The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-04-22
THE LILLY WHITES"
THE MELTON-BRAYTON REPUBll-
cANslN CONVENTION.

Full Representation from all Counties h"'
rnsed TO endorse a Presidential Candi-
dste-T,vo White and Two Colored Dele
gates to ST. Louis.
COLUMBIA, April 15.-Leaders CLAIM
that for the first time in many years
the convention OF Republicans that
met in the State house yesterday was
a fnll representation, with every town
shin and every precinct representeo:
II vas the first State convention held
by the wing of the Republican party
which recognizes Capt. L. d. Melton
nj Columbia as the State chairman,
and which is generally known as the
sTilly Whites" being the faction to
which many white men, VINO nave
heretofore been recognized as Demo
crsts have cast their lot In the con-
vention. of about $40 delegates, there
we're between 60 and 70 white men,
bnt these. with few exceptions, were
not recognized as prominent IN poll
tics The white men present wao
have for some time taken a promlinent
part in the affairs Of the Kepuohcsa3n
party in this State, were E!1ery ~; ~;
Brayton, Lawson D. Melton, 5. 0oen
Duncan, Y. 2. Clayton, R. N: Wal
lace. Louis Jacobs and w. w. nus
sell but conspicuous among those
nsT anG prominent men who have
:s;"oS +he nar,v recently were DR..
Sampson Pope Of Newberry and y. j..
Knots of Lexington. old ReIormerS'
and Clarence S. Nettles OF Darlington
q Conservative in days gone oy.
There was strcpg negro representa-
ton. D..
When the convention was called TO
order large lithograph Of Tom Reed
adorned the rosrum, just behind the
reporters table; but later, not 70 oe
nsrtial likenesses of Morton and NC
Kinley were tackled up by bray1on
During the day there was iarge
crowd Of spectators on the floor ana
in the gallery, and among them were
many handsomely dressed coloreo
women, relatives and friends OF oeIe
gates. At 20 p. 10. State Chairman
Melton called the convention to order
and asked the Rev. w. NJ; Thomas a
colored preacher, to open the proceed,
ings with prayer. The divine asked
that all distractions be removed IRON
the path of the delegates, and thas
what they did should be for the gooa
of the State.
Mr. Melton addressed the conven-
ton as follows: 49,.
Friends and Fellow-Republlcans:
In opening the convention as your
State chairman, it behooves me 10
make a few brief remarks as to the
purpose for which this convention
was called, the circumstances 0noer
which it arose and its final object
which is the building up OF the ne
publican party in South Carohna. IA
the fall of 1894 aa issue was presented
to the people of South Carolina, which
threatened the disfranchisement OF
more than one-half the Republican
voters of the State, and finding moth
ing being done to frustrate sucn an
attempt against the liberties OF the
people. we determined to DO some
thing to stem the tide OF a calamity
which threatened the rights OF the cltl-
zens. We earnestly went to WORK 70
try and persuade the old committee to
take the lead and prevent this calam-
ity. But for reasons not necessary 70
state here, that committee refused TO
call the people of South Carolina to-
gether to attempt to avert tnat ms
fortune. After that there was noth-
ioe for US but revolution and we de-.
termined to appeal TO the people OF
South Carolina to rise up FROM their
sleep and save their rights. On the
9Th day of February, 1895, a conven'
ton of representative men was nelo.
Out of that convention has grown
what will be recognized as the Repmo-
lican party of South Carolina. Inc
result is this convention here assem-
bled. and s. better one the GOD OF re-
publics never looked down upon IN
this country. It has not been filled oy
going into the highways and oy"ays
for delegates, as our friends the enc
nv did last week, but here every pre-
cinct in South Carolinai is represented
(Cheers.) This organization reminds
me of the story of the wonderful Isle
where the little infant of today Is a
grown man tomorrow. 1t recognizes
no obstacles and is going to succeed.
(Cheers.) In the near future It's voice
will be heard in the legislative halls
of South Carolina, and it is going
with such q sweep that Tlllman, with
all his power, can't keep down. 20
back to your homes, stand shoulder to
shoulder: the white people are with
you; do your duty; go and try and
register and stand there ali summer.
When you get the certificate even the
of South Carolina can
prevent you casting vote. (Cheers.
At the close OF Mr.. Meltons speech,
the call for the convention was read.
Chairman Melton announced that
the executive committee had suggested
as temporary chairman Clarence 5.
Nettles of Clarendon, and Clarence
Holmes of Columbia as temporary
secretary. The convention was evil
IDENTIFY heartily in favor OF the se!ac'
ton of Mr.. Nettles, his name being
greeted with applause.
On motion of Prof. Morris. com
mittee was appointed to conduct ME-
Nettles to the rostrum.
On this committee Mr.. Melton ap-
pointed Prof. J. W. Morris, Mr.. Z. NJ.
Brayton and Congressman Murray.
Mr.. Nettles, on taking the gavel,
said: Il thank you for the distinction
Of calling me to preside over this con-
venuon OF Republicans of South Car
olina I believe that this gathering
marks an epoch in the politics OF this
State. This is not the resurrection OF
corpse, but the growth and develop,
ment of a healthy Republican party
in South Carolina. It is not based on
prejudice, race issues or greed tor
money, which has disgraced the party
in the State up to this time, (Crles OF