South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1892
Encyclopedia
The 1892 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1892 to select the governor
of the state of South Carolina
. Governor Ben Tillman
was renominated by the Democrats
and was elected in the general election to a second two-year term.
, a gathering of conservative Democrats, called the Peace and Harmony convention, plotted strategy for the upcoming gubernatorial election. The conservatives had learnt from their defeat to Tillman
in the gubernatorial election of 1890
and realized that it was necessary to give their nominee momentum prior to the canvassing of delegates for the Democratic nominating convention. They also vowed to accept the gubernatorial nominee chosen at the Democratic convention and refrain from running a straightout ticket even if Tillman was to be renominated. James L. Orr was given the nomination for governor, but refused and instead former Governor John Sheppard
was nominated by the conservatives. Sheppard, although dignified and respected, possessed none of the demagogic
skills of Tillman and therefore would be unable to compete for the votes of the class conscious farmers.
to select the nomination of the statewide Democratic ticket instead of the convention system currently being used, but the Tillmanites refused because they were fully in control of the party machinery. Furthermore, the Tillmanites introduced a new rule that blacks could only participate in the selection of delegates if they had ten white men vouch that they voted for Hampton
in the gubernatorial election of 1876
.
The candidates for governor stumped the state, but there was hardly a peaceful debate. Often, the supporters of both candidates would end up with pistols drawn and threatening violence. Tillman was the chief contributor to this violence and actively supported it among his partisans. He was asked by a close friend why he raised so much hell and Tillman answered "if I didn't, the damn fools wouldn't vote for me."
Sheppard put up a good fight against Tillman, yet fell short by 22,092 votes in the primary on August 29 to select delegates to the state nominating convention. Additionally, the defeat for the conservatives was further magnified by a greater number of Tillmanites being elected from the primary to the General Assembly
. Tillman would thus enter his second administration with a renewed popular mandate and a more favorable legislature.
without opposition. Tillman had forced the state Democratic party
to adopt the entire Ocala Platform
in order to avoid a challenge from the Populist Party
. Turnout
decreased for this election over the previous election
because it was an uncontested election.
| colspan=5 |Democratic
hold
|-
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
of the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Governor Ben Tillman
Benjamin Tillman
Benjamin Ryan Tillman was an American politician who served as the 84th Governor of South Carolina, from 1890 to 1894, and as a United States Senator, from 1895 until his death in office. Tillman's views were a matter of national controversy.Tillman was a member of the Democratic Party...
was renominated by the Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and was elected in the general election to a second two-year term.
Peace and Harmony convention
On March 24 in ColumbiaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, a gathering of conservative Democrats, called the Peace and Harmony convention, plotted strategy for the upcoming gubernatorial election. The conservatives had learnt from their defeat to Tillman
Benjamin Tillman
Benjamin Ryan Tillman was an American politician who served as the 84th Governor of South Carolina, from 1890 to 1894, and as a United States Senator, from 1895 until his death in office. Tillman's views were a matter of national controversy.Tillman was a member of the Democratic Party...
in the gubernatorial election of 1890
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1890
The 1890 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1890 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Ben Tillman was nominated by the Democrats and easily won the general election against A.C...
and realized that it was necessary to give their nominee momentum prior to the canvassing of delegates for the Democratic nominating convention. They also vowed to accept the gubernatorial nominee chosen at the Democratic convention and refrain from running a straightout ticket even if Tillman was to be renominated. James L. Orr was given the nomination for governor, but refused and instead former Governor John Sheppard
John Calhoun Sheppard
John Calhoun Sheppard was the 82nd Governor of South Carolina from July 10, 1886 to November 30, 1886.Sheppard was born in Edgefield County and attended Bethel Academy in Edgefield. Upon graduating from Furman University with a law degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1871...
was nominated by the conservatives. Sheppard, although dignified and respected, possessed none of the demagogic
Demagogy
Demagogy or demagoguery is a strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the prejudices, emotions, fears, vanities and expectations of the public—typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using nationalist, populist or religious themes...
skills of Tillman and therefore would be unable to compete for the votes of the class conscious farmers.
Primary to select delegates
The conservatives requested a primaryPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to select the nomination of the statewide Democratic ticket instead of the convention system currently being used, but the Tillmanites refused because they were fully in control of the party machinery. Furthermore, the Tillmanites introduced a new rule that blacks could only participate in the selection of delegates if they had ten white men vouch that they voted for Hampton
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
in the gubernatorial election of 1876
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1876
The 1876 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1876 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The election campaign was a referendum on the Radical Republican-led state government and their Reconstruction policies...
.
The candidates for governor stumped the state, but there was hardly a peaceful debate. Often, the supporters of both candidates would end up with pistols drawn and threatening violence. Tillman was the chief contributor to this violence and actively supported it among his partisans. He was asked by a close friend why he raised so much hell and Tillman answered "if I didn't, the damn fools wouldn't vote for me."
Sheppard put up a good fight against Tillman, yet fell short by 22,092 votes in the primary on August 29 to select delegates to the state nominating convention. Additionally, the defeat for the conservatives was further magnified by a greater number of Tillmanites being elected from the primary to the General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
. Tillman would thus enter his second administration with a renewed popular mandate and a more favorable legislature.
| Democratic Primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegates for | Votes | % | Delegates | % |
General election
The general election was held on November 8, 1892 and Ben Tillman was reelected as governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
without opposition. Tillman had forced the state Democratic party
South Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
to adopt the entire Ocala Platform
Ocala Demands
The Ocala Demands was a platform for economic and political reform that was later adopted by the People's Party.In December, 1890, the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, more commonly known as the Southern Farmers' Alliance, its affiliate the Colored Farmers' Alliance, and the...
in order to avoid a challenge from the Populist Party
Populist Party (United States)
The People's Party, also known as the "Populists", was a short-lived political party in the United States established in 1891. It was most important in 1892-96, then rapidly faded away...
. Turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
decreased for this election over the previous election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1890
The 1890 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1890 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Ben Tillman was nominated by the Democrats and easily won the general election against A.C...
because it was an uncontested election.
| colspan=5 |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
hold
|-
See also
- Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South CarolinaThe Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
- List of Governors of South Carolina
- South Carolina gubernatorial elections