The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-02-20
THE DARGAN BROWN DE-
BATE.
~ "
III n
Dargan Emphasizes E.s Opposition
to Dlsfranchlsing the Negro
Denounces Tlllman and
Irby---s'Deilberate Tral-
tors and Frauds"
BATE.

tors and Frauds"
The discussion of the Constitutional Con-
ven,ion issue by Col. John j. Dargan and
Mr.. L. V. Brown was heard by about fifty or
sixtv persons, who took suf6cien, interest in
the matter 10 60 out to the Court House
through cold rain and sleet and over ice
covered sidewalks.
Col. Dargan, who had invited the public
to Se present and hear him speak, called the
meeting to order.
He said that he was ssf-aunounced can
didate for seat ip the Constitutional Con-
yention, but that nothing could have driven
him TO take the step. but conviction that It
was duty to use his utmost exertions TO
prevent the great blunder of going toto the
primary called by the so-called Democratic
Committee A general participation in this
primary would be the supre,uest folly.
nrhe Constitutional Convention in which
we are now Interested is of more importance
and will have more fa7-reacbing effects than
either the Modification Con7en,iou on the
Secession Convention Why? Because the
avowed ooj-ct OF that Conyentioc is 10 IN
cornora,e in the constitution provision dis
srauchising the negro. Second, because
provision vii! also be inco cporated in the
constitution depriving the negro of
the means OF education We have no
means of ascer,aiaing 'ae object of the
convention, but there is some ulterior and
sinister object, we may rest assured.
What is the matter with the present const-
tuition Why change it? 1t is almost identi-
cal, in all important particulars, with the
constitutions of other States.
We are told, however, by these ring men,
that it mast be altered 80 that the negro can
not run over the white man. Altered to take
away the negro's vote 1t must be altered to
prevent the education of the negro by the
white man. This is the object. They will
desraud the negro Of his vote and take away
his chance of education.
Col. Dargaa dgressed to speak OF his IN
,liyidual record in rs and the part he took
in orerthrowicg the negro and radical rule
He said he did not recede one inch from what
Ne dil then Bus he never did, nor never
viii go ANYTHING to deprive any man.
white or black. OF the righ, of obtaining an
education.
s.We are told again that provision will
be adopted fixing the poll tax at So, to force
the negro aad poor white man to educate
,heir own children, while the rich mans
property is relieved frou taxation. This is
Inc scheme.
.Wheu I look over the history of the
negro could laugh at ii as comedy, II 1t
we're no, such tragedy. Just look at
history. Why did we briog the negro here?
To educate him? To civilize him? To
cb-istianize him? No! To work him. That
a why the negro was brought from Africa
All through history from 1889 to the
present, there is this cry of ";he Niger
.sthe nigger." What was the negro doing
in 1850: was he bo,beriug as? No They
we're working along peacefully and quietly
The white people caused all the trouble them
selves, and toey freed the negro themselves.
Now YOU are raising great fuss about tne
oegro voting.
Has the negro been bothering US? No. But
some of the white people are creauog LUIS
agitation aoou, the negro voting. Now, !
tell you that you are going 10 vote the
negro Yes, you are going to vote h'm Just
As you freed him in so ani '65. And you
are going to educate him too.
Here in this city of Sumter the negro
school house is dirty old affair. disgrace
to any town, but just around the corner on
big square there is great big, costly affair for
the white people. This is characteristic oi
The p.eseat. But this movement will both
vote and educate the negro. whom the ring
sould defeaud Of both these privileges
These are unpopular truths sm telling
aod no, the sor. to wio votes, but doa't
want your vo:es, sm fighting for simple
,;ob, and ias,ice. You may take uy lie,