The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-04-23
GOV. EVANS FLIES THE TRACK.
PEACE AND UNITY ANILLUsIoN

The Forty Convention Destroyed the
Chances tor al AEreement--The
RefOcmerS Will Control the Con-
stitutional Convention.
The Piedmont Headlight prints an
interview with Governor John G..
Evans, from which we make the follow
ing extract:
How about peace and unity?" we
asked the Governor.
"Well, it seems rs IL tho Forty has
destroyed that Illusion" was tho reply.
1.-THE caucus that Senator Tillman and
myself held with Messrs Barnwell and
Hemphill has been misunderstood by
some of our friends. We never
designed to dictate to tho people, or
demand of them an equal division Of
delegates to the constitutional conven-
tion. We were asked to counsel with
certain prominent Conservatives,
simply as individuals, and did not
claim to speak officially. We desired,
above all things, to preserve white
supremacy, and clinch in our con-
stitution in the most important work
done by the Reform movement since
1890. We agreed to an equal division
of delegates, where such IL thing was
quiesced But in order to insure our
demands, we requil ed certain pledges
from the Conservatives, and they must
bind themselves not only in writing to
carry out their part of the agreement,
but must cCme before the people and
let the voters pass upon whether or
not they were willing to trust them.
Tillman did not pretend to bind
Reformers. Tillman and myself of
course recognized the fact that the
people are our sovercigns, but, rs in
dividuals, we simply suggested what
we thought was the best for the Re-
form movement and to restore political
peace and unity in our State. II the
Conservatives wore willing TO join us
in forming q constitution which would
insure white supremacy, and leave
intact the great work done by our party
since 1890, we saw nothing wrong in
accepting the olive branch that they
voluntarily extended us. The story
that we went into that caucus with the
design of delaying registration of tho
blacks is false, of course. We meant
just what we said-that If the Con-
servatives would agree to certain pro-
positions laid down, we would use our
individual efforts to prevail upon the
voters to ratify the agreement But
we did not guarantee. my snefic. snefn ac-
ceptaGce by tfls feeformers. for we
could nOtspeak for them"
What effect, Governor, will the
Forty convention have upon that con
ference agreement? ?" we asked.
| Why, their convention has re-
pudiated 1T in toto, and demanded that
an equal division be made without any
restrictions whatever being thrown
around delegates. In other words,
should the Conservatives secure any.
thing like half the members in the
convention, with the assistance OF
mugwump Retormcrs, they would dis.
franchise 10000 farmers in our State
and tho minority faction be- restored
to power. OF course, neither would
Senator Tillman or myself consent T.,
any, such unconditional surrender b,
our ,fOrmers to the Forty and will
oppose that proposition to the bitter
end. | believed all the time that
there was an irreconcilable faction In
the Conservative party that would
refuse to accept our terms and O
course no rational man can expect Re
formers to divide representation 81
long as any considerable numbera o
the minority are demanding straight
tight against our movement"
Then you do not think there Il
any likelihood OF an equal division o
delegates ?"
lhhu ID iOT bno people 10 ueCtut
among themselves. 1illman and
have done our part, and shall demant
the full and FREQ acceptance of th
} terms we named. do not propose h
go into any more caucusses or con
, ferences. have done what [ believe,
> was best to maintain the supremacy
! the white race in South Caroin
: politics, and for the peace and unit
, OF my State. As Governor, this wa
my duty. can do nothing more tha
have done. The people know TIL
r only terms upon which Senator Til
, man and myself would consent TO
4 q division Of delegates with tn
t minority, and even then the voter
. must pass upon the agreement an
: Judge for themselves who are worth
: OF their confidence and suffrage
|, There are men among the Conserve
: tives who are sick OF continued stril