Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-29
ae(iserllanrous 8mdina.
IRBY SAYS HIS SAY.
He Still Thinks There Should be an Extra
Session.

Session.
Senator Irby has furnished the fol-
lowing interview to The Piedmont
Headlight. 1t will no doubt be read
with interest:
"Senator, have you any objection
to giving us your views upon the po-
litical situation of South Carolina at
this time"
"Well, usually I am averse to having
anything to say by letter or interview
in the newspapers. I gave my views
to the State Democratic executive COM
mittee last week in secret session,
thinking it would be much better for
the situation to be discussed in this
way by the State Democratic repre-
sentatives. However, the newspaper
reporters undertook, and think sue
ceeded, in stealing from us our opin-
ions after they had been politely asked
to retire. The discussion was parti.
cipated in by great many, and lasted
till late into the night. Synopses of
opinions of others were given in the
daily papers the next morning, but
Notwithstanding that I talked in
loud voice, the reporters failed to hear
anything that I said. Consequently,
notice that am being misrepresented
in the daily papers as to what l think
ought to be done to secure the election
of delegates that will give the whole
people of the State a constitution that
will meet our wants; for that reason
1 shall express myself with less hesita-
tion than heretofore.
GAS the chairman of the Democratic
party ofthe State, I am free to say
that the situation is very serious one.
Judge Golf has stricken us fatal
blow, if the white people of the State
are not cautious, prudent and wise in
speech and action. 1t is not worth
while to abuse the authors of the reg
istration law or seek comfort in the
fact that the present administration
had nothing to do with its enactment.
1t is true, the Conservatives who made
these laws acted in bad faith in at
tempting to have them destroyed by
the United States court after they
ceased to hold office. They were
protection to them as we'll as the pres
ent administration. They have been
declared unconstitutional, and an ap-
peal will be taken to the supreme
court of the United States. We must
face the melancholy fact that if the
supreme court sustains Judge Gof,
the doors are thrown open, the Neg
roes are turned loose, with friends
among the white people who will un-
dertake to use them to defeat friends
of the present administration. If the
supreme court reverses, after election,
Judge Goff, and we hold an election
without registration, allowing whites
and blacks to vote indiscriminately,
then the election itself of the delega-
tes to this convention will be declared
| illegal.
There are many difficulties and OBJ
stacles that the Democracy will have
that are known to us. The rank and
file are in the same state of organiza-
ton and are as ready to do their duty
as citizens as at any time since the
war. But the leaders among the Con-
servatives and the Tillmanite officials
are divided, and all kinds of petty
jealousies and dissensions exist. The
daily morning papers, for instance,
| have caused and are causing great con-
fusion and trouble in the State. The
| Conservative daiies are embittered and
unreasonable, and thought by some to
be treacherous the Reform papers,
with few exceptions, seem to have
become personal instead of Democratic
organs. These papers may be likened
to the artillery in the army that how
ever courageous the infantry may be,
if there is suspicion that the artillery
is to be turned upon them, stampede
and CONSERVATION are liable to arise at
any time. Instead of these papers
fighting for the principles of Democra-
cy and white government and control
of the State, they are constantly firing
at some leader, charging up to him all
the errors that he may make, but give
him no credit for the proper things
that he may do.
For instance, they are charging me
with an intention of bringing on a
bloody, violent campaign, without
knowing my feelings.
Again, in 1876, after we had been
controlled for years by corrupt, ig-
norant crowd, revolution that was in
the nature of self-defense was justified
by the people of the United States,
because they looked upon us as a pros
trate State. That the case, however,
now. and the methods that were used
in 1876 cannot safely be applied now.
The whole machinery of the govern
ment is in the hands not only of white
people; but in the strictest sense the
friends of the people of the State. We
inherited, unfortunately, our registra-
ton laws from the administration
since '76. The Negroes felt that their
rights of citizenship was being denied
them under this law, and appealed to
the Federal government, from whom
this right came, to protect them in its
exercise and maintenance. The judici-
ary, it may be in harsh and partisan
manner, (but that is not necessary to
l