The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-07-24
Sheriff o'zts { Explains.
His reply to Col. Dargan and
Editor Bacon.

iin'io 10" '"' aNoOod1 SSSo W
Col. Dargan in the daily papers Of the
treatmeu, he received ir Elge6cd and
the comments Of that paper thereupon.
/ feel it my duty to make the following
statement Of facts in justice to myself
and the committee appointed by the
citizens of the town aud county to act
with me in interviewing Col. Dargan,
notice having been given by the Edge
field Chronicle that be would deliver
an address in Edgeield:
The people had heard and read Of
Col. Dargan's utterapces elsewhere,
such as II for ooe have gone to the
negro" ''That [ an neither ashamed
oor afraid, nor in aoy degree reluctant,
but rather glory in going to the ne
gro" II favor placing negro repre-
sentatives. according to competency, on
each county ticket This will give mi
nority representation to that race and
thus enable Us to make Constitution
by all the people for all the people" ;"
Universal suffrage for women and
and men, rich aod poor. black and
white, now and always The
committee submitted the above
quoted remarks to Col. Dargan
and desired to know of him through
the committee ii these utterances en-
bodied his views aud if i. was oD that
line he proposed to speak 10 Edge
field.
The con nittee. in the discharge Of
the duty imposed, Immediately repaired
to the Chronicle Office where we met
Col. Dargan alone, except the employ
ees Of the Chronicle Office
introduced myself and the commit
tee to Col. Dargan. who said be was
glad to see Us. told him We had
been appointed to call on him and ask
him if be had come to make speech.
He said be had I inquired upon
whose invitation he had come. He de-
clined to say.
then called his attention to the
above alleged utterauces, and asked
him if they we're his, and if he in
tended to speak 90 that line. He answer
ed, "Yes." We then, as committee,
requested him oot to attempt to speak :,
as we did not think be would be heard /,
inasmucb as the people of Edge6eld
we're not yet prepared to hear him or
or anyone else talk on that line, and
that we thought it best for him and for
the towo that he decline to speak. He
said he was sorry; that be once thought
as our people did, but if be we're allowed
to speak be thought he could convince
them Of the error Of their way.
He was told that nothing that he
could say would, ln our judgment.
convince Edgefsld people of error on
that line; thar be had DO following here,
and that while we did pet believe be
would be treated roughly or receive
bodily harm if be should attempt to
speak, we though. it best to advise him
to save himself the modification Of
being hissed down aud perhaps arouslog g
the indignation Of the people not to
make the attemp:
He replied that be would consult
with-apd would soon give US reply.
The interview was not at all au
unnleasant affair. and am sure am
expressing the truth when say there
was not in the mind and heart Of auy
member of the committee any lll-feellng
towards Col Dargan, and what we did
was 10 his interest aud prompted by the
kindest feelings.
Our committee retired and reported
to our body what had transpired. I.
in making the report. assured them
that our interview with Col. Dargan
thoroughly convinced me aud the other
committeeman that no speech would be
attempted, anu that it would not De ne
cessary to take further steps to tbwart
the Colonel, as we we're pretty sure be
would leave on the frs: outbound
train. The committee then dispersed
| going TO my Office aud attending to
my du,ies, and not thinking further of
Dargan.
After some lapse of time good cit-
zen of our county, not resident Of
our town. but liviog very pear, came
over and reported that there was a
crowd near Penu's drug store cursin &
and abusing Dargaa and he thought it
wrong to take that advantage Of any
man under such circumstances. fully
agreed with hin, and our worthy in
teuaant. Nr. keonerly. said TO me i'm
mediately upoo hearing the statement,
Sheriff. let's 60 and stop such con-
duct said, y es, of course We
looked in the direction indicated and
saw that the crowd had dispersed and
Dargau gone oo-
Col. Dargan, perhaps, drew to some
extent on his imagination as to the