The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-09
LAURENs s. O., July ., 1896.

State on the third Tuesday in August
for delegates to a Constitutional Con-
yention. 1t go happens that q feeling
prevailed for some time hat 1t would
be best THAT the white people Of the
state should cast a united ballot for
delegates to that convention. The rea-
sons for this wish were and arc patent:
notably that the white people in all
political matters for thirty five years
had shown a solid compact front. 1t was
so In 1850 and 1t was so in 1876, and un-
TIL the advent of Tillman. With Till
man came, 1t seems, irreconcilable di-
vision into factions. This fractional dt-
vision is a fact and must be so regarded
ana as o fact 1T nno be avoided. AS
we have before urged the moderate
men In every county in the State have
deprecated the conditions existing,
and have made patriotic appeals that
the f%actional warfare should cease. 1t
vas considered that if the division
walls were broken down in the emer-
gency OF choosing delegates to the
constitutional convention, there would
probably follow an era of q united
white peopla-"s before the assault of
Tillmang ! colleagues, upon their
W h~o,i$aaold. For time appearances
indicated that the desired restoration
OF harmony and union would be ac-
complished. 1t would now seem that
the hope of the moderate men in the
State and the States best well-wishers
Is by no means to be realized. The ma
jority faction pronounce Enthusiastically,
by the action of. q number of counties
in the last two weeks that a restoration
OF peace is not to be desired. We are
net surprised. Peace would imperil
the chances OF many bosses for the
spoils of Office and they therefore do
alaaSh&he war perpetual. The majority
are in a position to name terms-wheth-
er it shall be peace or whether it shall
pc ar. In the meanWhite q curious |
state of things exists. The minority
are excluded from the councils of the |
majority and denied participation in
the honors and offices IN the gift of the |
organization. Blu this is not the eccen-
trio point. They are told that they
must go no whore else; form no other
association; ROMAN hewers of wood and
slaves to the dominant element, or be
denounced as independents, traitors
and enemies of the white man. Like
dogs they + to be beaten and dashed
and as dogs lick their masters. They
are not even as Lazarus to have the
crumbs from the rich mans table,
Since 1890 this has beon the condition.
And we urge as amatter OF history and
~undeniable fact that, there has beer
no choice with those who opposed the
nomination of Tillman in 1890. Those
who supported Earle, Bratton, Shep-
-Jpard and Haskell haze been classed
and excluded from all share or partic-
1pation in the control OF the ~socalled
democratic organization. They are
not wanted; and they are wanted. They
are told that they must march up to
polls and vote like little men for the
nominees selected by the bosses of
those who declare themselves as the
organized democracy. This is a fair
statement of the case, as we hold in
South Carolina. In Laurens County
there has been less ~pretence of recog-
milton of the anti element than in any
county in the State. Now then what
under these circumstances, are the
Conservatives to do in reference to the
approaching election of delegates to
the Constitutional Convention?
10 be more accurate, the choice of
p~candidates by a primary which is in
fact the election, we answer; hands off,
n for these reasons:
First: A partizan or boss vote will
~eea@ainly- be cast; the majority vote
will be cast by dictation; qualification,
moral or intellectual will not be consid-
cred; men will be set up as straw can
didates to be voted for whose viows on
the provisions of the proposed constitu-
tton are not known, or who have no
views other than the boss ideas, and
this will be as clear as the MONDAY
sun by only four candidates Offering,
these candidates selected by BOSSES;
whereas; in an open primary it is fair
to presume that's number Of party men
would aspire to represent the party.
Second: Tue anti faction has no ma
Nahinery" by which to select a share OF
theshmanagers as provided, and it is
not likely to have; there is no leader or
leaders, of the socalled ants, there is
no organization and there does not APP
pear any probability Of any.
Third: III under these circumstances
1 YOU vote in the primary you truly Join
I the dominant faction, adopt all it's poll
cies, past, present and future and are
bound by, its action. You thereby
! pledge, youself to stand by whatever
constitution is framed although you
are blind as a bat as to what is pro.
4 posed, (you not being in the secrets of
the dominant leaders) whether your
a State is to be ruined or not.
u Fourth: III there were hope of your
vote amounting to anything-that is,
II there were q dozen candidates and
g not a~packed ticket, then you might
VOC; but as tits 90-9S-1O0 to nothing
that you have to vote a prescribed
~ ticket your vote is q sham, Even If