The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-02-08
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 1899.
OF the People OF
Abbeyille and Greenwood County.

Misrepresentation OF the People OF
.Abbeville and Greenwood County.
We copy a letter from John j. Dargan and
the comments OF the Greenville News on the
same. For Ignorance Of the facts Of the sit
uation. and for Misrepresentation OF this peo.
pie, that letter is not far behind the tales
at Washington with which Mr.. Toloert is
credited.
In the first place any assertion, by whomso-
ever made, that the people OF Abbeville
County are persecuting the Tolberts because
of their Republican principles, Is absolutely
false, and can be based only upon ignorance
OF the situation or else upon the wilful and
malicious desire to utter slander upon a
people, a thousand Of whom are as good or
better than their revilers.
We repeat and emphasize-any assertion
that the Tolberts are prosecuted because of
their political opinions Is false.
II Mr.. Dargan has any surplus blood to
shed In behalf OF the Tolberts, the opportuni-
ty Is ample. If Tolbert gets up any more
riots, or If the negroes, at his instance, or at
the suggestion Of his followers, should waylay
and shoot ipoffensive citizens In the darkness
during their passage along the public high
ways, Mr.. Tolbert and the negroes will need
the help Of Mr.. Dargan. If Mr.. Dargan
thinks he can encourage the negroes to riot
and assassination with better success than
has attended other efforts in that line, then
let him come to Abbeville or Greenwoo
county, and undertake the job. The condi.
tions are about t6e same as they were before
the riot The white people are here, the ne.
groes are here. and the only thing now lack
ing to bring on little wholesome shooting to
death OF meddlesome white men is their
presence among the beloved negroes where
they may commence or insugurate q warfare
against the much-hated respectable white
people Of this section.
Let Mr.. Dargan come here, and lead the ne
groes 10 bloodshed. He will likely find pat
riotic white men in sufficient numbers to de-
fend themselves against night assassins and
those who would despoil this people OF their
good name.
Instead of slandering this good people, hon.
orable men who understand the situation
would commend this people for their moder-
alton, which has now been brought to the
greatest tension.
For thirty years the Tolberts have harassed
and annoyed this people. aud have at recur.
ring elections threatened TO overthrow white
supremacy, yet, as far as we know, no insult
or injury was ever offered to them previous to
the Phoenix riots.
We know not the exact facts that led up to
the fuss at Phoenix, but we believe IL is fact
that great multitude OF negroes were there.
It is q fact that white man was killed-a
Democratic manager of the election. One Of
the Tolberts was wounded, but, as far as we
remember no negro was either killed or hurt
at that time.
The people were dispensing after dark,
when negro assassins shot two white men,
VINO were peacesbly going to their homes.
In an excited condition Of the public mind
the whites may have obeyed the common in.
stinct Of resentlng wrong. And in doing
that they may have committed acts, which
may have given pretext to people far away
from the scenes, and who may have
q greater love of impeaching somebody's
good name than OF acting fairly and impair
TALLY with people who have had the great
est cause Of provocation-a people whom
jury OF their countrymen would say are as
good in every respect as their accusers and
defamers.
We all know that the negroes instituted, or
prctracted the riot, which resulted in the
{, death Of six or eight Of their number, and a
great number of people believe that Tolbert
was responsible for the murderous attack by
negroes upon white people.
We presume 1t will not be denied that the
negroes who come to the election from Toll
bert's place were armed to the teeth.
As TO the resolutions. The names connect
ed Herewith are just as good, just as honora-
bic, just as patriotic as Mr.. Dargan, or any
other person who presumes to assail the good
name Of this people.
II Mr.. Dargan thinks he has more bravery,
and Is more courageous, let him furnish ne.
groes with cartridges and then try to lead a
negro riot in this community.
The maliciousness and falsity of the charge
that this people are intolerant to Republi.
cans needs no refutation.
II those who would assail the good name o,
this people, would deserve the respect Of hon
orable people they should state their PROPOSE
tions truthfully and iairly and not seek to
conceal or pervert the facts.
The objection to Mr. Tolbert rests in the
fact that people believe that he and his asso-
ciates are responsible for the recent blood.
shed at Phoenix and the surrounding coun.
try.
They believe that he has made statements
at Washington which, as far as he had the ear
OF the authorities, were intended to injure
their good name because OF the riot which he
or his associates caused.
A large part Of the people Of that section
are incensed at MIR. Tolbert because Of the
published interview with Northern news.
paper. in which he while boasting of his own
wealth, spoke disrespectfully Of the poor
white people OF this section whom he regard
ed as "whlte trash" while Dragging on the
good qualities Of negroes.
The good people Of Greenwood assembled
and by public resolution, spoke OF the excel.
lent character Of Etheridge, Of whom Tolbert
was reported to have said that he was an IRE
sponsible renter. lTolbert privately says that
he said he was responsible renter.l
The fact that Mr.. Tolbert Is the chairman Of
the Republican party, and that he desires to
I'LL 20 many post offices with his own kin
may add belief for the motive which he has
had for raising all this racket at home, as
well as for his assertions at Washington.
When Tolbert can get his kinsfolk In post
offices at Seneca, Abbeville, Greenwood, Due
West, Mccormick, and Ninety-Si as q re-
ward for leading unregistered negroes to the
polls. where riot Is precipitated. and the
nf killod