The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-09-24
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY,
DON'T WANT TWO PARTIES.

In the State of Alabama, the
negro element has been elimina
ted from the Republican party:
and the same will in all proba
bility, be done all over the South
The national leaders realize the
impossibility of ever getting ur
a respectable organization IN
the South as long as the coloreo
element can be regarded, as fac.
tors. We disagree with a great
many of the political thinkers
of both parties. In our opinion,
there is no room in the South
for two political parties, because
as long as the negro has the
right of ballot just so long will
he be an object Of contention,
and bug-a-boo for unscruplous
politicians to fan prejudice with.
We would like to see the white
people of the South discuss IS.
sues in their primaries, and let
the majority rule regardless OF
any dietation from national lead
erS:: but to have two distinct
and fight for supremacy
in the general elections will not
do in the South. If we had
two separate parties, one or the
other would get the ear Of the
national party in power, and 1t
would sooner or later result IN
national interference with our
political institutions. We do not
want to see any such condition,
but we do want to see the day
come when men can go out to a
white mans primary and vote
as his intelligence and his con-
science dictates. AS we are
now, politicians make up issues
for their own selfish purposes,
and being in control Of the party
machinery, they rule it with an
iron hand. No set of people
were ever more in the control of
politicians than are the people
of the South; past conditions is
responsible for this. but unless
the people take matters into
their own hands, the politicians
will continue to use the Devil
will-catch-you-sure-argument, II
you don't vote for them. Our
political leaders are constantly
railing at the Republicans Of the
North and West for permitting
themselves to be blindly led by
the politicians of their party,
and yet we of the South drink
in this rot, applaud, and repeat
it, as though our existance de-
pended upon it. Then when we
Stop to think, we ask ourselves
how much better off are we?
We permitted ourselves to be
hoodwinked by professional
spell-binders and the conse-
quence is that the people of the
South from political view are
the most arraut towards on
earth. They follow in the lead
of men they know are unfit for
leadership, morally and mental
ly, and yet will not make a bold
open fight to dislodge this ele-
ment. They prefer to sink their
manhood and complain private
ly.
We should like to see a man
with ability and integrity come
forward and lead a fight for in
dependence within the Demo
cratic party; we believe such
an one would soon bring to his
standard a strength which
would surprise those now en-
trenched behind the party's
machinery. Take the canvass OF
CAPTAIN D. Clinch Heyward our
nominee for Governor, members
of his own faction had no idea
he stood a ghost of a chance to
win, the politicians turned up
their noses in derision, but Hey
ward went on, met the people,
came into personal contact with
them, and when the political
professionals realize themselves
in danger it was too late. They
made heroic efforts to draw fac
tional lines, sent over the coun-
try men to fan into fame old
time prejudice, at every court
house heelers went out whisper
ing into the ears of the voters
that Hayward was a Haskellite,
but all to no purpose, Hayward
won, because the people regard,
ed him free from hypocrisy
and political corruption. They
are getting tired of the ever:
lasting dictation of political
buns, and all that is needed to
bring about a revolution in
South Carolina is, for men OF
known character and ability to
step forward and lead the way.
Let them present themselves,
holding aloft a banner inscribed
upon it INDEPENDENCE AND
PURITY, and to such a standard
will flock intelligence and pa
triotism. Then we can join IS,
sues in our primaries, and leave
it to the people to say which
side they approve. This is
what is needed in the South anC
not two parties.