The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-03
ADDRESS OF The Melton REPUBLICANS.
Greas Stress Laid on Democratc Divisions
An Appeal to Dssrunued Democrats to
JON the lily-White Faction.

| M NPpoaI LlS9runueO OemOCratS K
JON the Lily-White Faction.
An address to the people Of the State
has been issued by the Melton faction
OF the Republican party, but it is toe
long for our columns, and the conclud-
ing portion only is given follows:
Being charged with the responsible
duty OF rallying the remaining voters
who have not been disfranchised it
became necessary to devise some plan
by which they could be effectively or
ganized and the purposes of partisan
hate ndllilied. Under our old loose,
inefficient system OF party government
1T was evident that with $4,000 voters
disfranchised those who were left
qualified would be helpless. Only by
better organization, quickened with
Intelligence, zeal and determination,
could the Republicans hope to contend
with political enemy SO INSCRIPTIONS
and desperate. Accordingly the club
| plan OF party government has been
| adopted and 1t is submitted to the
| voters with full assurance that it will
lit their needs and prepare them to cirs
cumvent the intricate, unjust and
shameless election machinery con-
structed to defeat the will of the peo-
pie. These clubs make the compulsory
party basis. Tho rules governing them
are absolutely fair, just and undis-
eliminating as to membershiship and
representation. BY means of these
clubs, in addition to effecting compact
and unified organization, record can
be kept OF the regristration certificates
and the voters posted about complicat-
ed election law, the queerly constitu-
tional understanding clause ard the
requirement. as to tax receipts, while
systematic measures can be adopted to
protect the count and prepare for con.
tests. Though the rulesrmake no ref
erence to separate race clubs they are
not prohibited. The so-called sold
liners" are endcavoring to excite pre-
judice against white clubs and think
colored voters by calling them "kitchen
Republicans" These displaced and
discredited leaders will find these iu-
situations to be a boomerang having q
strong rebound, for while it deceives
no one after the true status of the or
ganization is understood, it directs at
tention to the sinister and selfish pur-
poses OF those who wish to repel acces- |
sions from the party lest their chances |
for preferment be curtailed. The peo-
pie are not so easily fooled. They sec |
that if it is Christian TO have separate
race churches, it is not unrepublican
to have separate race clubs, and that
If it is right and lawful to have colored
clubs it cannot be unfair or unw;se to
have white clubs. 1t is this very privi-
lege OF having natural primary associa-
tion that viii! be found to be one of the
strongest advantages of the club sys-
tenn for this section, for it will enable
the party to make easy the accession
OF new allies and afford minor repres-
entation. The chief hope for the
rapid growth OF the Republican party
In the State is that large numbers Of |
those heretofore officiating with the
Democratic party will, as they have,
from multiplicity Of reason have |
their minds turned towards it as the |
one political agency through which
the tyrannical and unscrupulous faction
ns5w dominating the State can be over
thrown and help given to bring into
power that national party which is
try and bringing back to the people
the prosperity of which they have for
three years been deprived.
No ono knows better than the colored
voters thai without white allies they
are politically helpless and they are
ready as indeed they have ever been
to welcome them to the party and
cheerfully accord them such recogni.
tidn and preferment as their intolli-
gence, standing ard services entitle
them to. 1t is not by their wish or
horded but rather through the mis-
taken course OF those who from the
closeo OF the war have pursued a
policy that was unwise and prejudical |
to the best interests of the South.
The committee points with satisfac-
tion to the white clubs already formed
and the prospect oftheir speedy multi
plication as testimony to the adapt
ability Of this club system for party
government and also an omen of the
great influx which is to come after the
timid have become emboldened. The
doors of the Republican party open
inward and there is free access and
cordial welcome to all who will join it.
1t il realized that diverse motives
are inclining the white people towards
the Republican party. Doubtless the |
dtsfranchiscment of 10000 colored |
voters has operated to quiet the NOR
bid dread OF the domination of that |
unfortunate race and it is equally true |
that the sweeping onslaught which |
Tillmanism has made on the cherished |
customs OF the people and their time
honored political traditions and prac-
tices has liberated the white voters
from the thraldom Of the Democratic
party, causing in these respects good
to come out Of evil. With the imposi-
tion on the State of the dispensary
system, with its long catalogue Of woes
and making Of Prohibition SITS partners
In the liquor traffic and causing the
citizens OF the State to feel their re-
sponsibility for the detestable surveil-
ance and abhorcnt espionage of spies
and informers, coupled with the in
vasion and ransacking Of private
houses, together with the overthrow
OF local self-government, by the estab'
lishment Of metropolitan police, with
the certainty of largely increased taxes
and other kindred causes, have con-
tributed to hasten the disintegration
Of q party which has been held togeth-
, or by fear and force of custom. But
underlying these disorganizing causes
has been the termination OF seeds
whose inevitable fruitage was an
awkeping OF the people to realiza-
tion OF the lasting and spreading evils
being wrought by unjust and corrupt
election practices and the conversion
OF large numbers through self-intercst
and observation to the advantage in
this section OF having the Republican
| principle OF protection to American
| industries and labor maintained and
bravely supported by those sharing ia
the prosperity which will follow the
establishment and extension OF manu-
featuring interests. To all who
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