The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-09

election. If the Conservatives had
voted for me generally, would have
received large majority. But many
of them declined to vote for me because
Of my attitude towards the Reformers
and their leaders, and because | had
commended many acts Of the Reform
administration.
1t is true, as I asserted many times
during the canvass, that au the candl'
date of no faction, and recognize no
difference between Reformers and Con-
seryatives; but honor them all alike
as Democrats 1t is also true that
criticised the administration Of the dis
pensary law, the appointment of con-
stables to receive 81 on per day of the
peoples money to do the work of heelers
at the campaign meetings. aud the
turning of the dispensary into pol't'.
cal machine to promote the fortunes OF
certain candidate for the United States
senate. Bnt the gool work of the He-
formers has only received praise and
commentator from me.
But strange as it may seem, be is 50
blinded by friendship for my opponent
that he actually contends that the defeat
of Governor Evans will be the destruc.
ton of the Reform movement: Does
the life of a great movement depend
upon the election Of auy mao to Office
Does the coatio uation OF the Reform
movement depend upon the election OF
a uan to Office who has been repudiased
by at least 20, ,00G Reformers
commend the eloquent words OF the
Columbia Register aud iovlte your at
tepsion to the following extract from its
editorial of September 2. 1896
The Register has 10 sympathy With
auy attempt to dragoou men into vot
ing for man by cracking the party or
factiopal lash over them 1t Is oon-
sense to say that the Reform movement
will die if Evaus is DOT elected United
States senator. He who says that, 10
efec. asserts that thousands of Reform
ers are Reforuers simply because they
believe the Reform faction is iu the ma.
iority and that only from it can office
be obtained; and that these men Will
desert the Reform movement as 5000 as
they suspect that it 40 longer has the
power to bestow office The Register
refuses to so degrade the Reform move
men,, which it believes to be the move.
reut of a great body Of earnest neu
who honestly believe 10 certain prlocl-
Piles which they desired carried out in
the governmental policy of the State.
If the defeat of any mau can disrupt
the Reform movement there is uothing
in the movement worth preserving aud
it has degenerated from the plane of
principle to that of ofice-seeklDg
Earle is Democrat and Evans is a
Democrat aud both stand upon practt-
cally the same platform as regards
those questions upon which the one Of
them elected senator will have to pass.
which is also the platform Of Ben I'LL
man, with whom each Of them is
pled ged to work 10 harmony. As far
a, their platforms aoa principles are
coocerDed, the only questions left the
voters to decide is which of them is
most sincere aud which is best qualified
to carry on the work each OF them has
promised to do if elected.
''Earle's election cannot be consider
cred Conservative triumph. fer be
has been repudiated by many Cooserva-
tive voters and papers as deserter aud
has been voted for by many Rsformers
as a convert. If he gets the Office 1t
will be because be gets the votes of
thousands of men who would spit 10
the face of any man who dared tell
them they we're traitors to tue Reform
movement"
In conclusion / appeal to you as hou'
est and fair.mioded men Of both fac
tons. to rise above prejudice aud to do
your duty. You wear no mans collar.
and will exercise your own judgment
as free and Independent citizens. |
have always submitted to- the will Of
the majority aud now confidently
await your verdict.
Joseph H. Earle.
Greeuville, s c.. Sept. 4. 1896.
Dr1mc tn pprmTv STPONG