The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-09
THE REPUBLICANS ARE MOVING.
The Webster State Committee Issues
an Address-A Convention Ordered
for April.

The Webster State Committee Issues
an Address-A Convention Ordered
for April.
The Webster faction OF the Repub-
!lcans met last week in Columbia. and
Issued an address which sets forth
their position US faction and their
grievances as D political organlza-
tlon. The address is Us follows:
We, the executive committee OF the
Union Republican party OF South Car.
DINA, send greetings to our party OF
the nation and our fellow Republicans
OF South Carolina.
First: We congratulate this nation
| the ballot box In Novemb ber last.
Second: We congratulate tho ma
tion In having ovorthrown the Demo
cratic party, the old enemy of all that
is progressive and useful In the State
OF North Carolina, Maryland, Ken
lucky aud West Virginia, and thereby
breaking the "Solid South which
had boon heretofore comented by
fraud, corruption and violence at the
ballOt-boX.
We congratulate the nation upon
having restored to tho leadership OF
our party in tho lower house of Com
statesman, Hon. Thomas b. Reed, of
Maino.
Wo pledge our faith to the princi-
plos OF tho party of Lincoln, Sumter
and Grant. and renew our pledge to
the principles laid down in tho plat
form of tho Republican party at the
national convention Of 1892.
In the last general election we made
strong fight for the election OF Re-
publican Congressman, In six Of the
seven districts in the State, but under
tho operation Of the infamous registra-
tlon law, thousands of Republicans
were illegally prevented from voting.
Under instruction Of this committee
the rejection OF these voters, through
this Infamous and unconstitutional
registration law, WAS mudc the basis
OF contests in four Of the districts Of
tho State. The Republican contest
ants in the first third, sixth and
soVcnth districts are on Hyory ground
OF Justice and equity entitled to their
seats.
The seating of thcso contestants
would strcngthen and encourage the
Eopublican party Of South Carolina
and be- but Laruy Justice to those WHO,
under difficulties and ddiscouragemetts
which can not be fully appreciated Dy
our friends in the North, have cndcav-
orcd to hold up the banncr Of Republi-
canism in South Carolina.
a new condition is now upon us
New necessities now arise. New laws
arc now in force. New lessons must
now be learned. Wickedly and fraud
ulently rs was this new constitution
thrust upon the people of the State,
still more wickodly and fraudulently
Is the purpose of the promoters Of this
scheme to enforce it. 10 enforce it
not with the view of preserving white
supremacy as is falsely proclaimed, :,
but with the purpose of stilling the
will of the people in the exercise of
the functions OF citizenship, the selec-
tion OF their public servants, to pre-
serve the close corporation which now
parcels out tho Offices in the State and
perpotuate themselves in power and
place.
Soon the books of registration will
be open in every county in the State,
and every citiZen twenty-one years OF
| age aud upwards must register, and
those who have been registered must
be registered in order to vote hereafte,
in tho public elections in this State
whether Federal, State or municipal
We urge upon evory citizen tho impor
tance OF possessing himself with
copy OF the now constitution and care
fully studying it in order to know tn,
new requirements and meet them.