Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-10-02


! Cal measures rs revolutionary violations o
tho constitution. This doctrine did no
originate with Wade Hampton it did no,
originate with the South it has been
from the first. the spontaneous, settled, uni
versal belief of the whole Democratic party
Ii it had not appeared in the platform in
tho words suggested by Wade Hampton
it would lave been introduced in some
other words; for it has been the constant
sentiment of the patty OH that subject.
The only pertinent inquiry is, whe,he,
tho Times inference is we'll drawn; whetA
or, in other words, declaration that the
Reconstruction acts arc unconstitutional
revolutionary and void" pledges the party
TO disperse tho new governments by force
1t is an accepted principle of logic that an
argument which proves too much proves
nothing. If the reasoning of the 7I.uc,
proves that its editor is pledged to abe, the
the overthrow Of the Radical policy by
force, he will perhaps rccoil from his own
conclusions, and admit that his formidable
Inference is i'll drawn.
The World then addresses the cli,o. Of
the Times, Mr.. IL. J. Raymond, in pow-
ertul a'ytrmentu"s od homiuuus, reminding
him OF the strong protest which he him. eli
drew up against the Reconstruction acts,
and which was adopted by the PHILADELPHIA
convention, aud contrasting his positions
then and now. The Ijuhi then conclude,
as fellows;
But we need no assistance from the
Philadelphia address to corfuts tho pre-
tence that the Democratic party is pledged
to destroy the new State gorernmcnts by
torce. There is not only nothing of the
kind in the platform, but nothing which
can bear that construction in the action of
the. Southern people. Wade Hampton
himself Ii trying to carry his own State
for Seymour and Blair through the agen-
cy OF the csrpet.bag government. Every
body knows What has beeu done ia Geor-
g'a. In al the reconstructed Stntes they
are attempting to eGcc: change by polili-
Cal action which recognizes tho usu,pine
governments de- Jacio. willie denying their
validity dej"re. The example Of Georgia
demonstrates that this peaceful method of
VIII be successful if endorsed by the public
opinion ol the country in the Presidential
election. No force will Lc resorted To-
none will be necessary. The same MAORI
y which su:iIces to get control Of the pres
ent State governments will also suffice to
utter the State constitutions. With D.,u-
ocratic Presidcn. and uouso of Rppresen
'a"'es' Congress cannot interfere to prevent
the change, AID immunity from such iutc,.
terence ID all the Southern people need OK
pect Or ask.
TIE OTHER, SIDE.
1t must NOT bs supposed. however, that
the views Of the World given above have
bee" permitted to pass altogether unchsl-
lenged. Brick po,neroy, in bis New
ork Democrat, takes up the cndgel on
Tue other side i'll earnest. In FrIay's is
sue OF the paper, We fud tie following
characteristic editorial, which speaks for
Itself:
HONESTY THE DEsT POLICY.
II there Is anything in Lis Brodhcad lei.
tor Inconsistent with the Platform, bc re-
nounced 1t IN accepting the nomination.
World.
None but recrcant Republican could
nave written that sentence. Nome hut a
member OF the bread and bu,ter brigade
would stoop so low and lie SO basely as did
the man who wrote that line.
Tho World knows, we know .vorv
member of the Convention knows, tl.a,
Frank Blair's letter secured to Frank Blair
The nomination, and made him the fayorite
with some even for the first position on the
ticket. Stand by your guns, if you have
any MIR. Worldly wise man; but what
ever else you do, don't hope nor try TO in
Vo'vo the party that pays you in any COW.
"Fd'y desertion Of its principles or its lead
ors.
Frank Blairs letter is part of the plat
form. Thank God ho is not marble that
can wabble backward and forward from
platform to platform like q sick ra, for
toasted cheese. lie wrote that letter for
two human reasons: ~ ~
]. Lie knew what he meant and visbed
The public to know it, too. g;fsssy,.
3. He, desired a no,nin alton q and i dae,n.
Cd that good way ,o!get 1t. IT, ...,.,..,
lie was right, it seems, and no man can
more heartily despise the journal that insid-
'ousIy opens the door for dishonorable
retreat than he. 1t takes Southernized
Yankee, renegade Radical, pap seeking
ieecb to squirm and lie, and make faces to
suit the emergency ;5butahey never deceive
anybody, and in time meet the.conlempt