burning text,
faith in which meant AngiO.SdXOn sli-
prcinacy, good government and the
preservation OF our civilization.
suspended over our heads through u
Constitution guaranteeing universal
suffrage. The census ut 1870 shows
that The negroes have = ;mii juriIy oI
more than Sc, 900 men o. vot,ny age.
The huge black snake, which, auacon.
da-likC, held the Statrain in its folds and
came SO near crushing it to death dur
ing the dark period from 1865 TO 1876,
has been rendered harmless, tenn
porarly paralyzed, by the registration
and ci9ht-buX laws. But it is not
dead, nor il IL even sleeping. En-
couraged by the bitter feud existing
bc cGwrrn the whites ana no doubt rely
ing on the belici that they will be
called On is Il balance of forces to set
tie the quarrel, the Republican party
has been rcOrganiZcd, the ncgroc
preachers, always the most influential
leaders OF their race, are already pre-
pairing to mobilize the black horde.
1t is u sad commentary on the mad OK
trcmcs to which factional political
strife can carry men TO note the atti-
tudc Of some of our men and newspa-
pcrs toward the movement. Thirst
ing for control and blind to all the
evil consequences, they encourage the
ncgroe to political activity. lrrccon-
ciliabics, few in number, we are con-
iidcnt, but bitter aud Schcming men
are evidently in league with them.
and Il perfect undst;tudlnG seems To
exist. The devil, moving and instigat.
inT them. as II were, taking these
men up on mountain and showing
them the negroes, saying EGcr3iZc,
mobilize these black men, and you can
rule in South Carolina"
The plea is made by the Republican
leaders ''"t the Republicans do not
: eek To obtain Office or regain control
of the government. but no men Of
sense can be deceived by such Il plea.
Their offer to vote for the best men
OF the faction which will give them
their rights may be IL temptation to Il
few ultra politicians, but We have
more faith in the sense and patriotism
uf the conservative masses than to be-
licvc that they are To be thus fooled.
or that they can he led by dcsi gning
men to form an alliance which can
only bring disgrace to them and jeO-
pardizc, if not destroy our government
for all time.
We have the opportunity, so long
sought Of fixing the privilege of SUI.
fragc 81 that the fullest political free
dom shall obtain, and all danger from
VIC IL Ditith lll' w llIIil
has been a menace to our liberty and
civilization and has hung as an incu-
bus on our progress, shall be avcrtcd
forever.
viii not our people, remembering
the struggle OF 'I6 and its lesson of
white unity, cease their mad strife
and come together as the sons Of a
common mother to protect that
mother and secure for themselves
and their pOstcrity the blessings of
liberty and good government. freed
from the black shadow which has so
long been over our beloved State.
ThCrc has been bitterness and angry
crlmination and rCcriminailOn on both
siduS. The spirit OF anta%Onlsm II
longer nurscd can only breed uIGaStcr,
and no patriot should wish Il COnsiitu-
ton made by victorious and cnragcd
faction after fight in which white
men have called on hCUncgrocs to set
tie tho differences.
Whatever have been the causes OF
the differences which h&vc cinbrOilCd
uur people, we can a,' unite in'sClcCtiEg
our best, Our wisCst. our purn5t citi-
IONS as delegates, and leave it to their
wisdom and patriotism tp frame an or
gauiZatiOn for the state. Let these
delegates be chosen ut ap"Imary, in
whiCn all white Democrats can unite
and move, and vote for men without
regard to past political dlllGr"ncos or
affiliations. Let character, patriotism,