The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-06-02
The Citizens Party.

An article with this heading in the June
number of the Nineteenth Century fully accords
with the views heretofore expressed in this
journal as to the policy of organizing State
ticket in the approaching campaign. We ex-
tract few paragraphs:
A few of the leading Radicals, who have
sense and principle left, might join such par
ty, and about the same number of Democrats
would refuse all affiliation with such party.
Our strength would not be increased at all,
whilst the Radical strength would be consolida-
ted and excited. If Radicals of the new party
should be nominated for all the State offices,
they would carry no strength with them to the
Citizens Party, for they would be denounced
by their former political associates as renegades
and traitors. Not one negro in hundred
would leave his League and vote for them.
Instead of having convention and organiz-
ing new party, with candidates for Governor
and Lieutenant Governor, with the certainty of
defeat in the fall elections, it seems to us the
wiser policy would be to let these elections go
by default, and save our strength for the ccun-
ty elections In those elections let every coun-
ty manage for itself, and pursue that course
which will return to the Legislature the great
est number of good and true men of tact and
intelligence. If we make no opposition to the
Radical State officers, the zeal of our oppo-
nents will be cooled down, and we shall have
less opposition in many Of the counties. We
want no platforms but that of opposition to
bribery and corruption, extravagant and prodi-
gal expenditures of money, and high crushing
taxation. AS to tie past issues, they are dead,
and never can be revived. The colored man is
free and his liberties guaranteed. He is en-
titled to vote and hold Office and never can be
deprived of those rights and privileges here
after. The legislation of the country has plac-
ed the colored man and the white man on the
same basis as to equality of political and legal
rights. But still there is suspicion of insecu-
rity on the part of the colored man. This sus-
picion is fostered and cherished by the unprin-
cipled who are seeking Office and position at
their hands. They know that Othello's occu-
patton is gone as soon as this feeling of inse-
curity is removed. Hence sound policy re-
quires that we should not keep up fruitless
opposition, that we should not go into an elec-
tion where defeat is inevitable, or organize a
new party that will avail nothing. The prin-
ciples of the Democratic party are in accor-
dance with the principles of our republican
government, and we never can abandon them.
If we were to form "Citizens' Party" we
should have to carry into that party, for its
control and government, our Democratic prln-
ciples. The honest and patriotic of the Radi-
cal party may and probably will come over to
us, but we can never enlist under their corrupt
banner let come what may.
The idea of going into the Radical party
with view of controlling it is as senseless as
it is dishonorable. AS well might parcel of
gentlemen unite themselves with a band of bur
glars and robbers for the purpose of controlling
their movements. The excitement of polltl-
cal contest for State officers would be seriously,
preiudicial to the labor of the farmers ana
planters of the State, without the possibility as
we have said, of accomplishing any good. Inc
time spent in attending public meetings, and
the demoralization and excitement OF those
meetings, are great curse to the country. We
MIGHT as well cast pearls before swine as to rea-
son and argue at such meetings. But it will be
asked. are we to fold our arms and do nothing?
By no means. In every county where there is
hone of success, we should endeavor to carry
the elections for the Legislature and county
officers, in such way as to each county shall
seem best. In other respects we must have
patience and forbearance, and wait for time to
loosen the hands of the leaguers and bring us
relief. 1t is an old adage that thieves are apt
to fall out and quarrel over their spoils, and
then honest men get their dues.