The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-04
tVlNNSBORO, S. c.
THURSDAY, April 4, ;: ; .Sso
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CoiNVEN-

TIE CONSTITUTIONAL CoNVEN-
TIoN.
Mr. McMahan Discusses the Proposed
Division ofDelegates.
To the Editor Of The Meas and Herald:
2 In your last issue Nr. Meares, evil
IDENTIFY actuated by true patriotism,
proposes plans for securing white
unity at the general election in sup
port of delegates to the constitutional
convention he assumes that unless
each faction is guaranteed representa-
ton as q faction, the white men OF
Fairfield will divide at the genera!
election. I think factienal represen-
tstion is rs much out Of place AS Bap-
tist or Presbyterian or Methodi>t rep
resentation. Religious equality is &C.
cured in this country, not BY agree
ment to divide the Offices between
representatives Of the sects, but by the
prevailing good sense OF the people,
which ignores sectarian considerations
in matters with which such consider
ations haveno concern. Conservatives
and Reformers have their names and
organizations only in reference to the
way they have stood on certain ques-
tions that have been befors them.
The possible changes in the constitu-
ton have not yet been discussed.
Surely the Conservatives do not think
as a machine and the Reformers as
another machine. If they think as
men, then there is no telling how they
will agree or disagree on new aues-
tions. Mr.. Meares says: 'No one
supposes that on the question. before
the State this year the lines will be
differently drawn" They most as
suredly will be differently drawn, If
there is any discussion and iTdepend-
ent thinking. The men of each fac
ton have been in mental straight
Jackets. This il discreditable to their
manhood and their reason, and all
plans that tend to leave them in their
factional straight-iackets are faulty.
I offer to my old friends Of Fairfield
tho following suggestions, which [
had published in the local evening
paper:
The only rational mode Of electing
delegates to the Constitutional Con-
yention is for each individual to have
. free vote, in order that the delegates
elected may truly represent the views
Of their constituents. But vote is
not free simply when the polls are
unobstructe6. A tyrannical public
opinion, the domineering dictatioa of
partisan leaders, insidious iAfaming
of preiudice-all these tend to con-
strain or suppress the true will of the
voter and to cause him to acquiesce in
being misrepresented in the councils
of bis country. When minds can
break these shackles and refuse to
fellow these fenced-in pathways, then
will popular and representative gov
ernment no longer be mere name.
To throw of petty preiudices aud Be
free from their constraint in our &C
tiep. on new questions is not the work
Of moment. This condition, like all
good things, is of slow growth.
Some months ago few Conservatives
and Reformers would have admitted
the thought that on questions as to the
Constitution they might find in the
opposing \factienal camp men who
would more truly represent them than
the leaders Of their own faction. Yet,
after the fermentation Of thought that
has fortunately been going on, many
have now realized this. All houor to
the men who first stepped over the
factional line and brought to the
masses the realization that there is no
gulf there and that those who will see
. gulf are Iaboring under an optical
delusion-s; mental hallucination Full
recognition to all who by words of
tolerance or suggestions of compro-
mise have helped to remove the fi!m
of prejudice and assisted in spreading
the spirit of peace! |
We have ROW, I believe, attained
that reign of reason which will not
tolerate the longer subordination of
manly freedom to faction folly. Those
who still strive for the unnatural pre-
servation Of the present factions do 50
because they know that as leaders they
have in them nothing to commend
them to the sober second thought of
the people, snd that unless the free
thought of the people be suppressed
and all progress be delayed, they must
give way to men who represent not
tie past bat the present, not bitter
ness but progress, not passion but
sense.
To promote further thought
individual digestion of opinion and
individual arrival at conclusions Of
which there are now such hopeful in
aics.ions, snd which is the only safe
guard Of the Stste-this communics-
tion is offered. Ponder the following.
and are they not your views, reader?
l. The call of the "Forty" declares
that their purpose is "to make our
convention and new Constitution a
bond and seal of reunion between
the white rnea of South Carolina"
Therefore, those who responded to