The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-12-14
as seen BY WILLIAMS.
Democratic Leader Accounts For
Defeat and Offers Substantial
Encouragement.

Hon. q IuQ 0udEp w 1111omo "a AA1S
sissippi, leader OF the Democratic mi
nority in the house and undoubtedly
one Of the brainiest Democrats IN
America. delivered lecture before
the Wofford College Lyceum, at Spar
tanburg Last Friday night. The Spar
tanburg Herald of Saturday morning
contained quite comprehensive report
of his speech and quotes him as hav-
ing said in part.
1--WE have just undergone an over
whelming defeat. am rock-ribbed
Democrat, and would be anywhere, in
Vermont or New Hampshire, but this
is not true of ali Democrats, for some
of them are such on account OF the
race issue. The Republican party
created that issue, and since they
have they accuse us of race prejudice.
What they call the race issue, is race
knowledge. We are back in the Union
and there should never have been a
race issue. ALL Of the southern states
would be Democratic now if there
were no race question. It is the tariff
which is the issue; this is no local
question and would make US all Demo
Gratis.
"After every great defeat there are
many people, weak hearted, who want
to seek cover and do not care to take
stock to find out the mistakes made.
This is rot the first defeat of the
great historical party of the country.
Until our present form of-government
is changed, there will always be a
Democratic party. AS l see it there
are three causes to be assigned for
the defeat of the party. What l be-
liege to be the chief cause was the
association of the Democratic party in
the public mind with panic and de-
preston. Second, is the recrudence OF
sectionalism as reluctant as am to
admit it. They wish to cut down
southern representation and this is not
only in the minds of the Republicans,
bat also some of the northern Demo
Gratis. The Statesbcro affair cost as
half a million votes. We could not
stop the discussion Of it; we cited in
stances of northern cruelty to the ne
gro aud showed that lynchlng is nos
confined to any state. But these were
not arguments; you can not condone
a wrong by citing another wrong.
We must enforce the law. We must
acknowledge that this is not logical.
but it is a just argument against cut
ting off our representation. We must
respect the law. I decline to say that
we are not cupable, but lynch Law is
not confined to one crime and we
must at all hazards uphold the law of
the land. We are called upon to meet
the greatest question which has ever
confronted people and we are the
only people on earth that are able to
meet it. We seek no sympathy nor
ask favor Of any man, but we want to
assert our rights and above all the
God-given right of the survival Of
the fttest. But We should not forget
that we are not entitled to that title
until we prove ourselves the survival
of the fttest. We have been so bitter
" and constantly criticised by others
that we hesitate to criticise ourselves.
"The third cause of onr defeat is
the personal popularity of the presi-
dent.
"I was asked the other day as to
what we are going to do about it. L
replied, what are the Republicans go
ing to do about it? They have the
most men on the board, b1s We are
not going to stop on this account.
They are responsible for their moves. :"
cit is hinted that the Republicans
will revise the tariff, that they intend
reciprocity with Canada, and that the
president will help the south. Ii this
be true, he will receive hearty support
from the Democrats in the house. All
we want is to be treated as children
and not step-children Of the American
republic.
cit has been declared that We have
abridged the constitution. When the
courts have decided that, the house
will act upon the Judicial opinion.
We are not TO force the issue OF the
reduction of southern representation
upon the Republicans. We are not
seeking a row. It has been suggested
to make the representation according
to the vote taken. Taken whenf This
will not do. Again, it has been sug-
sested to make representation accord
ing to white population. But that
won't do. Many negroes who can now
vote would be shut out. But II the re
publicans consent to repeal the fifteenth
amendment and return to the four
teeuth the south will embrace it.
eWe must face one of two things,
the Republicans will either do moth
ing or reduce the southern representa-
tion. In the first We can do nothing !;
in the second, it may be forced upon
us, but we will not consent to it.
There is no legislation to redistriot a
state. Let the states continue to do
nothing. When congress meets there
are five congressman from South Caro-
lima instead of seven, but send the
seven men to congress, where some
will be turned away. But it is 30 ar
ranged that they can draw one
months pay. When this is refused
by the sergeant at arms, then the
court will take hold of it and thus we
can transfer it to higher court, just
where we want it But this is not yet
done. Be Of good cheer; our destiny
is in our own hands. -
Congressman Williams was present
ed with beautiful bouquet Of white
carnations by the young ladies OF Con-
verse who live in Mississippi.