The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-01-16
A PATRIOTIC LETTER.
Colonel Thomas, of Columbia, Pleads for
White Unity.

] White Unity.
To the Editor of The State: The cir
cular letter of a committee of Repub
licans, calling for convention of tha
party with the view of meeting the is
sues Of the Constitutional convention
suggests to my mind the duty of the
hour on the part of the white people
of South Carolina.
1t is not my purpose to review the
State politics for the past four event
full years. What is known as the Re
form movement has developed princi
Piles and policies of government and
phases of sentiment that have not
commended themselves to my iudg-
ment. But I have been far from con,
sidering it an unmixed evil. I have
seen in it germs, which. rightly cult
waited, would promote the good of the
commonwealth. When the sober sec.
ond thought Of the whole white people
of the State shall assert itself, as ]
firmly believe it will, I cannot but be-
lieve that the resultant of the recent
opposing forces will be the good OF
South Carolina. But letting the dead
past bury its dead, what is the duty OF
the present and the suggestion of the
future? We must extract from the
legislation of the four years past all
that is valuable, and promote for the
advantage of the State all pending
measures. The great impending. open
measure is the call for Constitutional
convention. Although admitting that
the time for such convention is in
some respects inopportune, yet have
favored the call for one weighty req
son. There is the imperious necessity
that devolves upon us to put at once
upon granite base the question OF
white supremacy in South Carolina.
There should be provision for such SUI
premacy in the fundamental law of the
State. l am for meeting this issue
boldly before the whole country.
Let it be understood that it is the
purpose of the white race in this State,
conformablv to the constitution Of the
United States which it is our duty and
our necessity to hold inviolate, to tx
white supremacy in our orgauic laws.
How this is to be done is forthe con-
yention, after grave deliberation and
wise consultation, to devise. 1t IS not
for me or for any one citizen to antic-
ipate the solution of so great ques-
ton of craftsmanship.
But one thing is certain. If there
was ever time for the union of the
white people of the State, now is the
time. Let US meet this proposed Re
publican organization by such coun-
ter organization as will make re-
united Democracy irresistible, and re,
legate forever to the rear the exponents
of party that would rear again its
'miscreated 'front.' in our old State.
No greater work can address itself
to the mission of statesmen than the
framing OF constitution for a free
State. Hence it goes without saying
that the approaching Constitutional
convention calls for the purest, ablest
and -wisest men that a united Democ-
racy can offer. Let the selection be
made regardless Gff~faction, and with
acknowledgement Of the the principle ipls
that minorities have rights which
should be conceded and views which
should be respected. I do not propose
to enter now into details I am sug.
gesting what seems to me the dictate
of patriotism for South Carolina.
In South Carolina there are laws en-.
acted and policies established which dc
not command the approval Of good
people. But it is wise to accept the
verdict of the white majority and agree
to trust to time for such modihctions
as may be expected.
For one, I have faith in the white
people of my State. AS one who has
identified himself wholly with neither
of the factions of the Democracy.
have the right to make my plea as I dc
here for reunion of the Democracy o1
the State upon the basis of peace with
honor as to the past and of concerred
action for the future, so that South
Carolina may attain the blessings OF
unity and prosperity and make sure the
foundationsofhei stateship for all time
Under ordinar, circumstances the
writer would mol rlde his views
upon the public. Bli as it's, it seem:
to him that at this juncture of oul
State affairs, when some people may
be contemplating an unhallowed ALI
ance, it is the duty of independent cit
izenship that knows no ambition bu
the veal of the State to assert itself II
the expression of matured views.
have undertaken only to foreshad
ow policy. I am willing for tito g
for what it is intrinsically worth.
JOHN P. THOMAS.
Columbia, S. c., Jan. 7, 1895.