The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-29
Irby is " orriied.
sGof Has Given us a Fatal
Blow" He Says.

Senator Irby has furnished the fol-
lowing interview to the Piedmont Head
light. 1t is interesting. as showing
that the case of the Ring is critical
s:Senator, have you any objection to
giving US your views upon the political
situation of South Carolina at this
time ?"
.'Wcll. usually I am averse to hav-
ing anything to say by letter Or inter-
view 10 the newspapers. | gave my
views to the State Democratic executive
committee last week in secret session,
thinking it would be much better for
the situation to be discussed in this way
by the Democratic representatives.
However, the newspaper reporters
undertook. and I think succeeded, in
stealing fron us our opinions after they
had been politely asked to retire. The
discussion was participated in by a great
many, and lasted till late into the night.
Synopses Of opinions of others were
given 10 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 au being
misrepresented in the daily papers as
to what I think ought to be done to Sc
cure the election Of delegates that will
give the whole people Of tie State Con-
stitusion that will meet our wants: for
that reason I shall express myself with
less hesitation than heretofore.
:. Asthe chairman of the Democratic
party of the State, / am free to say
that the situation is very serious one
Judge Goff has stricken US fatal blow,
if the white people of the State are not
cautious, prudent and wise in speech
and action. Il is not worth while to
abuse the authors Of the registration
law or seek comfort 10 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 ia attempting to have
them destroyed by the U S. Court
after taey ceased Co hold Office. They
we're protection TO them as we'll as
the present administration. They have
been declared unconstitutional and an
appeal will be taken to the Supreme
Court of the United States. We must
face the melancholy fact that if the Su.
preme Court sustains Judge Goff, the
doors are thrown open, the negroes
are turned loose, with friends among
the white people who will undertake to
use thsm to defeat friends of the pres
ens administration. If the Supreme
Court reverses, after election, Judge
Cot, and we hold an election without
registration, allowing whites and blacks
to vote indiscrimiuately. then he elec-
ton itself of the delegates to this con-
veu,ion will be declared illegal There
are ,,apy difficulties aud obstacles that
the Democracy will have to face that
are knoUn to US The rank a,d Gle
are in the same state Of organization
aud are as ready TO do their duty as
c;uzeus as at any tine siuce the war
Bu, the leaders among the Couserva-
.ives and the 1'illmauiie officials are
divided, and all kiods Of petty jealous
les and dissensious exist The daily
morning pagers. for instance. have
caused aud are causing great confusion
and trouble in toe State The Con
serva,ice da;lies are embi;tered aad
unreasonable, aud thought oy some to
be ,rescherous the Re!o7m papers.
with few exceptions, seem to have
become personal instead of Demo
cratic organs These papers may oe
likeued to the artillery 10 the army
that however courageous the iufao,ry
may be. If there is suspicion that the
artillery is to be turned upon them,
stampede aud CONSERVATION are liza
able 10 arise a; any time. Instead of
these papers fighting for the principles
Of Democracy and white government
and coa,rol of the State. they are coa-
ssan:ly frng at some leader. charging
up to him all the errors that he may
make bat giving hin 10 credit for
proper things that he may do. For TO-
stance, they are charging me with au
intention of bringing on blood y. vio-
leot campaign. without knowing my
feelings. Again. in 1876, after we had
been controlled for years by corrupt,
ignoran, crowd, revolution that was in
the nature of seli-defence was justified
by the people of the United States, be-
cause they looked upon Is as pros
,rate State. That is not the case, how
ever. now. and the methods that were
used 10 1876 cannot safely be: applied
now. The whole machinery Of the gov
ernmeut is il the hands not only of white
people, but in the strictest secse the
friends of the people Of the State. We