The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-22
liberty and the principles of a repub.

liberty and the principles of repub'
ican form of government to stand TO-
gether in this fight. Let the cry be a
republican torn of government, and,
as a consequence, honest elections.
protection to American industries and
to American labor and protection to
every citizen of right guaranteed by
the Federal Constitution: Add to
this sound currency, sufficient IN
volume to meet the demand of trade.
There are thousands of white men in
this State. not now in the Republican
partv. who are willing to stand upon
this platform. We are willing 10
stand upon it. We need the help of
these white men. There is one thing
in the way of our getting that help, q
fear of negro domination. They need
not fear it for the negro is willing, if
the whites will adopt proper plat.
form of principle, 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 car
ried this out since 1866. Only once
did they fail. That is when Ben
Tillman went down there and fooled
them out of it. (Great and long con
tinued cheers.)
If this is done, if the white man &C.
cepts this in good faith, the State will
be redeemed and peace, prosperity and
happiness will sweep over this land
All that you would claim would be
the national Republican ticket and the
members of congress. Nov, this is a
fair proposition, on your part and if
you make it I believe thatlt will bs
accepted in good faith. If should
not then we must put out ticket from
governor to coroner.
I have given you my views upon
the situation. Take them for what
they are worth, accept them if you
think them good, reject them if they
do not meet your views.
Clarence Holmes was made perma-
nent secretary and J. M. Johnston as
sistant secretary.
Pending the report of the committee
on platform, the convention took re-
cessfor one hour. On reconvening,
the following platform was presented
by the committee:
We, the Republicans of South Caro-
lima, in convention assem- bled, reaf-
firm our adherence to the time honor
ed principles of the national party,
that is to say:
First-We are in favor Of moderate
and reasonable protection for home
labor and home capital against ths
cheaper labor and cheaper capital OF
other countries, and of such reciprocal
commercial arrangements with other
countries as may be necessary to fos-
ter and extend our foreign trade.
Second-We are in favor Of main
tanning the present monetary standard
until some satisfactory ratio between
the hard money metals shall have been
reached by international agreement.
Third We are in favor Of gov
erment service based on merit and
character and capacity, and not on
the corrupt and debasing Jacksonian
system of ito the vlctors belong the
spoils." But while as Republicans we
heartily endorse the above principles
as highly important from nation
al point of view, what is of vastly
more importance to US, and to all good
citizens here in South Carolina, is to
secure fair and honest elections, and
to get rid of our present arbitrary aud
despotic factional State government
with all its accompanying evils. We
therefore reaffrm our purpose to use
every proper and legitimate means
to have our new Constitution set aside
as in conflict with the Constitution
and laws of the United States. We
admit that it has certain good points
in it, notably its improved education
al facilities and its provision against
lynching. But it is tainted with fraud
in its origin; fraudulent in its char
acter, and fraudulent in, that it was
foisted upon the State without rati6ca'
ton by a popular vote. We therefore
hold that neither congress nor the fed
eral courts ought to recognize validi'
ty. We also declare our most emphat-
&c opposition to the entire brood Of in
iquities imposed on the State by the
dominant faction, and pledge the Re
publican party to remove them as
rapidly as possible if put in position
to do 50. We are opposed t. the me
tropolitan police in Charleston or else
where, and we pledge its Immediate
suspensionif if given the necessary au
thority. Weare opposed to the State
constabulary and pledge its promt dis
solution. We are opposed to the dis
pensary law, and pledge its prompt
repeal or fundamental modification 81
as to remove stigma of State traffic
in whiskeY for the sake of profit. We
are ppossd to an incumbent, partisan
and factional judiciary, and pledgeits
restoration to respectability, capacity
and non-partisan as rapidly as posi-.
bic. We are opposed to the degreda.
ton of our higher institutions of learn.
ing to mere political ends, and pledge
their restoration to their proper and
Legitimate duties. We are opposed to
discrimination against any class on 40
count of its religious beliefs. These
we do not regard as partisan questions
at all, but simply questions of good
government.
We, therefore, not only cordially
invite, but appeal to all good citizens,
to whatever party or faction belong.
ing, Democrats as we'll as Republicans,
Reformers as we'll as Conservatives,
to unite with us IN securing the over
throw of these and all other iniquities,