The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-21
THE "LLY WHITE" STATE CONVENTION.
A REMARKaBLE GATHERING IN
COLUMBIA.
Democratic Deserters are Specially
Honored-Pope AssaiIs the Dispen.
sary and Reformers.

Democratic Deserters are SpeciaII
Honored-Pope AssaiIs the Dispen
sary and Reformers.
The Brayton-M elton wing of tn
Republicans held their convention II
Columbia on the 14th inst, and T. wa
remarkable gathering in some re
spects. The number of native whites
was larger than any similar conven
tion over held in the State, and more
attention was given to home affairs
than to national issues.
Chairman Melton in opening the con
yention made few brief remarks a.
to the purpose for which the conven
tion was called, the circumstances un
der which 1t was called and the ulti
mate object to be attained. He said in
1894 an issue was made which threat
ened the disfranchisement of more
than one half the Republicans and
nothing was done to stem the tide by
the self constituted leaders. They
were importuned to act but did not dc
80. They refused to call the party In
convention In order to devise means
to stop this calamity. We then, he
continued, determined to appeal to the
Republicans TO rise up and maintain
their rights. AS a result, conven.
tion of representative men was called.
Out OF that grew the great, reOrganized
Republican party of South Carolina.
(Cheers.) The result of all this is that
we have convention which the God
OF Republicans never looked upon the
like in this State before. Cheers. J
Every precinct in the State is here
represented. (Cheers.) 1t is little
infant, that has grown into u big,
strong man. 1t recognizes no, obstacle
to success and we are going to sue
ceed. The time Is soon coming when
in this very hall will be men holding
up the principles of this great party.
Great cheers.) A great cry is going
up in the State for us to come and lead
the people into the pleasant gardens.
TillmaD, in all his might, can't keep
us from attaining our destiny. (Cheers.) J
The whole white people are with us.
But we must be registered. Stay ut
the registration places all summer if
necessary to get certificate. (Cheers.)
Mr.. @. S. Nettles, white, a lawyer
OF Darlington, was suggested for tenn
porary chairman and unanimously
elected. He was received with great
cheers, and thanked the convention
for the distinction and honor conferred
on him by being called on to preside
over this Republican convention which
will mark a political epoch in the his
OF tory South Carolina. In the language
of his friend, Capt. Melton, this is not
the resurrection of a corpse, but the
development and growth of an Off
spring of the Republican party of the
United States. 1t is not based on pref
udice or race issues, nor the pelf of
Office and greed for money that has
disgraced the party in South Carolina
up to the present time. 1t is based on
the rock-ribbed principles vi Republi-
caniSm nrinpinlaS W n ich had
prosperity to thD country principles,
which when defeated and permitted
to languish, have brought financial
ruin and distress onsthe whole country.
The party stands upon the founda alton
principles of the Republican party of
q liberal construction of the Federal
constitution, affording scope for in
telligent minds to travel in the paths
of civilization. Its principles are
devoted to the protection of American
industries, shipping and labor, and
for that we stand. 1t is happy day
in South Carolina when the party is
able to show powerful hand in South
Carolina. Under it capital will be
brought in and will line the banks of
your canal with factories, and the
hum of the spindle will be heard in
every town in the State. The party
has the confidence of those who have
money to invest, and they will invest
it in this, the garden spot of the
country"
We stand for protection, not alone
in protecting American Industries,
but in the broader sense, without re-
gard to race or condition, the rich or
poor protection in all the rights, the
son of man is entitled to.
The delegates were enrolled and
committee or platform was named,
when Prof. Morris, in few glowing
and complimentary remarks, put in
nomination DR.. Sampson Pope for per-
manent chairman. During his re-
marks he referred to the Webster con-
= ventiOn as a " Rump convention" and
the present one as a native gathering,
composed both Of whites and blacks to
the manor born.
Mr.. e. Brayton seconded the nom
ination and favored it among other
reasons, because the nominee had
proved himself superior TO the re-
straints and traditions that have con-
trolled other native sons Of Carolina" I"
He looked upon DR.. Pope's course, in
the past two or three years, as doing
much to make such gathering as this
possible. He praised DR.. Pope for his
effort against the wicked and iniqui-
tous registration law" We want 10
prove to the State, he said, that we
WanJ 10 Dullu up bne party on DrOau
and liberal and victorious principles.
We want to honor DR.. Pope, because
as member of the dominant faction
he had seen the errors of his way and
the disastrous results of its enactment.
DIR. Pope was unanimously elected,
and made a speech which was written
out, because he wanted to weigh his
words carefully. The speech was
literally cheered throughout, espe-
cially when the speaker made any re-
ference to Senator Tillman or the
State government.
PoPE'S SPEECH IN FULL.
We have assembled here In obedience
to the call OF the State chairman of the
Republican party of the State for
the purpose OF electing delegates
to the national Republican convention
which meets at st. Louis, Missouri
That convention will select the stand.
ard-bearers Of the party for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the nation
We have also assembled for the pur.
pose of perfecting the organization In
this State. Unfortunately the Re-
publican party in this State Is divided
into two factions-two hostile camps
both claiming to speak for the party
This being the case, and as harmony
and union Is necessary to accomplish