The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-27
THE COMMITTEES APPEAL.
THEIR ADDRESS TO THE DEMOCRATS
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Statement of the Conditions Now Confront
ing the White People of South Carolina
!. An Appeal for White Unity.
/ COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. 22.-Special
It will be remembered that at the re-
cent meeting of the Democratic State
Executive Committee, in this city, a
. subcommittee was appointed to pre-
pare an address to the party in South
Carolina.
The subcommittee met on Tuesday
night and, as the result of their con-
ference, has issued the following ad-
dress:
To the Democrats of South Carolina:
The demand for Constitutional
convention to frame an organic law
adapted to our people and our condi-
tons has become a cardinal principle
of the Democratic party of this State.
The call for such a convention has
been duly made by the people, provi-
ded for by the Legislature, and the
convention will assemble to do its
work on the -o of September next.
Upon the complexion and acts of
this convention depend the welfare of
our people for many years to come.
Therefore the election of proper dele
gates to the convention is of para
mount importance. Our best and
wisest citizens should be chosen for
this great and responsible trust. .
Realizing this, your State commit
tee, charged by the constitution of the
party with the execution and direc-
ton of the policy of the party, " in &C,
cordance with its constitution and
platform of principles, has unanimous
| iy resolved that delegates to the con-
vention to represent the views of the
Democratic marty of this State, should
be nominated at Democratic prima-
ry to be held in each county on the
- day of July next, unless the
county executive committee shall
adopt different mode of nomination,
and the State committee will in due
| time prescribe suitable rules to govern
the primary election. 1t cannot be
ignored that the factions ''Reformers'
and Conservative" exist in the De-
mocratic party of this State. and that
much bitter strife has existed between
them. But no matter where the blame,
if any, should lie, the time has come
when union and harmony should
again prevail among the white Demo,
Gratis of the State. We believe the
great body of the Democracy earnest.
| Iy desire the restoration of peace and
harmony, and we observe with pleas
ure that patriotic men on both sides
are sincerely endeavoring to bring
about union on fair and just lines.
By every fair and honorable means
we should strive to prevent a bitter
| factional fight for the control OF the
Constitutional convention, with its in,
evitable appeal to the negro to arbi,
trate the differences among Demo.
Gratis. There is no reason why all
white Democrats in South Carolina
cannot heartily agree and unite m the
adoption of Constitution. The trans
cendent issue is the preservation OF
white supremacy by a qualified suf;
frage. In this issue Conservatives and
Reformers alike are equally and vital
| ly concerned. On this supreme issue
the tocsin should be white unity fol-
white supremacy" There was once
such time, and may not be amiss to
recall it..
| Nineteen years ago a dual govern
ment existed in our State capital, with
two Governors, each claiming to be
the legal executive, and two Legisla'
lures with full sets of State officers
| The one government was composed OF
carpet-baggers, scalawags and negroes
| the vilest set of thieves and scoundrels
known to American history, was sus
tanned by Federal troops, who had
been ordered to seize the State House
by Grant. The question of the Presi:
dental succession was in doubt, and
the iron-willed President, without a
scruple, propped the edifice built by
/ Gen. Candy and the carpet-baggers
with bayonets, because the States
electoral vote was necessary to save
the Presidency to the Republican
party. =.
The other government was sustained
| by the white people of the State with
a unanimity and determination corn
of despair and with the immovable
purpose to throw off the yoke of igno
rance and vice let the consequences 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 tiine. The
campaign of 1876, with the exciting
scenes which it engendered, the Ham
burg and Ellenton riots, the Cainhoy
massacre, the red shirt cavalcades, 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
as has never been borne by an Eng.
lish speaking people since the Saxon
wore the Norman collar" The 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 freedom IN
herited from their sires South Caro-
ina's true sons came together as one
man and when thus united her contest
was no longer doubtful. The States
vote was counted for the Republican
! candidate for president, but we held
our State government, and the Cover.
nor of our choice was duly installed
and assumed undisputed control as
soon as the troops were removed,
while the horde of miscreants who had
defiled our State House fled beyond
our borders for safety.
. j