Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-08-08
eei y From thefAiken Journal.
The Coming contest in this tate.

~ .. From thefAiken Journal.
The Coming contest in this tate.
Below we print two forcible and
sensible letters written by u distin-
guished citizen OF our county to a
prominent resident OF Aiken. The
suggestions contained therein are sea-
sonable and sound, and if acted upon
cannot but result in much good to
our section and state.
Your favor. Of yesterday is before
me, asking my opinion as to the
course to be. pursued by the Demo.
Gratis of Aiken county at the ensuing
election" 1hasten to reply that the
course to be pursued is tuat of a vigi-
liant, wary neutrality. To explain
briefly: it is almost certain that the
Radical party, not only Of Aiken
county, but oi tine whole state, will
be divided in the coming elections in
October into two bitterly antagonistic
tactlons, and tnat there will be two
sets OF candidates for all or nearly all
the. Offices In the gift of the people.
Now, should the threatened schism Of
the party become a fixed fact. the
policy which the Democrats should
pursue is, not o organize themselves
as a party distinct from these two fac
tions, nor to put into the field candi!
dates OF their own choosing, and thus
attempt to inaugurate a triangular
contest, but to cast their votes quiet
ly, yet effectively for the candidates
OF That faction who promise, in their
character for intelligence and integri-
ry, to do the most good for the State.
For instance, should Orr be the can
didate of one faction for the Office Of
Governor, and Scott the candidate of
the other, let the Democrats vote for
Orr, and secure his election; and the
same course should be.pursned in re-
gard to all the Offices to be filed.
Vote for those Radical candidates
who-Radlcals albeit they may be,
and, therefore, obnoxious to the DEM
ocrats-yet will be some little better
than the present incumbents.
| could give many reasons in sup
port OF this policy, had l the time to
marshal them before you, for your
consideration. Suffice it to say, that
as you well remark, Democrats have
no organization, and in my Judgment,
1t will be impossible to organize them
10 as to bring out their full forces.
In the next place, if they were fully
organized, success would be- extreme
ly doubtful. To fail, would be most
disastrous to all our hopes Of deliv-
erance from the misrule under which
we groan, and procrastina'e the day
Of disenthrallment indefinitely. For,
as soon as the Democrats should pre-
sent their forces in the field, howev-
er we'll organized and handled, all
achisms in the ranks of the Radicals
would at once be healed, and they
would present united front and
achieve an easy victory. Now, as the
success of the Democrats, even in Al
ken county, IS extremely doubtful,
were they to organize for the foray
.sep&ratelyeand in ants agonisn to the
Radicals iths qaiets nnoig ized sgp;'
port by them ct the candidates Of that
faction who may be the least obnox-
ious and hateful to them, will most
certainly ensure their election and do
much to ameliorate the wretched coll
dltion Of The people. Indebted to
the Democrats. in great part at least,
1or their elevation to Office, they
would feel constrained to SO govern
and ltgislate as to retain that sup
port; aud the consciousness of their
indebtedness would operate as pow
erfu, restraint upon them. Legisla-
ION woulo he shaped, in some degree.
With regard tn the interest Of the tax.
pavers and Democratic voters, and
hot. as now, Ii, entire contravention
Of those interests. Let the Demo
Gratis in Aiken county, and in all the
counties of the State, where Demo
cratic success is even doubtful, pur-
sue the policy in the State elections
Inch the Democratic PARTY Of the
United States has adopted in refer
zee to he coming Presidential cleo
:lon-choose the less OF two evils;
vote for those candidates who may be
the least Objectionable to them; pro-
mote and foster division in the RANKS
Of the enemy, and support that di
vision which may give some glim-.
lnering hope Of better time to come:
Let us have a new pack Of cards and
a new deal, even if those partners,
ho are forced upon us by cireum-
stances, and are not of our own choos-
ing, get all the honors-we may come
in for some portion of the b winnings. n
X
Upon further consideration Of the
subject, have concluded that it is
advisable, nay, very important, that
the Democrats organize for the con
test-not for the purpose of present.
ing straight Democratic ticket and
initiating square fight between
themselves and the Radicals-but
they may assume the position of a
balance of power party, and throw
their whole united forces and strength
in favor of that faction Of the Radi-
calls which may be least Objectionable.
Let the regulars and the schismatics
both know and feel that the Demo
Gratis are a unit, are power to be
courted, and that votes will be cast
soIidly and for those candidates who
are least Objectionable to them, and
thus secure their election beyond
doubt, and I feel certain that the best
men Of the factions will be put in
Il