The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-03-13
A TALK WITH GOVERNOR EVANS,
What He says About the Recent Colum-
bia Conference.

COLUMBIA, March G.-Governor Evans,
having declined to talk for publication
yesterday afternoon, was seen at his
office to-day, and he gave to the press an
interview Of the greatest interest at this
particular time. The Governors utter
ances, however, speak for themselves.
He began what he had to say in this
wise: ~ suppose you expected to find
me married according to the plans of the
press; we'll, am not, am sorry to say,
but think that my case is not hopeless.
I saw great many attractive young
ladies, but they were in the great many
educational colleges of Philadelphia, New
York, Brooklyn and Boston, fitting
themselves in the arts and domestic
economy to become proper helpmeets to
man. We have gained great deal OF
information as to the Industrial School
for Women, and am sure will be ena-
bled to save the State thousands of dol
lars in the proper launching OF our COL
lege at Rock HILL"
7Was this the only object of your
visit 2" asked.
"No, I went to see the commissioner Of
internal revenue in reference to the dis
pensary. There is disposition, as you
know, on the part of few political
henchmen to prejudice the outside world
as to our law and all manner of misrepre-
sentations are made. found the officers
in Washington, however, very courteous,
and after EXPLAINING the law and its oper-
alton had no difficulty in arriving at
satisfactory arrangement that will save
US considerable money and annoyance.
Great interest is being manifested in our
dispensary law and it gains friends
wherever it is understood. 1t will be
adopted by all the States in few years,
mark the prediction.
sHave you read the interviews OF Sena-
tor IrbY and Congressman Wilson {"
asked him.
Eyes. upon my return yesterday. /
was greatly surprised at Senator 1rby as
we left him apparently in full accord
with Senator Tillman and myself. l
can't imagine what has come over the
spirit Of bis dream, and feel satisfied
that he is resting under some misappre-
hension Of facts. A public man is COM
PEELED to lend an ear to all designing
lagos as we'll as the true patriot. The
function of good judgment is to sift the
true from the false and act accordingly.
We are confronted in South Carolina By
q condition that could have been prevent
ed If wise counsel had been needed fifteen
wears ago, but it was not done and We
must meet it to-day like men and patriots
and stand aside the designing politicians.
A Constitutional Convention called In
1878 would have settled our affairs for
fifty years. We were then unit, to-day
we are divided and a Constitution must
be framed for white men to live under for
possibly fifty years. No Constitution, to
use, the words Of Calhoun, can live that
does not spring from the hearts of the
people. It is then essential in order to
secure fundamental law satisfactory for
all interests and all our people that poll.
tics should not enter into its formation"
elbow is this to be accomplished by q
bitter factional fight, appeals to negroes
and political dissensions?"
"Certainly not. The only way is first
to get our entire people into white mans
primary and pledge them to abide the
result. This has been and will continue
to be the only salvation of white supre'
macy until the new Constitution is franz
mind among delegates and as to the mat
ters that should be incorporated in the
new Constitution. This accomplished
there should be no friction whatever as to
the election of delegates, and no distinc-
tion should be made as to faotional differ
ences. As to the matter of confidence in
the Conservatives we have always realiz-
ed that this is the stumbling block in the
way Of unity. Our people very properly
distrust certain element in the Conser-
yative ranks who have heretofore gone
to Che negro, and they should be kept
there; once niger always niger is the
only way we can preserve our instltu-
tions. Such men should not be and will
not be allowed to come to the Convention.
There are men, however, who can and
should be trusted as delegates from the
Conservatives and who are willing and
solemnly pledge themselves to what we
desire put in the Constitution. When
this is done can we ask for more? They
have been tied to political corpse and
they are crying who shall deliver US from
the body of this death, ald we should not
be dead to their appeals. These men
must 20 before the people like the rest OF
us and advocate the demands Of the peo'
pie before the primaries, and if the peo-
pie see fit they will elect them, if not
they will stay at home and accept the
results.
"All this talk about Senator Tillman
and myself agreeing to divide delegations
is made upon Misunderstanding Of the
facts. The conference was bound to
nothing except as individual Democrats
and not as Reformers or Conservatives.
We distinctly had it understood that
nothing but our individual opinions were
expressed and we would endeavor as
Democrats to go before the people in the
primary election and advocate nom
partisan Convention. We do not criticise
others for having different views, it is
human. But after all the people are the
judges and they will be governed by
what they believe to be right and proper
for their own protection. Conventions
and caucuses in Columbia Of disgruntled
politicians and would-be leaders, who are
attempting to hoodwink the people under
the gnise Of patriotism and peace, will be
repudiated as Iresumptuous dema-
gogues. No Convention can frame apollcy
for the various counties of the State.
What is best in Charleston may not be
best in Aiken, and the only way to ac-
complish anything is to let each county
act for itself and let those who really
want Convention of patriotic citizsns
take the stump in their respective coun-
ties and work for this result. Auy effort
to forestall the people by Convention will
be promptly repelled, you may rest as
sured."
"dave you any objections to letting the
people know exactly what was done at
the conference with Senator Tillman and
yourself?"
"Certainly not, especially as our mo-.
tives have been questioned. Neither
Senator Tillman nor myself, nor any
others of the conference, will recede from
what we believe to be best for our people.
Here is the agreement; you may pub
lish it:
"'CoLUMBIA, February 1S, 1895.
"'We, the undersigned, citizens of
South Carolina, desiring restoration of
peace and harmony, and to prevent q
bitter factional fight for control Of the
Constitutional Convention, with its inev-
liable appeal to the negro, after careful
consideration of the conditions and con-
flictlng interests of all our people, bind
ourselves to advocate before the white
Democrats of the State the following
scheme:
"'First. That each county, acting for
itself as to the question of electing by
primary or otherwise, as deemed best by
the county Democratic Executive Com
mittee, shall as near as possible give each
faction equal representation in the whole
Convention.
"sSecond. That the managers and clerk
Of such primary election be equally
divided between the factions, and that all
persons participating in the same take q
pledge to abide the result and support
the nominees at the general election.
Or, where the nomination is made other
wise than by the primary, both factions
in such county are pledged in like man