The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-11-13
WHY BUTT A ROCK WAY?

that the theories of the National
administration are acceptable to
the va majority, and that the
party in power is entrenched.
The Democracy in its present
disorganized condition can only
serve to hold intact the Republi-
can party, and, in ouriopinion we
of the South, as long as we per-
nit ourselves to be led by a class
of politicians who cling to the
old theories, and sectional preju-
dices. just so long will we remain
as we are now, a voiceless part
of this great government.
Think of it. The position OF
the Southern Democrat in the
Democratic party is precisely the
same as the Southern negro with
the Republican party, both are
used in the National Convention
for the purpose of making NOM
nations, then their usefulness
ends. The Republicans in the
South cannot give a single elect
oral vote to help on the success
of their party, but in nominal
ing convention their votes can
be utilized to secure the nomi-
nation. The Democrats of the
South are of little service in a
nominating convention, notwith-
standing they furnish about all
of the electoral votes. The fact
is, the States having the largest
Republican electoral votes are
the controlling influence in shap-
ing the course Of Democratic
convention. Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania are so thoroughly Repub-
lican, that no effort is even made
to carry those States for the
Democracy; yet these, and SINH
lar situated States have a con-
trolling voice when it comes to
the selection of standard bearer
for the Democracy. What is to
be done about it? Are we, simply
to give politicians fat jobs, to
continue nursing prejudices, or
shall we arouse ourselves from
our stupor and look at things
from a common sense stand, and
foco conditions as thew exist.
The professional politician knows
there exists a feeling Of preju-
dice with our people against the
Republican party, because of our
experience with that party in
the days which followed the
''war between the States," when
animosities were being famed
into flames by selfish politicians,
whose sole idea was to pilfer,
and to further his own in
terests the politicians works
that prejudice for all it is
worth; but we must remember,
those conditions do not exist to-
day. Our government was then
in the hands of the alien, today,
we have it absolutely, and no
earthly power can wrench il from
Us, nor do we believe there's the
remotest thought Of taking it
from US. South Carolina is one
of the States of this Union, and
it is to her material advancement
that her Representatives should
look. We should have voice
in the making upof this Nations
history; if there is progress, we
should share in it as well as
New York, Ohio or any other
State.
But we cannot, if we hold our
selves aloof and display a spirit
of obstinate opposition to any
and every measure proposed by
the party in power. We must
learn to look at these measures
and act upon them as reasonable
and sensible people, accept what
has merit, and reject that which
has not; we must not be mis-led
by the professional political
sfaW-worker" for he is like the
Barker" at a side-show, he
talks for the money he makes
out Of it, just as Senator Till
man is doing now, working his
jaw in the West for so many dol
lars per night. Not until we
learn that politicians are using
our sufrages to line their own
pockets, will we ever cast free
mans ballot. If we havea pride
in our own manhood, let US do
our own thinking and our own
acting. What manner of man is
it who has not sense enough to
know right from wrong, with
out the aid of an Office holding,
or seeking politician. We want
the day to come, andit is coming,
that a man can, without bring
ing reproach upon himself, ad
vocate any side of a political
question his conscience dictates
to him. We are so constituted in
this State that it is necessary,
there should be no division n
the white ranks, and there will
be none, if the greedy politicians
will not undertake to strangle the
voice Of those who will not en-
dorse their selfshness. We have
a white primary, where any and
all questions can be submitted to