Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-29

he hoped to see the day when any man within
the sound of his voice could call himself a
Republican, or a Radical, or any other poltl'
cal appellation, with mpunity and without the
fear of ostracism. The Republican party is
founded on the idea of political freedom; but
what shall wesay Of the freedom that prevents
man from joining any party without torfeltlng
his social standing? In the language OF the
Irish patriot, O'Connell, no result Of poiltl'
cal revolution is worth single human life
Then let all have equal rights to enjoy their
opinions, in which spirit he should speak to-
day. =.
Under free form of government there is
necessity for division of parties. A Republi
can form is proper, and to 60 beyond that We
come upon debatable ground. He rejoiced
that there are now two parties in York coun
ty, and when parties get above personal pre-
iudices and the sentiment which leads to so
cial ostracism, they will then reach the true
plane of harmony and peace.
It was great misfortune for the State
for the whole country-that previous to the
war the people of South Carolina were mol
properly divided into parties. If, in 1860
there had been an organized political party in
this State to defend the Union, the war, with
its attendant calamities, would never have oc
Cured. But, unfortunately, one party held
the destinies of South Carolina for thirty
years, and no voice was to be heard against
war and slavery. Now there are two parties
and better times will come, as natural re-
suit, when fair and open discussion is had be-
fore the people.
The speaker was Republican and favora
BILE to the same objects recently pleaded for in
this place by General Kershaw, because Re-
publicanism was founded upon the principle ot
equal Justice to all men-giving the poorest
and humblest citizen equal rights with the
richest. Can there be anything in such prln.
ciples to humble the pride of white man
On the contrary, he was proud of the act oi
the Anglo Saxon race in raising the slave to
the condition Of a freeman, aud giving him
the same liberties enjoyed by the white race
In reviewing the past six years Of Republi:
can rule in this State, though misfortunes and
mistakes had occurred, they were not attribu'
table to the principles of the party; and to
these principles he would urge his friends to
stand, and improve upon the errors Of the
past by the selection of good officers.
He next reviewed the record of the two
great national parties for the past twenty
years, which he did without desire of stirring
up the bitter memories of the past, but to
prove that the principles Of the Republican
party were best adapted to promote the true
interests of all classes of citizens. In 1860
the Republican party declared the Declare.
ton of Independence to embody the true doc
trine on which the government should be ad-
ministered. Slavery was then the corner
stone of the American Republic, and through
four years of war the Republican party abol-
ished that institution by liberating the slaves.
In 1855 the party met another problem, name
ly, how shall the freedom thus Won be secur.
ed The emancipation proclamation and the
victories of the Union army were great, but
not greater than when, in 1865 and 1867, the
Republican party declared that freedom would
not work out the prosperity of the liberated
slaves until they possessed the power to pro-
tect their freedom. 1t was seen that they
would be in better condition as slaves than for
every man to be against them and their hands
tied behind them. Then the Republican par
ty gave the right of the ballot and said every
man shall have the same privileges that the
governing power formerly had. 1t was deemed
an indisputable fact that there was no man to
whom the liberated slaves could trust their
liberties, and hence the reconstruction acts
we're passed to make all free in fact and in
truth.
What the Democratic party during those
twenty years7 He was not here to indulge
in abuse Of the Democratic party; but truth
compelled him to say that during that period
the Democratic party stood in opposition to
the Republican party. In 1860, when Repub-
licans were for peace, the voice of Democracy
was for war and slavery. In 1865 their cry
was, no ballot for the negro. In 1870 and
1871 they declared the enforcement acts un-
constitutional. He asked his hearers to COM
pare the records, which he thus presented, not
to offend or stir up bitter memories, but be-
cause without doing so the past and the fu'
ture could not be so well understood.
But now there suddenly comes new voice
from Democracy as interpreted in your Court
House few days ago by General Kershaw.
They say they are with the Republicans to-
day that they will give you as many rights
as the Republicans will, and urge you to de-
sert your party and join them. The speaker
knew nothing equal to the tribute Gen. Ker-
shaw paid Republicanism, and the ardor with
which he urges you to stand with him on Re-
publican principles. But how shall we test
the Democrats? trust General Kershaw is
sincere, and / welcome him. We want their
strength, but is the voice Of Democracy sim
cere9 How do we know they are not our en-
emies? Usually repentant sinner, after be-
coming converted, joins the church; he does
not make great professions and in proof Of
his sincerity ask the whole church to come
over and join him. The Democrats say they
have been touched with political repentance,
but they ask us to come out Of the true church
and Join them-great sinners. Let US give
them twenty years consistent practice ef their
professions, and we can trust them. We can
only welcome General Kershaw and his
friends to the Republican party, but cannot
60 out to hunt them up.
The Independent Republican movement
was next discussed. The speaker contended
that it depends upon man who has called
himself Republican, who in this movement
is supported only by few Republicans,
whom the Democrats will join, and thus hope
to divide and defeat the true Republican
party. In this way only-by combination
of ofIndependent Republicans and Democrats
can they succeed.
To the colored citizens he would say, if you
desire to leave the Republican party and join
the Democratic party, do so. He wanted all
to enjoy the privileges of free citizenship; but
unless they wished to join with the Democrats
they had better not elect Green. The Demo
Gratis of South Carolina, many of whom he
met in business relations every day, he COM
plimented as embodying the highest type of
the true, high.toned gentleman, and especially