The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-19

big question, and ! have never here.
tOfore favored it, but acute diseases
demand drastic remedies, and if a
statute can be framed that will force
the white children into school and at
the same time give the blacks only
the kind Of training-manual and in
dustrial-which they can assimilate.
1t ought to be done. Effective compul-
sorry education will require a great
deal Of money, but If we are not will
Ing to spend money for our children
God pity us. Whether a general law
or local option by counties Is the best
Is matter Of opinion and will have
to be threshed out by the legislature
"Ihe people two years ago elected
man. governor who has run amuck'
as 1t were, and displayed so little
realization Of his high opportunities
that 1t makes me sad and angry to
be told. as I have been more than
once, that Tillamnism Is the direct
cause of Bleaseism. All thoughtful
and intelligent men know that this
Is only half truth, and half truths
are the worst sort Of lies. Tillman-
ism taught the people that they could
whip and destroy special privilege
with the ballot. That was a good
thing. all must admit. Now, is Till
manism to blame because the people
have used that same ballot with
which to elevate demagogue? Yes,
taught the people that they had
right to govern South Carolina and
I proclaim the principle anew. They
do have the right even If they elect
hundred Bleases. Teach the peo"
pie and trust the people, We will,
in the end. have better government
at the hands Of all the people than
We would have If any one class ruled
The people will rectify their blunders
as soon as they have become con-
vinced of their error. =
1T would be just as true to say
that Democracy causes Socialism and
anarchy as it would be to say that
Tillamnism caused Bleaseism. Had
my health continued good, would
have taught the people the folly of
Bleaseism two years ago, pointed OUT
the difference and stemmed the tide
which Jones found himself unable to
cope with. I would have guided the
Tillmanites, while Blease only misled
them. and all for the qualification, OF
his own selfish ambition. g..
"A large per cent of those whu
two years ago and now are yelling
la md order want a law and order
OF their own contriving. They are
not ready to admit that, politically
speaking, all white South Carolinianr
are equal. They think themselves
divinely commissioned to rule every
body else. and this, no rillmanism
Is the true cause Of Bleaseism. The
plain people saw this resurrected
bourbonism and, thinking it was the
old ring come to life again, took
Bleaseism in preference to it, Blease
himself Is mere symptom. The
real fever Is bigotry, political intolL
erance and social injustice. call
upon you, my fellow citizens, you
who know and claim to want better
and higher things to broaden your
sympathies. Stop prating about law
and order and treat your next door
neighbor with little more consid-
Grafton. Though he live in a hovel,
though he never saw the inside of a
school room. he has the same right
to vote for Blease that you have to
vote against him, and you have no
more right to question his motive
than he has to question yours. Learn
that great truth, act on it to the ut
termOst, and my word for it, Blease-
ism will disappear-and it will not
| disappear until you do learn it.
"Then. too. a certain class of our
fellow citizens have been very un-
just and unreasonable in their deal
ing with the poorer people, treating
them with no consideration what
ever and showing ,ntempt for
them. This is especially true with
| regard to those who work in the cot
ton mills. In many communities the
people in the mill villages are class
apart, looked down upon and not as
sOciated with. No wonder Socialism
and the I. w. w. are getting a foot
hold among these citizens of ours. 1t
was not so once, and it ought not to
be so now. We all should address
ourselves to the remedy lest it bring