The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-01
The Necessity for Organized Effort and
the Policy of Making Nominations.

voters of Anderson county, and especially to
those who are earnestly opposed to the contin-
uance of the present acknowledgement and eA-
travagance in the public affairs of the state.
1t is admitted on all sides that there has been
corruption and and profigacy among the rulers
of the past two years, and that there is ne
cessity to reform existing abuses and Put down
the men who have been instrumental IN orlng
ing about this disgraceful condition OF affairs.
The Union Reform movement arrayed against
these corruptions and abuses had its origin in
this great necessity. The wisdom and policy of
this movement is no longer under discussion.
We know that it is an union of good and true
men of both political parties, seeking to bring
together every element of opposition, and that
it has received encouragement and adoption in
every county, neighborhood and precinct 1t
is the part Of genuine patriotism and sound
common sense to further this movement in
every legitimate way, and tacit support will
not accomplish the ends in view. All must
work to overthrow the men now in power, who
are retarding the prosperity and endangering
the peace of the whole State, and who are BAN
ded together in an effort to retain the power
they have exerted to our detriment in the past.
Their party discipline and organization have
been thorough and almost unexampled. We
must oppose this compact and solid column
with similar organization, if we would sue
ceed in wrestling power from unholy hands and
placing the State upon abetter footing. With
out unity of action and concerted effort, the
whole movement must fail. These are recog-
nized truths, and as sensible men we must act
understandingly. None will dispute the full
scope and meaning, of these great truths, and
wherefore is there any lukewarmness on the
subject? We must be candid in stating that it
proceeds solely from an unjustifable prejudice
against party organization. This prejudice in
our community has been engendered and kept
alive by designing individuals, who would seek
to crafty personal ambition even at the sacri-
flee of the public good. 1t is seldom we meet
with plain, honest citizen who will not admit
that there is a necessity for united effort, and
who is not willing to stifle his own predilec-
tions for the sake of harmony and victory.
Ordinarily, there are hundreds who would pre-
fer to keep aloof from party machinery, which
is really distasteful to many good and true men,
But when they calmly view the situation, and
are convinced that there is only one acay to Sc
cure common, patriotic ends, their preferences
are cast aside. Hence, they are anxious to
unite in the most feasible plan to concentrate
public opinion and direct it steadily in the
proper course. They recognize the fact that
"the object of party organization is to enable
men to accomplish, by an organized and COM
mon effort, the triumph of certain political
principles, and which it is impracticablc to
work out by individual exertions, and without
acting in body"
We would impress these views upon every
one and at least ask careful consideration
from such persons as are disposed to let preju-
dice sway them in this vitally important mat
ter. We cannot afford to be divided and dis
tracted, else the signal triumphs of the past
will be ovcrshadowed by future defeats. And
this naturally suggests the policy of making
nominations through delegates from the sevc-
raj townships or neighborhoods. u has been
convenient to adopt the township system here,
and delegates have been invited from every
township to assist in selecting the best men
and most available candidates. The meetings
held for the purpose of appointing these dele
gates have been publicly called, and many of
them through the local newspaper. 1t was the
duty of every voter opposed to the present
State administration to attend these meetings,
and it was his right to be heard upon all ques-
tions discussed, if he so desired. In this man
ner, the sentiments, opinions and preferences
of the people could best be ascertained, and
the result of such aggregation is most likely to
bring about general satisfaction. The dele
gates are expected to assemble in convention
on Monday next, and we trust that every one
interested in the success of the Union Reform
movement will be prepared to acquiesce hear
tily in their decision as to who are the most
proper persons to be placed in nomination.
We appeal to every fair-minded citizen if this
plan does not insure far more harmony and
unity than a general scramble for position,
where the public veal is entirely overlooked
and only the elevation of particular individu-
ais has been sought. Are not these delegates,
fresh from the people and bringing with them
an endorsement from every quarter, better
qualified to judge as to the respective merits OF
the various persons suggested for places of
honor, trust and confidence? We leave this
matter in the hands of the people, confident
that their good sense and correct Judgment will
place an emphatic approval upon the result
which will be reached by their delegates, after
mature dcliberation.
Death of VIM. E. Mikell.