The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-05-22
THE LIBERAL MOVEMENT THE
LETTTR OF JUDGE ALDRICH.

The Hon. 4. P. Aldyich has
recently written a letter to Mr..
Whitehead, of St. Louis, in which
whilst supporting the platform and
nominations of the Cincinnati, Con-
ycntion, he. advises the Southern
people to content themselves with
ratifying these in mass meetings
and to send nc delegates to the
Baltimore Convention. ''This,
says he, "will place such a .respon-
sibility on the dissatisfied Demo
Gratis of the North and West that l
would doubt if they would assume
it. A bolt before is much better
than after hot blood is engender-
ed,"
The advice, we think, would be
good, if such a course would either
prevent the assembling of the Ba4tl-
more Convention, or most etfectual-
" control its action. But the
Convention has been called, and
will be held, and the South Is now
to- decide upon the policy and prac-
ticability of controlling its deliber-
ations, is the issue to be decided
by that Convention one in which
she has a vital interest; and, if so,
should she not be fully represent
ed? "
Admit that State Reform is more
important than Reform at Wash
ington, it is to effect that very end,
that the South is SO unanimous in
the support of the Greeley and
Brown platform, aud the Cincinnati
nominees. A choice between po-
litical parties at the North may be
one of taste, but to US it is ques-
ton Of life and death. We sus-
tain the party Of Reform, as the
only mode of securing relief from
debt and taxation and military
rule.
Upon the action of the Ralti-
more Convention depends the sue
cess ordefeat of the Liberal move
ment. So we'll assured Of this are
the supporters of Grant, that they
are using every means to secure
the nomination of an independent
ticket at Baltimore. Yet this is
the suicidal course urged by the
Nep York World and prominent
leaders of that wing of the party,
They are advocating the very
course which would ensure the
election of Grant. To countcract
the iufuence of scheming politi
clans We need a strong representa-.
tion from the South; who shall give
utteraaoe to that earnest cry fol
deliverance which is now heard
throughout the South As the
Charleston Melos remarks:
With:a strong delegation of Lib
eral Democrats from the South in
that Convention, it is almost GER
tainYthat a Demo ocratic nomination
will! ibe ,averted and the Cincinnati
candidates aud platform be accept
ed by the Democratic party. This
last course insures the success of
the Liberal Republican Increment
i. insures to the South four years
Of Fair-play and Equal Rights, it
insures to the whole country a re-
turn of harmony and peace. The
question is, Can the South afford to
run any risk. when it is evident
that in the hands Of the Southern
delegates practically lies the decis.
ion whether the Democracy shall,
or shall not, nominate party candi-
dates :? The Southern States, in
other words, will determine. by
their nresence and by their votes at
Baltimore, whether Grant or Gree
ley shall be the next President OF
the United States. To ratify the
nominations at mass meeting
would have no effect. There is
only one way in which the designs
of:the Rule or Ruin Democrats can
be frustrated. and thatis by voting
them down in the National Con.
vention! lsEw a:a@