The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-21


be the favored son of Ohio, the great
7 apostle of protection, or he who pre-
sides over the United States House o
Representatives with such marked
ability, or the able Governor of New
York who so recently presided over
the United States Senate tc the salts
faction of all, or the Cbevalier Bayard
OF Iowa. All them are lovers of
liberty, true TO the Constitution of the
United States, and Jealous defenders
of republican form Of government.
am glad to say that they are not OF
that class of designing politicians who
are waiting for light in the West"
In South Carolina we need q change
of affairs. We have witnessed with
sorrow and shame government Of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
pie subverted in the interests OF q few
designing men to q condition close
akin to anarchy and ruin. We have
seen the State, for political purposes,
made to enter into the business of q
liquor dealer not only so, but we have
seen liquor forced upon the people in
six or seven counties heretofore free
from it deleterious influences. We
have seen constables and spies put
over the people searching their houses
at the dead hour of night, frightening
women and children, and sometimes
sneaking in stocking feet upon the
roofs OF the houses of private citi zens
In the night to peer in their bedrooms.
Yea, more, we have seen ladies' trunks
broken open by these people at the
railroad depots, their clothes thrown
about In the insane desire Of these
people to find liquor. Worst of all, we
have seen the Governor of this State,
at that time the candidate for the
United States Senate, give instructions
to his minions to defeat and defraud
at the election. We have seen man
ayers OF elections ensconced behind
screens, in utter disregard of the Con-
stitution, causing voters to cast their
ballots in the wrong box, and in some
instances, when cast right, taken them
out OF the box and put others in their
places. We have seen managers of
election, when the poll was known to
be strong in favor of the opposition
candidate, absent themselves on the
day Of election so that no election was
held. We have seen the call for q con-
stitutional convention fraudulently
made to carry. We have seen q Gov
ernor and United State Sena tor-elect
meet with other men and make
trade as to representation in the con-
stitutional convention and as to qualif-
cations of voters, to be inserted In the
man should be disfranchised except
for crime" which plainly meant that
all colored men possible should be dis
franchised. We have seen that con-
vention meet and carry this out and
we have seen constitution formulated
by it adopted without being referred
back to the people.
We have seen the taxable property
OF the State increased and yet taxation
is higher thanubefore. We have seen
the moral tone of the people lowered
under all these wrongs. How could it
be otherwise? for as you SOW so shall
you reap"
We call on every white man in this
State, white and black, to come and
help us rectify these wrongs. We call
upon them to stand with us for the
good of those now living and those
hereafter to come. 1t is the duty OF
every man who loves liberty and the
principles of a republican form of gov
ernment to stand together in this fight.
Let the cry be republican form of
government and as consequence,
honest elections protection to Ameri-
can Industries and to American labor,
and protection to every citizen of every
right guaranteed by the Federal con-
stitution. Add to this sound currency,
sufficient in volume to meet the de-
mand of trade. There are thousands
OF white men in this State, not now
In the Republican party, who are will.
ing to stand upon this platform. We
are all willing to stand upon it. We
need the help of those white men.
There is one thing in the way of our
getting that help fear of negro
domination. They need not fear it, for
the negro is willing, if tn, whites will
50ODt q nrDnar nlatfprp, of n
put out ticket of their very best men,
pledged to reform this government, to
support the ticket so put out. Our
Republican brothers in Beaufort and
Georgetown have carried this out since
1876. Only once did they fail. That
is when Ben Tillman went down there
and fooled them out of it, Great and
long continued cheers.)
If this Is done, if the white man ac-
cepts this in good faith, the State will
be redeemed, and peace, prosperity
land. All that you would claim would
be the national Republican ticket and
the members of Congress. Now, this
is fair proposition on your part, and
If you make it believe that it will be
accepted in good faith. If it should
not be, then we must put out I'll cket
from Governor to Coroner.
nave given you my view. upon the
situation. Take them for what they
are worth. Accept them If you think
them good reject them If they do not
meet you views.
THE PLATFORM.
The committee on platform made
the following report:
We, the Republicans of South Caro-.
lima. In convention as sembled, reaffirm
our adherence to the time -honored
principles Of the national party that
Is to say:
First. We are in favor of moderate
and reasonable protection for home la
Dor and home capital, against the
: cheaper labor and cheaper capital of
other countries, and of such reciprocal
commercial arrangements with other
countries as may be necessary to foster
and extend our foreign trade.
Second. We are in favor OF main
tanning the present monetary potil
some satisfactory ratio between .ne
| hard money metals can be reached by
| international agreement.
Third We are in favor of govern
ment service based on merit and char
acter and capacity, and not on the cor
rupt and debasing Jacksonlan system
OF ITO the victors belong the spoils."
But, while as Republicans, we heartily
endorse the above principles as highly