The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-05-07
Jaurin This Year.

the party were paramount to all other
considerations.
The lamented Hampton taught US
that an independent was worse than
a radical" Like all Of his actions ana
utteranceS in those trying days that
advice was the very essence OF WISDOM
and patriotism. His clear Judgment
his most distinguishing character
istic-saw the danger to the State, OF
a Democracy split into factions and
appealing to the colored vote. And l
take this occasion to say that no other
living South Carolinian more willing
ly or gladly pays tribute to his leader
ship or has better realization of the
invaluable services to his people and
the State rendered by this great man
in '76.
HASKELL MOVEMENT.
It was only after the revolution OF
1890 that there was anything like free
dom Of political utterance and action.
The conyulsion which brought this
about also brought with it an attempt
on tbs part of those who were in the
minority to withstand the popular
will: and some Of those who had been
most clamorouS for party regularity
and submission to the dictates OF a
convention in selecting candidates
bolted and ran Judge Haskell for gov
ernor. The Haskell movement was
based largely on personal opposition to
me, and there was never any question
in regard to the loyalty Of those who
supported Judge Haskell to the gen.
eral principles Of Democracy in the ma
tion. Following the independent ac-
tion OF the the HaskelliteS came the
rebellion Of those who voted against
Cleveland for Weaver in '92, amount
ing to some 1000 ormore white votes,
mainly in Pickens and Oconee coun-
ties. Then in '94 there was another
rebellion on account Of the adoption
of the ''Colleton plan" DR.. Pope ran
as an independent candidate for COVER
nor and received several thousand
white votes. So there have been
three attempts to resist the will Of
the organized Democracy speaking
through regular channels. In each OF
these Instances those who had broken
fealty with their fellows and who
failed to support the nominee Of the
party as they had pledged, at the prl-
marieS to do were forgiven and ad-
mitted back to fellowship 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
continued fellowship and good will
among the whites prevented their ex-
pulsion from the party. Now
we are confronted with a diff
ferenu condition Of affairs. The
new constitution adopted in 1895 has
eliminated for the present the negro
majority. The number Of negroes
eligible to vote does not exceed l5 900,
but it is constantly increasing and
there may be a good many thousand
who are not registered who would be
eligible to registration. There have
been in the recent past evidences OF
Republicanism cropping out 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 United States senators in adVo-
eating Republican doctrines and voting
with that party on all essential meas
ures, contending all the while that he
is a Democrat and that he has the
right to define what Democracy means
has brought things to a focus. The
Democratic party in South Carolina.
and it is well understood that the State
is overwhelmingly Democratic, has
right to be honestly represented IN the
senate and in the house and IN TACT l
do net believe the Democrats Of the
State would Intentionally and willing
ly elect any man to any office whose
Democracy was unS0und if they knew
it. Our present danger is Republi-
canism in the disguise OF Democracy.
Therefore the question has been raised
and it is now an issue and it must be
settled as to what constitutes DemOc-
racy and who shall define it. 1t is con-
tended that we should leave the prl-
mary Just as it is and make no new
rules and regulations to prevent a re-
currence of the election Of man or
men whose Democracy does not tally
with that of the national party. We
are urged to permit every man to vote
who will take the pledge, and not to
require Of the candidates any other
pledge than the one now in force. 70
the first proposition there can be no
serious objection. We need not be So
licitous about the rank and file. at
least do not think the time has yet
come when we must drive out OF the
party individuals who will pledge
themselves to support the nominees,
State and national. though they may
be diSloyal. 1t would be manifestly
unfair to permit Republicans to vote
in Democratic primary, thereby en-
dangering, if they were in sufficient
numbers, the1election Of genuine
Democrat as against some mugwump
or traitor. ! do not think. however,
there are enough avowed Republicans
who will take the oath to make 1t nee
essarv to trace their records back to
Il RI