The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-04-22
ONE MANS IDEA.
Capt. Petty Gives His Reaso, for the
N merous Murders.
THAT TAKE PLACE IN OUR STATE
He Thinks it Started During Recon-
struotion Times and Has
Grown Worse sinoe
Thnt Timo.

Grown Worse 8 noe
Tint Timo.
The fact that 222 homicdes were
committed in South Carolina during
the year 1903, has been published.
Capt. Charles Petty, Of Spartanburg,
S. c., was asked the other day what
in his opinion were the causes leading
to such record. He replied: -
Our own citizens were less shocked
by the bloody record than those of
other States, for we had by degrees
got accustomed to homicide. Tt did
not appear to be phenomenal record,
even to our law-abiding, conservative
citizens. They understood how it
was brought about. 1t would be well
Tor people outside of the State to
learn that this record is only the log.
ical result Of many years. infraction
of law.
The organization of the Union
league, principally among negroes,
-FOUR or five years after Appomattox,
was the first step. It trequired little
time for these organizations to learn
the power OF the mob, and they under
| stood that courts would not hurt them
for any oltrages committed.
The second step was the organiza-
lion OF the kuklux Klans, the object
or which was to check and repress the
lawlessness and violence OF the lea
guers. After striking terror to the
negroes and some Of the white natives
who were united with them, they ex-
tended their power and struck down
some innocent men and began to turn
against each other.
just then, when good citizens
were shocked and uneasy day and
night, the United States government
brought its strong arm to bear on the
situation and the klans scattered like
thin mist before driving wind.
Then came few years of the
darkest political history that any
State ever made. Ignorant negroes
from rice fields and plantations, call
ing themselves legislature, inaugar-
ated system OF robbery and financial
fraud that has no parallel.
The white people endured all that,
but not without protest They open
ly held conventions and begged the
carpetbag government to hold up.
But it was too late.
The State government, like the
Kuklux, had become unmanageable.
aafGE eMf9Sqla Ret lStH 81.
SO long as there was a dollar to steal
it was their privilege to grab it.. This
high handed rapine and robbery under
the name Of the law was third step
in this downward course.
Then came the famous campaign
of 1876, when Wade Hampton was
electe, governor. After the election
an open boast was made as to the use
OF tissue ballots. 1t was considered
big joke for minors to vote.
All this seemed well enough until
few years later when tho same
methods used against the carpet-bag
government were used in our primary
elections. 1t was evident that men
who had been familiar with election
frauds from their youth would exer-
else the same methods In closely con-
tested elections that concerned only
the white people. 1t came to pass
that election laws had to be made rig
id showing that our people could not
trust each other.
With the inauguration Of the
hampton government came better
understanding between the two races,
for Hampton was the governor OF all
the people. Then followed Hugh S.
Thompson, now living in New York,
and Gen. johnson IIagood, good and
able men, who earnestly desired and
labored for the welfare Of the whole
State.
During their administration law
lessness was not encouraged Lynch
ing was not advised in public or pri-
vate. They sought to enforce the law
impartially and to preserve good or
der
For ten years or longer it looked
rs If the State would retrace the
downward steps she had made from
1865 so 1876, and that the white peo.
pie would get back to the good old
fashion of conducting elections fairly
and having high regard for human
life. 1t was hopeful period
But for various reasons there was
unrest among the people Of the State.
They had lost confidence in them
selves and everything. 1t was then
thata sharp, shrewd man, understand
ing well their condition, took advan-
tage Of the situation and assumed
leadership.
The famous campaign of 1890 be-
gan when the former administrations
from 1876 to 1890 were abused for in
compentcy, dishonesty and every pos
sible political crime. The people, be.
ing greatly dissatisfied with their f.
nancial condition, began to look on
Benjaman r. Tillman as the Mos es
who was to lead them out Of the vii.
derneSs.
Never was man SO much praised
and idolized in this State as he was
The people followed him with wil6
and unreasonable ZEAL They repudi
ated Hampton, Thompson and hun
dreds Of other true and good men be-
cause they were thus instructed.
The teaching Of the campaign Of
1890 and subsequent ones was that al
who were opposed to the Tillman
movement were enemies, moccasins
dogs, for all these epithetS were uset
by their leader. 1t was publicly
taught that a negro had no politica
,, rights that Il w lite man was bound tt