The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-16

| Many Conservatives, over 30 900.
| swallowed this oath and stood 10y it,
but now, whom you arc asked tO bind
tho participants in club meetings to
take simple pledge not to bolt, many
OF you bjcct. IT is not fair, it is not
honest, it is not honorable, to deal in
this way in politics, and we ought to
send our representatives to Chicago
upon equal terms with others. Can
this States Democracy ever forget the
Democrats Of the North when we had
Il dual Cover nmcnt and were fighting
to throw off tho negroes yoke, that
the Northern Democrats came to our
relief and stood by us like brothors :?
DO you suppose the peODl,i Of this
State or the South can ever forget the
Senators OF tho West and North who
fought day and night without inter-
mission to protect the South against
the passage Of a force bill ? No, sirs,
when you expect u Car0inian to bolt,
you arc wrong; we arc Democrats by
Inheritance the principles are undy-
ing and will live as long as we have a
government Of the people, and whether
you protect them against the invasion
OF the POpulists and anarchists, or
not, they will still be Democrats. If
this division must come among the
white people, You alone will be re-
l.
Register, Il close observer, has csti-
mated the number Of negroes who will
register at scvcnty-tivc CT eighty thou
sand. We cannot maintain white
supremacy in this State with a divis-
ion among the people, and that divis-
ion will come if we subject ourselves
to the charge Of political cowardice by
refusing to exact pledges, not oaths, Of
every man who participates in our
club meetings. | have no idea that
you will not take this position Of rcquir-
ing the voters to abide the resul. and
stand by the nominees. l have been
has been going on here in the last
twenty four hours. ANY one can guess
what the programme is: Dodge this
issue, ignore this great crisis, 20 vital
to the very existence OF the Demo
cracy Of the State como here in State
convention; send delegates to
Chicago; bolt the national convention
and make our State and its Democracy
the laughing stock Of this great ma
tion. Why not meet the issue squarcly
and say whether you are in favor OF
a bolt or no bolt? The very idea of
eighteen men undertaking to dictate
greatest and grandest party on earth
in convention CONFUSED of between
eight hundred and nine hundred men.
What Is the use Of the other Stutus
going there ut all? Why not save
time and expense by letting South
Carolina name the nomincc and make
his platform? If South Carolina can
claim the right to go there and do as
she pleases, why not all the other
States como with just such fool
proposition? If all of them could
come with any such proposition as
that, what is the use to have any ma
tional convention ut all? The truth is,
it is silly, it is ridiculous, it is unmunly,
1T is untrue to the Democracy of this
State. Ihc people are opposed to be-
ing put in any such attitude. 1t cx-
cites ridiculo, contempt and ScOrn from
tho Outside world. 1t is unfUi tunate
that we should have ever been in any
such Il predicament.
Mr. Sigh asked Senator lrby if the
State convention elected him a dele
gate, and instructed him, if certain
things were not granted in the pl at
form, would be bolt. Senator Irby,
raising his right hand, said in Il most
man, would not. L would not accept
Office upon any such terms"
MIR. Donaldson made quite an able
speech, cool and unimpassioned, say
ing he was the connecting link be-
tween the State and national Demo-
cracy. I'VE cannot" said he, "do
otherwise than stand by the national
Democracy. Chairman Irby's call was
proper and he would have been re-
creant to his trust il he had remaincd
silent under the circumstances MIR.
Donaldson counsci!ed unity aud har-
mony among all the Democrats. All
Crnn 81 l>,,f
allcg lance to the party Of our fathers.
MIR. Gadsdcn OF Charleston made a
good speech. Hc was the only Con-
scrvativc in the committee, but did not
speak for the Conservatives OF the
State, but his people in Charleston
The Conservatives were not going out
Of tho party, but if the Reformcrms
did, would rcorgahizc the party. The
white people had been divided for
four years, but the constitutional con-
vcntion had brought them ncarc"
together and given hope that they
would be again united. Mr.. Sligh had
said it was unwise to discuss the issue
and then he took an hour TO Justify a
bolt.
Mr. Bradham said the people of his
county would do as they pleased and
would not be dictated to.
Mr. Efrd charged Senator lrby with
attempting to dictate, and Senator Irby
in a very positive maHnc denied any
effort us chairman or otherwise to die
tate TO the committee. so help me
God" said he, " am working for the
best interests OF the whole people Of
the State"
Mr. Erd said he did not mean Gic-
tatou in an uniriendly or disrcspcctful
sense. You charged US" said he,
" with having been fixed by outside in
llucnces. | hopot this is satisfactory to
you"
Senator Irby nodded assent.
Senator May field said nc would not
receive Instructions from the Senator
from Edgcfeld or the Senator from
Laurcns. He had q high respect for
both, but preferred to get Instructions
from his own people. He said send
delegates to Chicago instructed to vote
for silver first, last and all the time,
but never bolt. He said it was useless
for the committee to discuss the mat
ter rs there was no proposition to bolt.
Senator Etird introduced the follow
ing resolution
Resolved That each county chair
man be requested to call a. meeting Of
each Dnmonratip rlnh in his countv