The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-07
D. ]. Knots For Congress.
To the Editor of the State:

aud desires of auy patriot should coz
troll bis action aud to the proper direc-
sion Of bis energy in such an emergen'
ey should give his calm and deliberate,
but determined. consideration. One of
those times uow confronts the people of
South Carolina. The political contest
in this State for several years has been
only the outposts and engagements be-
tween calvary aud artillery at longer
and shorter range, bat they have oow
brought on a more general engagement
and struggle between the solid ranks of
infantry in this deadly conflict for pro-
press and is march onward and what
is and ever been the trouble 10 this, a
bourbon policy Of satisfaction ia the
present condition and no desire to leave
our traditions. A deep felt aud long
ing desire to break away from their as
sociations and traditions vas the basal
principle oftte Reform movement. It
Was . declaration Of independence
against our petri6ed orthodoxy ADD a
heartfelt desire to burst our environ
ments by which we were bound hand
and foot. A free speech. al untram-
melled vote and fair count are de-
mapds to-day which are taking the
place Of the little questions Of the Re
forrs movement aud is toe paramount
issue OF this day in South Carolina.
That the leaders of the Reform move.
ment have never appreciated the feel
ing nor understood the real convictions
Of their countrymen will appear clear
TO every observapt thinker before an
other decade has elapsed.
The Reform leaders in this had 40
opportunity, and bright one, but they
have los. it. They have fristed away
the imperishabie future for the decep-
tive gewgaws Of that everlastiOgly now
Blind leadership has vaiuly striven
against the tide Of impending doom.
aud the last electioo for Uoited States
senator is the brig btess dawn OF polisi'
cal independence ever witnessed IL ouf
State. And, alas! how strange that so
bright day should be SO badly misun-
derstood The people Of this State and
the south have ever labored uader this
enviroument. Before the war it was
easy to think with the reigning aynss-
sty, but to think against slavery was
crime and the term unionist and aooli-
ZIONIST was as terrible aud as ostra-
ciising as radical since the civil war.
Men had become restive and 'uDeasy
under this yoke aud menaBce to their
manhood aud could see no relief to is.
nor progress, unless in movement or
comnotion. And the sentiment for an
agriicultura, college assumed large pro-
portions and it. can't be explained by
referriog to the few questions that were
iDally arraigDed at the head Of sae Re
form movement. Men had to have a
schooling and prepara,ioo fer grea'
revelation Of this kind and we have
been spending our schoolboy days In
The political high school aud the. pupils
have feuud out that maoy Of our teach
ers are incompetent TO instruct ia tbe
branches 10 which they have been as
signed; aud, iadeed, they are becoming
to see ttat the professors don't uader-
stapd the textbooks taught in The school
room. The Chicago platform very
clearly shows that maoy of tie par.l-
san. roms,minded views Of the lead
sers in this State have been transferred
from the State to the national platform.
aaa Governor Evans boasts that he and
Senator TilImap wrote the Chicago
platform, which may in part be true,
for it marks out the fatal fallacy pur-
sued by them 10 this State. If it is
wise in the Chicago platform it was
wise 10 our State ADMINISTRATION, and
for those of us to sQppsrs it in national
rolitics who condamned it in our State
politics will be supremely1 ridiculous
I am now glad that my record as rep
resentative will show tbat the partisan
measures of the Reform party | never
supported. but both my speeches AID
votes declared my unmitigated hostility
to such outrages 10 legislation. If those
who fought these furious measures SO
hard pow advocate them when trans-
ferred from Columbia to Chicago, what
can the world say of snch consistency?
They appear 10 the Chicago platform IN
a severe and more barharoos nature
than in our State government and nota-
ing bat our prejudices can overlook
crimes 10 the one that will condemn io
the other. This revolution has brought
about state of political existence that
a few years ago none of US dreamed Of
q. all, and among other revelations. the
Democratic party Of to-day is DO protec-
tion of s.our lives aud property" The
fact has been now settled that it will
make sectional issues; that it will ap-