Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-22
AN IMPOLITIC MOVEMENT.

constitute State Central Executive Commit
tee to secure an organization in each county
of the State. If we understand the notice.
the object is to draw the party lines as they
have heretofore been drawn, and to engage
the mass of the white people of this State in
another fruitless political contest with the Re
publican party who control its government.
We deeply regret that any move should be
made in this direction. 1t is true that the
Democratic Convention at its late session, not
knowing what shape political events might
assume, empowered Mr.. Porter to appoint The
committee but we also think that the general
feeling of the Convention was clear as to the
improperly of such organization as is here
contemplated. We believe that if the voices
of the majority of that convention could be
heard, they would counsel the same mastery
inactivity" which it is evident they then
thought was the true policy of our people
We do not think that the most sanguine
Greeley man in the State believes that there
is the remotest chance that the Cincinnati
Baltimore nominee can receive the electoral
vote of South Carolina. Why then should
we organize? Why not leave to each county
to act as the circumstances of each may seem
to require?
The policy of inactivity, so far pursued,
has been productive of some good. Had the
Democratic party in this State been fully or
ganized, who believes but that the Republi-
can party would act as unit? The fact
that there was no organized opposition, has in
duced the better portion of that party to ex-
pose the corruptions and demand the reform
of the party. There is no wisdom in healing
this breach in their ranks, or causing them to
fear that the Democratic party may get into
power, thus inducing them to consolidate their
shattered forces against what they regard a
common foe.
The Democrats of this State are, almost to
a man, composed of white voters. They are
in hopeless minority. They are oppressed
by a misgovernment which has scarcely a
parallel in civilized history. The public
moneys have been misappled and stolen in
competent and thievish officials have spread
the seeds of discomfort far and wide; legisla.
ton, calculated to engender and perpetuate
strife, encumbers our statute books enormous
taxes have been assessed upon an impover-
ished people to still further increase the ILL.,
gotten wealth of political adventures; and
every branch of industry in the State is feel
ing the depressing effect Of such misgovern-
ment. A continuation of it would most prob
ably produce results more disastrous than any
we have yet suffered.
At this crisis occurs division in this dom
inant party. A portion of the party still
proposes to continue in power the authors OF
our calamities. The other portion Of the
Republican party proposes to remove the dis
honest and incompetent officials, to reform
the abuses and purify the State government.
But they propose to do this eoithin the anss Of
their party. There is no doubt that their
purpose will receive the moral aid of the gen.
eral Government and of the Republican party
throughout the United States, from the simple
fact that the Republican party Of South Car
olina has become stencil in the nostrils of
the nation. 1t reflects discredit upon the
Republican party at large and it is to their
interest to have change for the better. But
as we have said, it Is evident that this change
can only be effected through their own party.
We need not expect that the Republicans will
enter the Democratic organization for the
purpose of efecting this reform. The cam
paign under Judge Carpenter demonstrated
that fact, and there is no reason to expect
that the experiment would be more successful
now. Our experience then was bought on
dear terms, and we should remember the
lessons it taught us.
1t comes then at last to this: We must
leave Democratic organizations alone, We
must leave the questions of national politics
alone. We must do in our State matters ex'
actly what the Democratic party ofthe nation
has done in National matters-support thai
portion of the party IN power (Which is sOilingt to
give US the reform aue need. No man who is
willing to vote for Horace Greeley for Presi'
dent, can consistently object to vote for Re
publican for State or County Office, merely
on the ground that the candidate is Repub
lican. Besides, this election is with us not g
mere question of politics. It is a matter al
most of selfpreservation. Another two years
of such taxation and misgovernment as We
have had, will bring ruin to the property hold
er, and fit US to be again put under military
government.
There is but little doubt that if an assur
ance of support is given the whites to those
of the Republicans now demanding reform, 6
vast improvement will be made in the mate
rial which will next fill the Offices of the State
These men will take considerable portion
of the Republican party with them, and by
the assistance of the whites can be easily elec
ted. The opposition of a straight Democrat
ic ticket will inevitably make the Republican
party close up its ranks and vote solidly fo'
the regular nominees, no matter how objec
tionable they may be.
It is true that by the policy we suggest, VI
may not be able to get into all the Offices sucl
men as we may wish; but we can get some
enough to make manifest improvement ii
the government. A thorough reform is i'm
possible to be made atonce /; but even partia
reform will bring relief from many of ou1
grievances, and give us hope and footholt
for complete reform in the future.