The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-11-08

hidden by law to have arms and by
proclamation of President Grant to as
semble or organize. The rifles and am
munition were taken mystcrously
| from the steamship wharf at dead Of
night and ultimately found their way
to the Democratic white rifle clubs.
Nobody dared protest, probably be-
| cause the arms had been taken unlaw-
fully at Washington. The incident was
one of many. Perhaps no newspaper
Ill al lese forty-sX years has men
toned 1t until now. Republicans stole
the guns from the government, un-
doubtedly with the connvance of high
CT officials, and band Of young white
men stole them from the Republicans.
Considering the facts, we can real
ize why November I, 1876, was looked
10 almost as a day Of final Judgment
and comprehend something of the fiuc-
tuations Of hope and dread with which
it was greeted. The negroes believed
they would be returned to slavery if
the whites won. The whites knew that
defeat for them meant comiscation of
their property, ruin, destruction exile
No record tells how many votes were
cast Both sides took full advantage
Of the opportunity for fraud the law
gave. The Hampton Red Shirt had
succeeded the Ku Iilux Boys whose
voices were yet piping trebles and old
men whose voices had become treble
again donned the red shirts the women
toiled day and night to make, mounted
and rode from poll to poll, voting ev-
erywhere, with siX-shooters forcing the
judges to accept their votes. Over tho
CatMWba river, from North Carolina,
and the Savannah from Georgia, white
men rode in platoons to vote for
Hampton in South Tl"ol:n.. IN the
rice field districts, where the negroes
were one hundred ami '.wo hundred tc
one white, thHy voted heir women and
boys The whites had the advantage of
organization, horses and weapons. Out
of the mess and tangle Of fraud, pro-
test, DESTROYED and stuffed ballot boxes
Hampton was given a majority of i, 200
and Hayes, Republican nominee for
president, a small majority. Some ne
groeS had been induced, by one means
or another, to vote for Hampton and
Hayes and probably a few white men
also voted so. Then came six fearful
months Of doubt, Of threat, Of danger of
Civil war over the disputed presiden-
tial election, between Hayes and Til
den. In South Carolina were two state
governments and two legislature, IS
both claiming authority, peril Of hor-
riblc internal conflict every hour, men
walking stiff-gaited because Winches-
ter rifles were thrust down the legs
of their breeches. FINALLY, the COM
promise. The three states were sur
rendered to their white people to gov
ern and the presidency went to Hayes.
There was general exchange OF prison
ers. Prosecutions of Republicans who
had robbed aud plundered and OF Dem |
ocrats who had bulldozed and killed
and stuffed ballot boxes were dropped |
by some kind Of secret arrangement. |
The reconstruction experiment, the |
fantastic dream of an empire of the |
black proletariat and the fools GRAND
ended. The members of reconstruction
governments vanished between suns.
The day that meant doom or deliver
ance had given deliverance at last. |
Those who lived through it never can
forget it nor what it meant
1t is we'll to. recall the story some
times. It's teaching is that the zealot,
the intense fanatic, the progressive
thinker who thinks away from facts,
are more'dangerous as leaders than the
sordid crooks and thieves for whom.
invariably and inevitably, they make
opportunity. The one safe guidance
for any government or people is the
solid common sense OF those who ac-
quire it by continuing struggle and
work with the practical and the human
nature Of daily life.