The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-02-26
AN APPEAL TO DEMOCRATS.
WHITE UNITY AND WHITE RULE

WHITE UNITY AND WHITE RULE
The Importance OF tho Constitutional
| Convention-All are Urged to Unit.
in Sending the Best Men Without
Regard TO Faction.
| To the Democrats of South Carolina
| Tho demand for Constitutional
Convention to frame an organic law
adapted to our people and our condi-
| t1ons has become cardinal principle
of the Democratic party Of this State
The call for such q convention has
been duly made by the people, pro-
vided for by the Legislature, and the
convention will assemble to do its
work on the---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 aud
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-
tion OF the policy of the party" in ac-
cordance with its constitution and
platform OF principles has unanimous
ly resolved that delegates to the con-
vention to represent the viows Of the
be nominated at q Democratic primary
TO be held in each county on tho
day OF July nsxt, unless the couuty OK
| ecutive committee shall ADOPT a differ
ent 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 "Con-
| servatiyes" exist in the Democratic
| 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 como
when union and harmony should again
prevail among the white Democrats of
the State. We believe the great
body OF the Democracy earnestly de-
tire the restoration Of peace and har-
| mony, and we observe with pleasure
that patriotic men ON both sides are
sincerely endeavoring to bring about
a union on fair and just lines. BY
every fair and honorable means VIC
should strive to prevent bitter fac
tlonal hight Tor the control OF the Con-
stitutional Convention, with its inevit-
! able appeal to tho negro to orbitrate
| the differences among Democra ts
There is no reason why all white Dem
| Ocrats In South Carolina cannot heart
| lily agree and unite in the adoption of
"a Constitution. The transcedent issue
| Is the preservation of white supremacy
by qualified suffrage. In this issue
| Conservatives and Reformers alike arc
| equally and vitality concerned. On
| this supreme issue the tocsin should be
white unity for white supremacy"
| There was once such q time, and may
| not be amiss to recall it.
Nineteen years ago 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 vilcst 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
scruple, propped the edifice built by
Gen. Candy and the carpet-baggcrs
with bayonets, because the Stato's
electoral vote was necessary to save
the Presidency to the Republi IAN
party.
The other government was sustain
ed by the white people OF tho State
with unanimity and differentiation
born OF despair and with the immova-
BILE purpose to throw off tho 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-
cades, the troops at the polls, all these
were fresh and vivid pictures in the
minds OF our people. South Carolina
bad been and was then in sore strait
Her citizens had been subjected to a
tyranny such as 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
Carolina's true sons came together a.
one man and when thus united hei
contest was no longer doubtful. The
States vote was counted for the Re
publican candidate for president, but
we held our State government, anC
tne Governor OF our choice was duly
installed and assumed undisputed con
troll as soon as the troops were remov
cd, while the horde of miscreants who
had defiled our State House fed be
yond our borders for safety.
1t Is not pleasant to recall that sac
J period OF our history, but some of ou,
people seem to have forgotten it
J while others were too young to know
and realize the terrible conditions ant
! the almost superhuman efforts which
were necessary to rescue the Slate
J can read the story with profit, IL the,
, will heed the lesson OF the States res
, cue from the darkest period 1t has eve
I known. White unity alone wrough
our redemption. White unity alon
, kept the government In the hands O
> the Intelligence and virtue of thi
State. Obedience to the will OF tn
) white majority and loyal support o
the candidates chosen by the regula