The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-03
STILL In THE RING.
SAMPS POPE WILL RUN FOR COVER
NOR AREPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

Denounces His Former Associates snt
, apolopjzes for his Past "Reform" Pro
clivIties and is "Agin" Everything th'
Reformers Have Done.
To the Republicans OF South Caro-
. lima, and all other persons who desire
, an honest governm ment as the result oi
an honest ballot and a fair count:
We have reached crisis in the af
fairs of State, anarchy, brutality and
fraud reigns, where formerly the op
posite condition of affairs prevailed.
Believing in 1890 a change was
needed, and not deeming that behind
the promises of leaders, other things
were intended, I assisted in the over.
throw of the then Government. As
soon as the clovenfoot was shown-the
true intent; the satisfaction of an in
dividual ambition, coupled with hate
and revenge, left the gang. For the
part that I took in this crusade against
decency, beg pardon of the people
of this State and promise in the future
to do everything honorable in my
power to undo what has been done.
Senator Tillman announced as one
of his reasons for desiring Constitu-
tional Convention, the desire to make
it possible for two white parties to ex-
ist among the white people in this
State. In order that it might not ap-
pear hereafter that the convention was
called and the constitution made by
Reformers alone, he invited certain
white men of the Conservatives to be-
come 'particeps criminis." Poor, un-
suspecting creatures, they swallowed
the bait and assisted him in disfran-
chis1ng one hundred and twenty-five
thousand colored voters and possibly
ten thousand whites. He fooled them
simply to prevent the negroes from
assisting the Conservatives to throw
off his yoke. Now that he has accom-
plished his purpose, he throws off his
mask and is trying to destroy the
National Democratic party, but says
it must be preserved in State affairs.
Consistency thou art jewel" And
to preserve his power in the State, he
talks loudly about people gcing to
the negroes" This is adding insult to
injury. He has disfranchised the ne
gro to crafty his own mean ambition
and he knows it, and yet talks as if he
thought that the negroes had not been
disfranchised. I wonder if he tells his
large audiences, that he says he has
had in other States, of his fraudulent
counting in of the call for conven-
ton in this State in 1894?
had hoped that those men who
were delegates to the late Democratic
convention, who were true Democrats,
would bolt it when a resolution to
abide the action of the national con-
vention was voted down, come out,
call new convention and fight Till
manism, which is Populism and anar-
chy. but the one VINO could have done
so, did not possess the moral courage
to do it. He could speak of poor old
Pope" who needs none of his sympa-
thy, and who, thank God, has the
moral courage to do anything that he
thinks is right, whether it be popular
or unpopular. All, he feels the thrust
of the knife of the man for whom he
instructed his henchmen to stab.
1.-The mills of the gods grind slowly.
but surely"
But for all this and other things of
bygone days forgive him and could
1 help him to overcome his puny ad-
versary I would cheerfully do so.
But I am DEPRESSING. There is work
to be done. The opposition forces of
this State must come together and act
as one man. The Reformers are no
longer unit, although tine henchmen
howl as loud as ever in convention,
the rank and file are disconnected.
Promises of reform have not been
kept; offices have increased-kinsmen
of the powers that be have been given
the fattest of them. Taxes have in
creased, although the debt has been
changed from a per cent. 10 per
cent. The dispensary has been foisted
upon the people, when by vote of
5000 majority the sale of liquor was
to be stopped. Spies have been put
over the people, protected, too, from
suit for injury to person or property.
The people of Charleston have been
selected as victims to have the metro
politan police put over them, thus de-
stroying the great privilege of local
self. government. These are part of
the iniquities that have been heaped
upon a free people. Will you fold
your arms and submit to it without a
trial to overcome it at the polls2 Re-
member that 10000 votes of the Re.
formers added to the Conservative
strength will overcome them, and re,
member, too, that there are $1,000
white Republicans who have not here
tofore voted, and 10000 negroes not
disfranchised, who will vote for good
men for the legislature and other Of
fees if they will consent to run. To
save the civilization of the State it is
your duty to respond to the call.
The Reformers say that the State is
prospering; that during their admin
istration the cotton spindles of the
State have been more than doubled g.
Yes, but not with their money, not
one dollar in one hundred has been
subscribed by them. The auspicious
time had come and the mills could
not wait. The flood tide was on in
Georgia, North Carolina and South
Carolina. 1t was not due to Tillman-
ism. When South Carolina is repre-