The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-02-27

tons are here. the bitterness ls here,
the dis.rest is here, and last and most
threatening. all the negroes are here TO
create a dread on the one side and to
produce temptation on the other. Un-
derstand me, if the fight has to come.
| have no fear of the result, White
supremacy aud Anglo-Saxon civiliza-
ton will inevitably triumph. bat it will
be the saddest day in the history Of
the State when it shall be recorded that
sensible. practical, patriotic men would
DOT meet on such cou.in1n ground as
exists, and cease their strife Cor a time
in the interests of the State ana OF pos
terlfy.'
II CONSTITUTION 10 BE FINAL.
You have just spoken of conditions
to which the Conservatives must sub
scribe. What are they p
"Tbe main one, as | have already
meDtioned-the preservation Of white
supremacy by a qualification of the
ballot. Another, is that no delegate
shall be elected who does not pledge
himself to vote against submission 10
the people of the Constitution adopted,
For it goes without saying that the
fight which we are seeking to avoid
would be precipitated in such an event.
Next, tnat every delegate must sub
scribe to the general proposition that
90 white man should be disfranchised,
except for crime. Still another. is that
the Constitution shall deal only in geo.
eral principles Of government and leave
the legislature absolutely untrammeled
on the questions Of police regulations
AID free schools. With all delegates
ioyally supporting these general ideas,
together with the preservation Of the
homestead, it becomes a matter of indif.
ference to the people whether the Con-
servatives or ;he Rcfoamers are in the
majority in the convention. There are
various other questions which will enter
into the discussion which will precede
the election Of delegates, but they will
settle themselves and the people can
instruct as to their wishes
How will the division be made :"
That | cannot say; each county must
settle that for itself One other impor-
:ant matter is the reuuitiog the people
10 support Of the primary for the cleo
tioo of delegates. Give both sides rep
reservation on the bord Of managers,
or, if the delegates are chosen by a
convention, let it be understood that
all parties are committed to the support
of the nominees"
Would you be willing to take the
stump in advocacy of these general pro-
positions ?
IF it becomes necessary, yes; but |
trust the matter can be adjusted by
the good men 10 each county getting
together without any such necessity.
The only trouble see that may arise
that those who have sought to betray
the people under the guise Of psci6-
cation may endeavor to throw obsta-
cles 10 the way. | would say further
that these views are not new. and have
not resulted from any recent develop
mems. Last fall, when | was strain
ing every nerve to have the convention
called. I expressed practically the
same ideas. 1t will depend upon the
sp;ri, 10 which the Conservatives meet
our people. a soft answer turoetb
away wrath aud if we begio a race
to see which shall Guido the other in
obliterating the scars Of our past bat
ties, satisfactory results are bound to
follow. The Rcformers can be per-
suadcd if the right means are used.
They cannot be bullied or driven
Suppose after the primaries are
held or the nominations made it were
found that the Conservatives had not
secured half Of the delegates. what
then =
"Well as a matter Of simple justice.
they could not feel any great dissatis-
faction if they received two-6fths-
their strength in the primary of 1892
but by proper conduct and advocacy Of
the demands Of the people they can
obtain more than proportionate repre-
sentation. Should the Conservatives
put forward men who have not made
themselves especially obnoxious, and
should that faction chow a willingness
10 Charleston. Sumter aud Ricbland to
do by the Reformers what they ask the
Reformers to do by them, it would
increase the chances of the idea CT an
equal division. At all events, it is
worth while for US to try. aud we will
succeed 10 electiug a satisfactory co.,
veption, beyond doubt, and one that
will do nothing rash or unreasonable.
and the Constitution which it frames
will command the respect aud support
of all the people, just in proportion as