Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-10
222 HOrfICIDES IN A YEAR.
South Carolina's Bloody Record for
 1903.


 1903.
 The fact that 222 homicides were committed in South Carolina during the year 1903, has been published. Captain Charles Petty of Spartanburg, s. C., was asked the other day what in his opinion were the causes leading to such a record. He replied: >ass :.
 Our own citizens were less shock ed by the bloody record than those of other states, for We had by degrees got accustomed to homicide. It did not appear to be phenomenal record even for our law-abiding, conserva- tive citizens. They understood how 1t was brought about. It would be well for people outside of the state to learn that this record is only the logical result of many years infraction of law. s4 H.. r
 'The organization of the Union, league, principally among negroes, four or five years after Appotamox was the first step. It required little time for these organizations to learn the power of the mob, and they un, de1stood that courts would not hurt them for any outrages committed.
 "The second step was the organiza- ton of the Kukfux Klan, the object of
 
 lawlessness and violence of the Leaguers. After striking terror to the negroes and some of the white | natives who were united with them, they extended their power and struck down some innocent men and began l to turn against each bother. A. Just then when good citizens were shocked and uneasy day and night. l the United States government brought 1 It's strong arm to bear on the situation and the Klans scattered like thin mist before a 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, inaugu- rated system of robbery and finan- cial fraud that has no parallel. ''The white people endured all that, but not without protest. They openly 1 held conventions and begged the car, pet bag government to hold up. But l it was too late. l 'The state government, like the ku- 1 klux. had become unmanageable. They would not listen to reason or argu- ment. Their only idea was that so long as there was a dollar to steal it was their privilege to grab it. This 1 high handed rapine and robbery under l the name of law was third step in l this downward course.
 ''Then came the famous campaign 1 of 1S76 when Wade Hampton was | elected governor. After the election an open boast was made as to the use of tissue ballots. It was considered n big joke for minors to vote. 'All this seemed well enough until l Fa, 1oto moIh~ l ods used against the carpetbag gov l ernment were used in our primary elections. It was evident that men who had been familiar with election l frauds from their youth would exef- l else the same methods in closely con- 1 tested elections that concerned only 1 the white people. It came to pass that l election laws had to be made rigid. showing that our people could not trust each other.
 "With the inauguration of the Hampton government came better understanding between the two races, 1 for Hampton was the governor of all 1 the people. Then followed Governor 1 Hugh4S. Thompson. now living in New York, and General Johnson Hagood. l good and able men. who earnestly de sired and labored for the welfare of l the whole state.
 During their administration law 1 lessness was not encouraged. Lynch ing was not advised in public or pri- vate. They sought to enforce the law 1 impartially and to preserve good order.
 "For ten years or longer 1t looked as | if the state would retrace the down ward steps she had made from 1868 to 1876. and that the white people would get back to the good old fashion of conducting elections fairly and having a high regard for human life. It was a hopeful period. } 1 But for various reasons there was unrest among the people of the state. | They had lost confidence in themselves and everything. It was thene that a sharp shrewd man. understanding well their condition. took advantage of the l situation and assumed leadership.
 '~rhe famous campaign of 1890 be- | gan. when the former administrations from 1876 to 1890 were abused for in- l competency, dishonesty and every pos sible political crime. The people, being greatly dissatisfied with their l financial condition, began to looe on Benjamin R. Tillman as the Moses 1 who was to lead them out of the will 1 dCrness.
 "Never was a man so much praised ] and idOlized in this state as ne was. l The people followed him with. a wild and unreasonable zeal. They repudi- ated Hampton, Thompson and hun 1 dreds of other true and good men he- ] cause they were thus instructed. "Tha teaching of the campaign Of | 1890 and subsequent ones was that all 1 who were opposed to the Tillman l movement were encmias. mOccasins. Goes. for all these epithets were used l hy their leader. It was publicly 1 taughs that negro had no political l rights that white man was bound to respect Lynehing was the proper 1 punishment fer one certain crime and when done for n misdemeanor. or for ,o ,c~itue. the perpetrators were not 1 punished,
 Ut was only one step from killing a negro to killing q white man. So 1+ has come to pass in a most logical way l that white men are shot down with 1 impunity these days. 1 "It has got to be that there IS not much respect Of color in the killing 1