The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-04-22

iSamps Pope, on taking his seat as
Chairman of the Republican conven-
tion, which met in Columbia yester-
4sy week, said:
We have assembled here in otedi-
enee to the call of the State Chair
man of the Republican party OF the
State for the u,pose OF electing del
eeases to the National Republican
convention which meets at st. Louis,
Missouri. That convention will Sc
aeet the standard bearersot the party
for President and Vice President OF
THE nation. We have also assembled
for the purpose of perfeeting the
warty organic, ton in this State Un-
fortunately the Republican party IN
this State is divided into two ise-
tions- hostlecam ps--both claim
ing to speak for the p rty. This be,
ang the case. and as harmony and
union is necessary to accomplish re-
suits, the success of the party IN
this State and it's assistance in win
ming the Presidential election moth
ing should be done here calculated TO
widen the breach, nothing should be
e id in the way of harsh criticism OF
;hose of the other faction. When
the national convention meets and
settles, as it will, the differences that
now exists, the two wings must tsop
together for the common good:
Therefore, I trust that meml ers Will
be imbrei with such spirit mere,
that so far as we a-e concerned. when
the verdict Is reached that this is the
recognized organization, that those
who lave gone away from us may
come back and take their places il the
ranks of the party without any teei-
ing of bitterness. y,
There a,e many candidates for the
high position of President, any ore
of whom will be acceptable to the
Republican party. The country
will be safe in any Of their hands:
whether it be the favored son CT
Ohio, the great apostle Of protection,
or he who pres;des over the United
States House of Representatives with
such marked ability, or the able
Governor of New York who 50 re-
Gently presidedever the United States
Senate to the satisfaction OF all, or
:.be Chevalier Bsgard of Iowa. Ali
of them are lovels of liberty, true to
the Constitution of the United States,
and jealous defenders Of a repubil-
can form of government. am glad
10 say that they are not OF that c'ass
OF designing politicians who are
'"waiting fer a light in the West"
In South Carolina we need a
chance of affairs. We have wit
messed with sorrow and shame a
government of the people and for
the people subyerted in the interest
of few designing men to condl-
tion close akin to anarchy and ruin:
We have seen the State, for political
purposes, made to enter into the bus
mess of liquor dealer; not only so'
but we have seen liquor forced upon
the people in six or seven counties
heretofore free from its deleterlous
effects. We have seen constaDles
and spies put over the people search.
ing their houses at the dead hour 9f {,
night, frightening women and chill
dren, and sometimes sneaklns ID
stocking feet upon the roof CT the II,
houses Of private citizens in the
hight to peer into their bed bed ro9ns; 1oS;as;
Yea, mere, we have seen LADIES'
trunks broken open by these people
at the railroad depots, their clothes
thrown about, in the insane desire sir OF
these people to fnd liquor. Worst
of all. we have seen the Governor OF
| +b;e State ar that time the candl-