The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-30
Tillmaa on the Campaign.

in his speech at Manning last Friday
There is matter of deep Interest
which will come up for discussion and
settlement in the coming May conven-
tion, and as am the representative OF
the Democracy of this State, upon the
national committee, it may not be I'M
proper for me to express my views on
It and to inform you as to the sentl-
nent and feeling OF the Democrats in
Washington on the subject. The Dem
ocratic party in South Carolina has
occupied peculiar position for TWEEN
ty-fve years. The whites are IN the
minority in this State and under
the reconstruction dispensation there
we're some 5000 more negro voters
than whites. The consequence was
that after the overthrow of the carpet
BAG government in 1876 we adopted a
system of party government and the
white people Of the State were edu-
Gated in the employment of political
methods that obtained hardly any
where else. We have had an Simper-
inn in imperic, or a government
within a government. Democracy has
meant white supremacy, and Republl-
canism meant negro equality. The
necessity for white unity overshadow-
ed the other considerations and the
Democrats of the State were taught
that submission to the viii Of the ma
iority and loyal support OF the noml-
Rees of the party were paramount TO
all other considerations. The lament
ed Hampton taught us that an inde-
pendent was worse than a radical.
Like all of his actions and utterances
in those trying days that advice was
the very essence Of wisdom and pa
triotism., His clear Judgment, his
most Distinguishing Characteristic saw
the danger to the State, ofsa Democ-
raey split into factions and appealing
TO The colored vote. And / take this
occasion TO say that no other Living
Soath Carolinian more willingly or
gladly pays tribute to his leadership
or'has a better realization of the in
valuable services TO his people and
the State rendered by this great man
In 1876.
1t was only after the revolution of
1880 that there was anything like
freedom of political utterance and ac-
tion. The convulsion which brought
this about also brought with it an at
tempt on the part Of those who were
In the minority TO withstand the pop
Mar viii, and some Of those who had
been most clamorous for party regu-
larity and submission to- the dictates
CT "a convention In selecting candi-
dates, bolted and ran Judge Haskell
for Governor. The Haskell movement
was based largely on personal opposi-
tion, 60 me, and there was never any
opposition in regard to the loyalty of
those who supported Judge Haskell to
the general principles Of Democracy
in the nation. Following the inde-
pendent action of the Haskellites
came the rebellion of those who voted
against Cleveland for Weaver in 1892,
amounting to some two thousand or
more white votes, mainly LII Pickens
and Ocopee counties. Then in 1894,
there was another rebellion on ac-
count Of the adoption of the 'Colleton
plan DR.. Pope ran as an independ-
ent candidate for Governor and recelv-
ed several thousand white votes. So
there have beent shree attempts TO re-
esst the will of the organized Democ-
racy speaking through regular chnan-
ne3s. In each of the these instances
those who had broke neatly with their
fellows and who failed to support the
nominee of the party as they had
pledged, at the primaries to do were
forgiven and admitted back to fellow
ship without any question.
In each case those who resisted
the will of the party Of course felt
justified in acting independently, but
they were private soldiers so to speak,
and the desire of our people for con-
fin1ed fellowship and good will
among the whites, prevented their ex-
puIsion from the party. Now we are
confronted with a different condition
OF affairs. The new constitution
adopted in 1895 has eliminated for the
present the negro majority. The num-
ber of negroes eligible to vote does not
exceed Is, 600, but it is constantly in.
creasing and there may be good
many thousand who are not registered
who would be eligible to registration.
There have been in the recent past
evidences OF Republicanism cropping
ont in South Carolina in various
directions. There is no doubt We
shall soon have a white Republican
party appealing to these negro voters.
THE action of one of your q. S. Sena-
tors in advocating Republican doc
trines and voting with that party on
all essential measures, contending all
the while that he is a Democrat and
that he has the right to define what
Democracy means has brought things
20 focus. The Democratic party in
South Carolina and it is well under
stood that the State is overwhelming
Democratic, has a right to be honestly
represented in the Senate and in the
House, and in fact do not believe the
Democrats of the State would inten-
tionally and willingly elect any man
TO any Office whose Democracy was IN
sound if they knew it. Our present
danger is Republicanism in the dis
guise of Democracy. Therefore the
question has been raised and it is now
an issue and it must be settled as to
what constitutes Democracy and who
shall define it. It is contended that