The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-03-06

lQLludtlOu VI any RuA APooo w AutoSohAAo
the effort for an adjustment. There are
in it some errors of fact which it is not
necessary to particularize and some un-
charitable and unreasonable assertions
and deductions. It seems to be unfortu-
nate that the chairman Of the Democratic
State Executive Committee did not see
proper to join In our effort. I'll under
stand the situation in South Carolina, we
must have mutual concessions and make
due allowance for the prejudices and
feelings that have been so deeply aroused,
in trying to adjust our political matters
80 as to prevent struggle between the
majority Of the white people on one side
and minority, in alliance with the
negroes, on the other. And any man
who cannot rise above his personal feel
ings at this juncture will be unsafe to
follow.
"In this connection I notice in this
mornings papers an interview with
Congressman Wilson, which, boiled
down, means that we must have fight
and that it cannot be prevented. I have
great respect for Mr.. Wilson's judgment,
but it seems to mo he has. ignored the
only factor of any primo importance in
the case-thet is, the negro. The people
of Spartanburg can, with all safety, have
q fight, for the whites outnumber the
negroes two to one in that county. They
have never understood the necessity and
importance Of the Constitutional Conven-
ton with It's one overmastering purpose
of getting rid Of the negro in politics, be-
cause they have never suffered from
negro domination as the middle and
lower counties did during the reconstruc-
ton period. II Mr.. Wilson had taken
broader view and considered the entire
Get. ho could not 1iapni.S mn Afnnonflu
this vital issue. If the condition were
throughout the State as he pictures it,
there would be no need for Convention
at all. realize as he does that the people
will settle all these matters, either at the
primary or at the general election. What
I had hoped to do, and what still hope
to sse done, is to have the white people
unite In the primary and have all abide
by il. Then the whites will present
united front to the negroes in the general
election. fMr. Wilson's idea prevails
that fight Is inevitable and bsst-which
T deny-then large number of whites
will not 60 into the primary at all, and if
their anger and passions shall prompt
them to lead the negroes to the polls, we
can easily imagine, when We remember
what occurred at the last State election,
that the State will present spectacle
alike disgraceful to both factions, and no
matter which wins, there will be wounds
to the body polite that will not heal for a
half century.
ITO prevent this I am willing to sink
all personal feelings, all personal ambi-
tions, all considerations OF yindictiyeness,
or revenge, and make such concessions
as are Just and proper. II Senator lrby
and Mr.. Wilson shall succeed In forcing
a fight, I still hope that their cooler judg-
ment will show them that it is neither
patriotic nor wise to do so. ], have faith
In the patriotism and good sense of the
masses who are interested in no mans
political fortunes sufficient to take such
dreadful risks. This is not an ordinary
State election and cannot affect either Mr..
Wilson or Senator Irby. II the Reform
movement can't live without a perpetua-
ton of strife and bitterness, then it ought
to die. do not believe any such stuff
myself. have always relied on its prin-
has been pursued. Our people have been
educated in politics to know what their
rights are and they will always sustain
their rights whom properly presented to
them. Senator 1rby' charges that he has
been betrayed. I for one deny having
taken him into consideration when arriv-
ing at an agreement with the Barnwell
committee, and the Reform movement is
stronger to-day than it has ever been."
When told that the opposition to the
scheme Of the ultra Conservatives was
that they did not wish to subscribe to the
conditions proposed in the Hemphill
conference. Senator Tillman said:
"Thats not at ell surprising because no
one expected them to be reasonable.
Their programme all along has been rule
or ruin, and would join Irby in a battle
for the control Of the Convention by the
Reformers alone if that idea prevailed
generally among the Antis. We will
never have Constitutional Convention
with my consent which will disfranchise
with the negro. As I have already said
once before, the practical men on both
sides must get together and hold down
the extremists.
In conclusion. Senator Tillman said !:
"There is one other point in Mr.. Wilson's
interview which think worthy of notice;
that is that the plan outlined by me has
failed already, because the Spartanburg
Herald, the Greenville News and the
Columbia State have refused to endorse
it. I think he will find that just the
reverse will be found to be true. did
not expect unanimous consent, least Of
all from those sources-in fact would
doubt my own sanity and honesty of pur-
pose if I received such backing"
When asked the Senator if he was
willing to take the stump against tho Irby
and Wilson forces if they brought about a
fight, he replied: "If the issus ;s pre-
sented in such way as to require it,
will take the stump. have already said
this and it was no Pickwickian utterance.
It was said in downright earnest"
Senator Tillman was then questioned
as to the proposed National Reform
movement and replied he had heard
nothing of it in Washington to amount to
as such movements emanated
from the people and not from such men
as were in Washington.
He declared that the movement was
coming and added with great emphasis
that it was "Not long way off, either"
e. J. WATSON.