The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-02-13


Republican party passed through that
time of temptation aud debauchery uu-
taiued
10 palliation of the sins Of the negro
we may submit the testimony of white
Democrats regarding their own Govern
ments. Governor TiIlmau has Informed
us that the Governments Of white Demo
Gratis to the year 1890 we're marked by
corruption. bribery, political leprosy
and Inability. On the other hand very
serious charges of very much the same
nature have been brought against his
Government by Democrats of opposing
factions The people of the State are
agreed that the taxes of so-called
Radical times were not as hard to
pay as those now levied We have
Governor Tillmau's evidence that far
more pounds of cotton and meat and
bushels of corn are needed now to pay
taxes than at any period Of Radical
government. Nobody can claim that
the people are as prosperous now as
they we're then.
Notwithstanding these things the
Republicans and the negroes Of the
State have for eighteen years submit
ted quietly to the rule of the minority
with wonderful patience. with docili-
ty and faitbfulness and hope which must
challenge the admiration and enlist the
sympathy of the world. They have
yielded everything with hardly mur-
mur. They have seen all the promises
made them by the white Democrats 10
1876 broken and contcmptuously ig-
nored. They have been banished from
the jury boxes and the ballot boxes and
Disseminated against consistently and
remorselessly. With all this they have
gone on paying their share Of taxes, the
masses of them faithfully, honestly
and humbly striving to do their part in
building up the State and to make
themselves better citizens and Chris.
tians.
Now they are called on to meet
proposition boldly, publicly and un-
blushingly announced that a conven-
tion be held for the declared and ex-
pressed purpose of disfranchising them
forever and leaving then entirely help
less at the mercy Of men who have
shown every disposition to invade their
rights, to blast their hopes and to crush
all their modest aspirations. Against
this cruel, unprovoked and unnecessary
outrage we appeal to the people of the
country of all parts, and especially to
those Of South Carolina. Representing
and speaking for the Republican party
we do solemnly declare that we are not
acting fer the restoration Of Republican
rule 10 the State or for the destruction
or impairment Ct white supremacy.
We are asking simply that Republicans
and negroes be spared the right to exist
as citizens and be not put ou the level
with convicts who have forfeited all civ
il rights. 1t is not only for the kepub-
licaus and the negroes, but for all
Interests of the State that we appeal.
Under the constitution of the United
States 20 Law can be framed to dis
franchise the negroes which will not
disfrapcbise thousands Of white men,
except by the adoption of what is known
as the mississippi plan, which leaves
in the hands Of three or FIVE men 10
each county, appointed by the Admin
istration absolute power in deciding the
right to vote. This has never been
passed on by the United States Courts
aud is in all probability illegal. Wbe-
ther it be so or not every iostinct of
every free man and the reason Of every
thinking man must revolt against a
system SO contrary to every principle of
Republican form Of government, and
so inevitably leading TO tyranny and
corruption. Whatever may be the de-
sign or the pretext, such SYSTEM must
briog the determination of all parties
and fac,ious, save the Administration
which may happen to be 10 power,
leaving it uurestraiued by any fear of
responsibility to them.
We cali on the Republicans of the
State to organize and register to man
that they may be iu position to cooper
ate iu electiog constitutional conven-
tion which will be responsible to and
will represent the people, aud will pro-
tect the rights and interests of all We
reccomend that wherever men Of
that kind are suggested they be voted
for By all Republicans regardless Of
their party or factional alliances, and
that our votes be given to men whom
we can trust and men the masses of the
people can trust. and who will feel that
we are citizens of South Carolina, hav-
ing rights and interests to be guarded
BY the fundamental law Of the State.
We invite oil patriotic and thinking
people of all parties and classes to joia