The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-05-29

State--Gettins Ready to Hedge.
Senator Irby has furnished the fol-
lowing interview to the Piedmont
Headlight. 1t is interesting. as show
ing that the case Of the Ring is criti
cal:
Senator, have you any objection
to giving US your views upon the po-
litical situation of South Carolina at
this time?n
"Well, usually am averse to hav-
ing anything to say by letter or inter
view in the newspapers. I gave my
views to the State Democratic execu-
tive committee last week in secret ses-
sion, thinking it would be much bet
ter for the situation to be discussed in
this way by the Dem ocratic represent
atives. However, the newspaper re-
porters undertook, and l think sue
ceeded, in stealing from us our opin-
ions after they had been politely ask
ed to retire. The discussion was par
ticipated in by great many, and last
ed till late into the night. Synopses
OF opinions of others were given in
the daily papers the next morning, but
notwithstanding that I talked in a
loud voice the reporters failed to hear
anything thatI said Consequently,
l notice that am being mlsrepresent-
ed in the daily papers as to what |
think ought to be done to secure the
election of delegates that will give a
whole people of State Constitution
that will meet our wants; for that rea-
son l shall express myself with less
hesitation than heretofore.
LAS the chairman Of the Democrat
ic party Of the State, | am free to say
that the situation is very serious one.
Judge Golf has stricken us a fatal
blow, if the white people of the State
are not cautious, prudent and wise in
speech and action. It is not worth
while to abuse the authors of the reg
istration law or seek comfort in the
fact that the present administration
had nothing to do with its enactment.
1t is true, the Conservatives who made
these laws acted in bad faith in at
tempting to have them destroyed by
the y. S. Court after they ceased to
hold office. They were protection
to them as well as the present admin
istration. They have been declared
unconstitutional and an appeal will
be taken to the Supreme Court Of the
United States. We must face the mel
ancholy fact that if the Supreme
Court sustains Judge Golf, the doors
are thrown open, the negroes turned
loose, with friends among the white
people who will undertake to use them
to defeat friends of the present admin
istration. If The Supreme Court re-
verses, after election, Judge Golf, and
we hold an election without registra-
ton, allowing whites and blacks to
vote Unfortunately, then the cleo
ton itself of the delegates to this con-
vention will be declared illegal. There
are many difficulties and obstacles
that the Democracy will have to face
that are known to us. The rank and
file ere in the same state of organiza-
ton and are as ready to dc their duty
as citizens as at any time since the
war. But the leaders among the con-
servatives and the Tillmanite officials
are divided, and all kinds Of petty
iealousies and dissensions exist. The
daily morning papers, for instance,
have caused and are causing great
confusion and trouble in the State.
The Conservative dailies are embitter-
ed and unreasonable, and thought by
some to be treacherous; the Reform
papers, with few exceptions, seem to
have become personal instead of Dem
ocratic organs. These papers may be
likened to the artillery in the army
that however courageous the infantry
may be, if there is suspicion that the
artillery is to be turned upon them,
stampede and CONSERVATION are liable
to arise at any time. Instead of these
papers fighting for the principles of
Democracy and white government
and control of the State, they are con-
stantly fringat some leader, charging
up TO him all the errors that he may
make but giving him no credit for
proper things that he may do. For
Instance, they are charging me with
an intention of bringing on a bloody,
violent campaign, without! knowing
my feelings. Again, in 1876, after we
had been controlled for wears by a
corrupt, ignorant crowd, revolution
that was in the nature of self-defense
was justified by the people Of the Uni
ted States, because they looked upon
us as PROSTATE State. That is not the
case. however, now, and the methods
that were used in 1876 cannot safely
be applied now. The whole machine
ry of the government is in the hands
not only of white people, but in the
strictest sense the friends of the people
of the State. We inherited, unfor-
tunately, our registration laws from
the administration since '76. The ne
groes felt that sheir rights of citizen
Ship were being denied them under
this law, and appealed to the Federal
government, from whom this right
came, to protect them in its exercise
and maintenance. The judiciary, it
may be in harsh and partisan man
ner, (but that is not necessary to be
discussed here, decreed in their favor,
that they Were governed by the hands
of fraud as far as the negro is con-
cerned. Right or wrong, that is the
law till it is reversed by the Supreme
Court of the United States If we un-
dertake to use the least, or even the
appearance OF violence or intimida-
ton, we not only invite but force the
executive department to interfere.
The manner of this interference can
be guessed. Besides, the whole civil
lied world not knowing or caring
what the situation or condition in
South Carolina is, would CRY out
against us, and claim that we were not
fighting for the God-givcn rights Of
self-defense, but for the perpetuation