The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-22
Iszit Republicanism Z?


without comment. But esteemed friend and
political ally in to-day's paper assumes, among
other things, that the platform of the Union
Reform party is virtually Republican plat
fornr and therefore in contradiction to the
teachings Of the Democratic party, and that
whosoever acts with the Reform party forsakes
Democracy. Such is not our understanding OF
the Union Reform movement, and we would
briefly controvert this position. In the last
Presidential campaign, the Democracy oppos-
ed the reconstruction acts and negro suffrage
guaranteed Hereunder. But the election of
Grant decided these issues, and under his ad-
'ministration Reconstruction has been compile
ted. Subsequently, the adoption of the Fif-
teenth Amendment as part of the Constitu-
tion was an addition settlement of negro suf-
frage. The Union Reform party accepts these
results as fnality, and this is clearly in con-
sonance with the Democratic party wherever it
has spoken authoritatively during the last six
months. The Democracy Of Ohio and New
York, to say nothing of other States have ig-
nored these questions altogether; the Demo
cratic members of Congress in their able ad-
dress to the people of the United States advised
against the revival of "dead issues" the New
York World and the Louisville Courier-Journat
have persistently advocated the recognition OF
what has been done as accomplished facts"
not to be disturbed again the Kansas Democ-
racy only last week pursued an identical course
in their State Convention and we might con-
tinue to enumerate instances to show that the
Democratic party is not inimical at this time to
the political privileges bestowed by the Repub-
lican party upon the negro voters. These ques-
tions are obsolete, and will not again be dragg-
ed into American politics except by the Radical
party, which has thrived, only upon this agita-
tion; and when it is clearly eliminated from
the political arena, the Radical party will fall
asunder upon other more vital issues, On which
its members have never agreed
But aside from all this recognition by the
Democracy of accomplished facts" the Union
Reform movement was inaugurated for special
purpose, local in It's character, and entirely
foreign to Federal politics. The extravaganza,
corruption and misrule of the State admins
tration for the past two years awakened an in
terest among all parties, Democrats and Repub-
licans, as to the means to be employed in over
throwing the men who had welded power for
personal aggrandizement and who had prosti7ll
;tuted public trusts to their own selfish ends.
Honest men everywhere demanded correction
+boeo 20 h,,so, .onI ,,,os fn
an organization by which both Democrats and
/ Republicans might work harmoniously together
in the pursuit Of this laudable object The
Republican party embraced majority of the
voters, and it was essential to induce at least
portion of that party to unite with their politi-
cal opponents in this effort to bring about re-
formation and place more worthy men in public
position In order to secure this cooperation
between political antagonists, the June Con-
vcntion organized the Union Reform movement
upon platform alike acceptable to Democrats
and Republicans. We admit that this was a,
difficult task, but the wisdom of that Conven-
ton was equal to the emergency, and such
platform was presented to the people of South
Carolina. Upon this compromise between Re-
publicans and Democrats, in which neither for
feited their allegiance to the great national par
ties, but were solely intent upon reform and
rctrenchment in our domestic affairs, the Con-
-vention nominated Republican candidate for
Governor and Democratic candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor. To our mind, this course
was eminentiy proper and perfectly reconcila-
bic with the objects the Union Reform move
ment. 1t is not an abandonment of the Demo
cratic party by those formerly acting with that
natienal organization, and it is neither expec-
ted that Republicans cooperating in this move
ment will forsake their party upon political IS
sues nor abate their zeal for one moment in
behalf of what they deem Republican princi-
Piles. The only issues in this campaign are
honesty against dshonesty-cheap, economical
government against exorbitant taxation-re-
duction of public expenses against cxtravagaht
expenditure of the peoples money-responsi-
bility of officials for the faithful discharge of
their duties against responsibility, selfshness
and greedy absorption of power. To accom-
plish its worthy ends, the Union Reform party
invites men of all palitieaf ereeds, who desire
faithful, economical and honest administration
of public trusts.
Progress of the Campaign Encouraging.
Only four weeks remain in which to work
for the success of the Union Reform move
ment, and we would urge upon every citizen