The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-07
OONsTl TUTIONAL CONVENTION.
GCoNTlNuED FROM FIRST PAGE. |
other one in the next ono hundred

as this constitution is concerned. as is
given to the educated. 1t is not right
and YOU ought not to discriminate in
this way against them. II you are 60
ing to protect them and give them this
right, let it be constitutional right
or none at oil.
1t is that class of people who always
do their duty to their State, and never,
mover, demand pay in war or in poll
tics. They are satisfied with the priv
elege Of going to the field or the ballot
box and fighting or voting for some
hero or ideal.
Your educational and property quail
ifcation Of 1898 is fixed. The doors are
forever closed against the best and
most patriotic class Of people in South
Carolina.
Again, Mr.. President. object to this
plan because it is u discrimination in
favor of tho educated ana against the
uneducated or illiterute. 1t is wrong
country by education or property. 1T
has been said that he who fights for his
country has the right to vote. 1 say,
and any Democrat ought to say, that
however poor and illiterate tho man
who offers his life for his country ought
not to be subject to even the humilia
tion Of discrimination against him.
In truth, sir, you exact Of the uncuuca-
ted something harder to be performed
than of the educated. | never thought,
after all that we have gone through,
that | would ever be called upon to vote
against property and an educational
qualification.
Now, MIR. President, there are at
least 5000 of these people in this State.
In war or in peace they have always re-
Sponded and can always be relied upon
TO do their duty to their country. In
1860, sir, this State furnished nu..lbcrs
OF that class in battle. MANY Of them
were killed. They have left sons who
arc poor and are now uncducutud and
vii! be politically destroyed under this
clause. ,AS the chairman OF the Demo-
cratic party Of South Carolina. I say
they have always come to the front
when Democracy was challenged. 1t
was that class that have always re-
lied upon. They have never failed.
They have never voted an independent
ticket and protest now that it il un-
kind, ungrateful and undcmocratic to
strike them this blow.
|. for one. am not afraid to bear the
word " Demagoguc." 1T hu, been
showered on some of MS during thrcp
campaigns until have come to take
it us u badge OF service in the cause OF
the people, and therefore to br desired
and honored. |, for one, an no,
ashamed Of the people who have loved
and followed and mrdc me and others.
Ii | did not honor, love and defend
these people, would be unworthy the
name of man. They have my admra-.
tion and my gratitude. | know them
we'll, and, God being my helper. will
stand with them and sink or swim with
them.
There is Il class Of our citizens to
whom the State has been Il hard moth.
er. She has denied them the oppur-
tunltles OF education, Showcrcd 80
lavlshly on more favored sons she has
yielded them only scanty substance
from her soil. With NO property at
stake, with less in the State demand
ing their love and loyalty than any
other class of people, tncy nave always
gone to the front. All their learning
has been that thuy are men aud Demo.
Gratis and South Carotiuians. and they
have had no motive to inspire Then,
but their manhood, their fidelity anu
their Unborn Instructive patriotism
Ihey were first in time of war on the
battle line, and there berc the bruut
IN the ranks OF the rcd shirt buttulion
they were the hardest riders, tn,
foremost in facing danger, always &c
be depended on for the toughest and
most perilOus service.
Now it is proposed to thrust them
into the only place of dangcr--a plac,
which their leaders and other citizens
Will not be required to share Thi.
section builos bomb proofs and forti
hcations for the educated and proprr
" owning class, and makes them SAT,
and snug forever, while it leaves tin
vote for the poor white man to risl
and endure the tests OF u hostile court
Furthermore. it leaves that class @
our people dependent on the grace an,
taVOr OF supervisors who NAV be hos
tile TO them from personal reasons o
in the course Of local politics may de-
sire their disfranchisement How cas-
and natural il would be Tor supcrvisu
to favor a candidate to whom he wa
friendly, by killing few ilIitcrat
white votes known to be unfricntll: /,
hlm, even by working in with cas-
clauses Il low negroes known to br 'nl
right. In this connection. let m
warn my friends, the Conservatives
many OF them my warm persona
friends. many OF them demanding m
admiration for their intellect and cha,
acter, that they are, it seems to me
about to continue the errors whic
have cost them SO dear in the past.
| say to them that no combination
they may make, no alliances they ca
negotiate now. or ever hereafter, wi
bring them the influence in tho Sta,
ana the confidence Of the people whic
many OF them deserve to have, unit
they prove by their acts and the
qualities, and their recognition Of tn
claims and rights Of the people, tn
sincerity OF their love and respect fo
the sovereiRns who have cstabishc
their power in South Carolina, an
will hold it from now, henceforth.
| would prefer, sir, and | know thu
they would prefer, to roly upon til
eight-box law and whatever JcgisIu
tion might be necessary and fight i
out with the negro rather than IN
dergo the humiliation of an examinu
tion that would be Creek to them
But for this illiterate class wher,
would your Reform movement huv,
been in this State? II in 1892 the,
had gone to Mr.. Sheppard our leader
would have been defeated for the Gov
ernorahip. If you take these votes
away, with their friends who woul(