The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1895-06-12
The Key 70 the smokehouse
Is Really the key to the Situation"
in South Carolina.
W. C. Smith in Columbia Register.

No higher compliment coming
from such source could be paid the
Reformers than is inadvertently done
by Butler, Pope, Dargan, Gonzales,
& Co., in claiming the entire negro
vote.
It is true that the Reform party
has so far refused to call on the
negro to arbitrate the political diff
ferences between the factions, and it
is no fault of theirs that the barriers
have been broken down and the
chains broken that bound the dragon.
But now that this has been done, if
the Conservatives refuse to 60 into
and be bound by the primary, but
appeal to the negro, as a matter OF
course combinations will 10 formed
between the Reforners and the
negro.
There is no use mincing matters
or using words to conceal our
thoughts. All doubt being removed
along that line, let US see how the
factions stand asregards their ability
to control The negro vote.
It may be very confidently stated
at the outset that the negro preacher
and politician will find that his stock
in trade has been very materially
dissipated since 1876, it matters not
to which side he may attach himself.
All the Old yarns about putting the
negro back into slavery, the mule and
forty acres, and not allowing the
women to wear hoop skirts and plait
their hair, has long since exploded.
The most ignorant negro in the
country knows now that this was all
done to pull the wool over his eyes.
Neither will the negro boot licking
which has been so industriously en-
gagged in recently amount to anything.
The same crew which is now so
assiduously courting the negro, was
only a few months ago trying to
prove that Senator Tillman had
nothing whatever to do with the
Hamburg riot and that all the honor
and glory of that little incident be-
!opgsd to them. Won't they "look
awkward trying to get the negro's
vote" for anything less substantial
than free silver?
A great deal has been said lately
about the key to the situation" but
when the grand scramble for the
negro vote is on, it will be found that
the man who carries the key to the
smokehouse has got the "key to the
situation"
Tens of thousands of negro voters
are today entirely dependent upon
Reformers for the daily support OF
themselves and their families, and it
will take something more tangible
than the promise Of a good time in
the sweet bye and bye to induce
them to vote against the men who
are putting bread into the mouths OF
their children.
The Reformers have the means at
hand for dividing, if not controlling,
the entire negro vote Of the cities.
It will require very little argument TO
convince the we'll informed and in
fuential negro politicians that their
interest demands that they give their
allegiance to the Reform faction, and
I would advise them not to be in too
great a hurry to close their contract
with the Straightouts.
If the negro is appealed to in the
coming election it is safe to say that
he will be no inconsiderable factor in
all succeeding elections, therefore,
policy as we'll as justice demand that
any agreement made with him should
be faithfully kept.
The man who doubts the ability of
the Reformers to control the negro
vote is not only not posted: but can't
learn anything.
Should the negro be appealed to
the OtralSntOuLs WILL ne suo"eu
under to such an extent that even
Judge Golf, who is the rock on which
they build their hopes, would hesi-
tate to come to their assistance.
No honorable means should be
neglected, which promises in the
least to bring the warning factions to
complete reconciliation, but this
rule or ruin crowd should be given
to understand once for all time that
no clique Of dissatisfied politicians
can dictate to the voters of South