Year: 1878

pollcy they approved. But the
desperation Of ten years, ewhen the
government was torn to pieces by
the power of an organization, has
fully taught that individual advoca,
cy Of principle is futile and that it is
absolutely necessary to meet or
ganization by organization. The
germ of this organization WIS farth ;
er back than the banding together
in 1876. We remember when secret
organizations of the opponents of tho
people held midnight meetings and
were taught by strangers that they
must possess our lands by murder
and assassination. With these
horrors threatening us wo had no
government to appeal to for preser.
yation. We were thrown upon our
own pluck and manhood for protec-
tions, and it was necessary to throw
these units of pluck into organiza-
tion. Then wo formed mutual clubs
in O quiet way, not for aggression,
but to repel aggression. At this
very time the chief executive of the
State (Scott) whose business it was
to see the laws executed, boasted
openly in the city of Washington
that he was the commander Of u
skirmish line, and had an armed
band on every plantation. He him.
self was the head centre Of lawless-
ness, and he made his boast under
the very shadow of that other gov
ernment that itself should have
interposed for our protection.
This, then, was the germ from
which the clubs rose. Later on,
when legislation was taxing us out
of our property, came another Or
ganization, the Tax Union. At
nearly every step we were met by
the cry ''what's the use? But we
persevered, and every step exposed
the monster and weakened
him, and showed that the
only safe course was to stand firmly
by the constitution. Radicalism
could not stand the force of the con-
stitution with O firm array behind it,
their vaunted military organization
was crushed to pieces, and their
party fell to ruin.


But in the course of ten years
poison had been instilled in the
minds of colored mon, which is still
ranking there, and may not be elimi~
mated entirely in another ten years.
five persevere, however, and evinco
our determination, their ranks will
be gradually depleted. The Demo
cratic party in South Carolina has
wisely refused to raise the race
issue, because this will not effect the
main purpose of establishing q
government founded on constitu-
tional principles. But q solid array
of white freemen is necessary to
effect our end, and of impressing
the colorod people and hence the
Importance of organization.


In the bubbling caldron of poll :
tics all sorts of issues arise, but we
cannot have an organization on
every issue. The thing is impossi-
bic. To day some parties are en-
deavoring to found q party solely on
the question of money. This is
suicidal. Of what use is money to
us if liberty is destroyed 7 You are
in the hands still of tyrants who
will take your dollars from you
whether they be gold, silver or
paper. Your future depends on
avoiding all minor questions and
enrolling yourselves under the con-
stitution. In this way alone can
you be free. The constitution to-
day affords protection everywhere
in South Carolina except in one
quarter, and that is where tho
Federal government, the repre-
sentative of the Republican party,
steps in to protect it's minions who
violate South Cnrolina's laws. Is it
not apparent that the fight of 1876
was only the storming of an OUT
post, and that the Republican party
gave up tho line in South Carolina
and Louisiana, only that they might
moro securely hold the citadel {?
So long have the provisions of the
constitution been violated that it is
doubtful whether it can be ever
restored as the supreme law of the
land. The only means to this end
lies in the complete success of the
Democratic party.


In conclusion, General Bratton
said it was his business to take care
of the organization. The party
must have a certain ritual, o consti-
tuition to protect it. Divine institu-
tutions have each it's ritual for the