The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-28

our new constitution the negro is dis
franchiscd. and therefore the white:
can afford to divide. when in truth and
reality and such division will bequeath
the balance of power in South Caroline
to the negro, and make him our polltl'
cal arbiter.
In some future letter T will show how
certain reform leaders in our constltu
tional convention sought to oppress the
poorer class of whites by fixing upor
them a three dollar poll tax and how g
premium of s., 900 must be paid to the
family of every black brute lynched
and which clause is an outrage upor
the taxpayers of different counties.
Therefore, contend that the white
people OF South Carolina cannot AFFORD
to divide, for any such division means
the bringing back of the negro in poll
tics. admit that there are reforms
needed in the government of our State
for taxes are today higher than they
were under Republican and carpetbae
rule, while the assessed value of farm
ing lands have doubled if not quadrup
led in the face of the great strides
South Carolina has made in the last ter
or twenty years. With our new manu-
featuring enterprises, and vast increase
in wealth, taxes ought to be reduced
year by year, but instead OF this they
are piling up higher and higher
There is something wrong in our State
government, when such a condition Of
affairs exist, and every taxpayer would
like to see the wrong righted. But
had we not better submit to this eXac.
ton than see the negro brought back
again in politics and our labor system
demoralized, which will inevitably be
the result.
I cannot understand how any South
Carolina Democrat who has tlle peace,
honor and prosperity Of the State at
heart can encourage any movement
tending to divide the white vote: and
give cause or excuse for the organiza-
tion of an independent or Republican
party.
And again, the politician who be-
lieves that the simple name o. Tillman
is allpowerful and will insure the tri-
umph of any movement or faction that
he supports is laboring under a wrong
belief. Tillman represents the old re-
form movement and he has great
many friends who will follow him to
any length, but we must remember
that it has been eleven years since the
reform movement was first started, and
a child, at the time, ten years OF age,
is now a voter, and this new generation
does not feel the same political ami.
mostly against the conservatives as
their fathers did when factional feeling
ran so high. We must also remember
that thousands Of these old line refor-
mers have moved to towns or cotton
mills, and their minds have undergone
revolutionizing political change.
Then, since 1890, great many refor-
mers have been defeated for Office in
South Carolina and many of these back
numbers feel that they have not been
treated right and bear secret grudge
against the rulers Of their party still
in power.
Even when factional feeling was
bitterest there was only about ten or
fifteen thousand votes difference be.
tween the conservatives and reform
ers.
Now, while there are hundreds Of
men in every county who are too cow
ardly to take an open stand against
what is known as tTillmanism" let the
lines be once drawn and you will find
in the ballot box many secret opposi-
tion votes.
I cannot imagine a greater calamity
that could befall South Carolina than
for our white voters to divide. We are
Democrats by birth and in faith, and
it is only through the Democratic party
that the South can hope for justice
and to attain her full share OF prosper
ity. We don't want to see any white
Republican party built up in South
Carolina, for it would be sure to result
in bringing the negro back il politics,
and create bitter division among our
people.
But at the same time there are in
our State thousands of as tried and as
true Democrats as ever drew the breath
of life who are tireI of having the
principles OF their party prostituted
and seeing it led to wreck and ruin by
Western populists and renegade Re
publicans. They demand the right to
freely discuss their views before the
intelligent voters of our State and oe
accorded the same honesty of purpose
as they are willing to accord those OF
their party who differ with them.
They dol intend to be ostracised and
browbeaten. They have confidence in
the patriotism and intelligence of the
voters of their State and are willing to
accept any verdict they may render at
the ballot box. These Democrats will
not be bulldozed and driven from their
positions by threats or intimidation.
All they ask is an impartial hearing, a
free ballot and fair count.
There are certain politicians in South
Carolina who. to retain themselves in
power, would again divide the people
into warning factions, paralyze pros
perity and bring the negro back into
politics. But believe that the peo-
pie are getting tired of abuse and per-
sonalities, and want to hear both sides
of every question impartially discussed:
Next year we will have a heated.
campaign and it will be a critical
period in the history of our State.
Eut have ali abiding faith in the dis
cerning intelligence, justice and patri-
otism of the voters of South Curolina,
and I am willing to gracefully yield to
whatever verdict they render at the
ballot box.
IN my next letter + viii discuss the
annexation of the Philippines, and
which l believe will do more than all
else for the South and for the enrich
ment of our cotton producers and monu-
facturerS.
T. L. CAN'T.
Inman, S. c., Aug, 1901.
Eczema, itching Hrrnors, Pimples.-Treat-