The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-04-23
CHAUNoEy NJ. DEpEw.
a Complete Exposition Of His Iguo-
rance as TO South Carolina Poli-

n CHAUNCEH M. DEPEw
r a Complete Exposition Of His Ign
: rance as 10 south Carolina POL
;, tics.
> The full text of Mr.. Chauncey n
I Depew's recent remarkable interview
as 1t appeared in the New Yor
, Tribune is given below. 1T show
even more plainly than the bris
synopsis that he knows nothing abo,
South Cardinals politics
Chauncey nj. Depew is much inter
ested in ballot reform i'm the South
When seen yesterday he had jus
finished reading an editorial in Th
Tribune in relation to the election sys
TENS OF the cotton States. Mr.. Depey
recently made a trip through tn,
south. He said: 81 heartily agre,
with The Tribune in saying that the
pest business investment that coult
be made by the Southern States wOull
be a radical reform in election method,
and restoration of free suffrage ant
an honest ballot. That is what the
South needs to-day more than any
thing, else. Those States in which
the ballot system is abused stand
isolated, and are viewed with mistrust
by men who otherwise would bring
with them money, energy, intelligence
and Drawn, all OF which these States
stand in need of very badly. But SO
long as existing conditions prevail
they will keep away.
Let me take South Carolina as an
Illustration. In the ante-bellum days
this State was controlled by the plant.
ers, landowners and aristocrats gcn-
orally. After the war the control of
the State fell into the hands of q
clique of men of whom Wade Iamp.
ton and M. G. Butler are fair exam
pies. These men succeeded to power
after the days of the carpet-baggers,
and took upon themselves the manage
ment OF the State. They found the
negro vote was largely in excess of the
vote OF the intellectual element, and,
as result, they shut out the negro.
This was said to be necessary because
the negro was ignorant, vicious and
unable intelligently to realize the
duties of voter. Their system sue
ceeded very we'll, and for the time
South Carolina was in the solid ranks
of the Democracy.
All went we'll until the rising star
OF Tillman shot athwart the political
horizon. Iillman organized the farm
er ana the corner groceryman. He
set up Socialist Democratic machine
His following grow strong enough to
assert itself, and he begun to lay plans
to dominate the State. In order to do
this hc had lrby elected to the Senate.
He changed the whole complexion of
the State Legislature and filed every
office with his men. He had himself
elected Governor and then began to
experiment with his paternal schemes,
OF which tho most startling was the
Dispensary law His last act of ag-
gression was turning M. G. Butler out
of the Senate and having himself
chosen to the place. He now has en-.
tire control OF the State and the old
aristocratic regime has passed away.
Wade HAMPTON and Nj. G. Butler,
shorn OF their power, are casting
around TO. some means of relief.
"Tillman, having attained his end,
now desires to perpetuate his power.
With this idea in view he has brought
up this idea OF u constitutional con-
vention. The convention will be con-
trolled by his followers and his wishes
will be followed TO the letter. The
convention will carry out the idea Of
completely dislranchising the blacks.
The same plan that is followed in
Mississippi will be carried out here
and the result will be that capitalists,
manufacturers and investors will be
frightened away from the State. see
that negro teachers and ministers
through the South are asking for con-
tributions to q fund to be used in
carrying the case to the United States
Supreme Court, where the actions Of
Tiliman and his followers will be
antagonizcd.
Now, what is to be the outcome of
all this? With Wade Hampton and
M. G. Butler and the artisocratic cle-
ment that they represent deposed
with the negro and with
Tillman securely seated in power, what
method will be taken to secure Justice?
There is only one place and that is the
National Convention. What is more
natural than that the better element
should appeal to the place that prom
ises relief. What is moro likely
than that Wade Hampton, NJ c.
Butler, "The Charleston Courier-J our
naP and other leaders of this class in
South Carolina, should come knocking
ut the door of the next Republican
National Convention? ] predict it
The only way to secure relief is
through the Republican party. The
solid South is being broken up and
Mr.. Tillman will be disposed of upon
this line OF rec0nstruction.'