Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-08-06
ADDRESS OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COM.
MITTEE.

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ADDRESS OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COM.
MITTEE.
HEADERS UNION REPUBLICAN PARTY, J
Rooms STATE Ex'TIvE COMMITTEE,
COLUMBIA, S. c., July %, 1874. }
To the Republican Voters Of the State:
FELLOW CITIZENS time will soon ar
rive when you will be called upon, in the ex-
ercise of the elective franchise, to express
your choice in the selection of officers who
shall administer the government of our State
during the next two years. In issuing the
call for the convocation of the State Conven-
tion of our party, the executive committee
deem it proper that they should state the
views with which they are impressed, as to the
condition of public affairs in our State, and
invoke your patriotism in securing to South
Carolina good government and peaceful ad-
ministration. 1t is neither our intention to
select individuals for censure, nor to unjustly
and unfairly discriminate between those who,
in any department of our government, have
rendered themselves amenable to just criti-
cism. That the pledges given to the people
in our party platform of 1872 have not been
fully redeemed, and that, in many instances,
sound policy has been discarded and reckless
extravaganza manifested, we cannot deny.
What causes have led to our present condition
may not be herein discussed. 1t is sufficient
that we should all recognize the fact that our
government needs Reform Thorough Reform
and publication. The attention of the coun-
try has been called to South Carolina; the
American people demand that maladministra-
ton shall cease and good government be at
once inaugurated the National Republican
party admonishes US to at once retrace our
steps, and vindicate, by our action, the integ-
rty of Republicanism while the National
Government insists that contrition for past
errors cannot be considered unless accompa-
MED by the selection of public officers whose
characters will be guaranty of elevated and
enlightened craftsmanship in the future.
The executive committee would make no
race distinctions but it cannot longer be
denied, and it would be criminal longer to
withhold the facts, that the present condition
of affairs in our State is made chargeable to
the colored race, who represent not only the
great bulk Of Republicans here, but who con-
stitute the majority of its citizens. The duty
and responsibility of redeemiDg the State from
obloquy and disgrace of restoring the public
confidence, of building up her credit, and Of
saving her from utter and complete annihila'
ton, rest peculiarly upon the shoulders Of
that race This duty they cannot evade-this
responsibility they cannot escape.
Fellow Republicans of every race-and of
the colored race more particularly-we ap-
peal to you to aid US in every honest effort to
redeem our party pledges, and to vindicate
the wisdom of that bene6cent policy which
transformed 100000 Of human beings from
the condition Of chattel slaves to the proud
position of American freemen, and has made
the rights of all citizens national, rather than
sectional. We solemnly invoke you to rise to
the full height of your responsibilities. We
implore you to send to your State, Congress
sonal and county conventions your best
men-men of patriotism and intelligence
men who act justly because they love justice,
and do right because they love the right.
We would ask you to correct the evils that
may exist, through your party organization.
Charge not upon the Republican party the
acts Of those officers who may have proved
faithless to the principles of that great party,
as we'll as to you. That the mission Of the
party is not accomplished, listen, fellow-citi.
zens, to the Union Republican Congressional
committee, in their address to the people Of
the United States:
"It is sometimes said the mission of the
Republican party is accomplished. IT, by
that, no more is meant than that the party
has discharged every trust heretofore commit
ted to it, we admit it, 1t has been thought
that when one was found faithful over few
things that was good reason for trusting
him with more things. Can you do better
than be instructed by such an example? Es-
pecially, since you must employ either the
party which you say has fulfilled every trust,
or employ that only other party which has
betrayed every trust.
"The occasion for political effort has not
passed. American progress is not ended.
Other labors lie before you, higher, perhaps,
but not light.
81. You have to see that what is done shall
not be undone. Republicanism offers you the
best security against retrogression.
"2. You have to see that the work of re-
form goes forward. Three great labors de-
mand your present consideration.
"The fourteenth amendment to the cOnsti-
tuition is not yet enforced of appropriate legis.
lation.' Millions of American citizens are
denied even the common law rights Of loco
motion because they are black. If such
wrongs are to be redressed, the Republican
party alone can do it."
In conclusion, fellow.citizens, in the Ian
guage of that committee: "If you cherish the
deeds of the recent past, and would not see
them undone; if you respect the present, and
would not disgrace it; or, if you have hope
of the future, and would realize that hope,' u
we urge you to send to your conventions, and
place in the public offices, none but intelligent,
patriotic, unseIfsh, and true and tried Re-
publcans.
Relying with confidence upon your devo-
tion to the principles of our party, and above
and beyond all, firmly believing, as we do,
that you love your State we look to you for
the redemption of our Commonwealth.
We are, respectfully, your obedient SER
wants and fellow-citizens.
ROBERT B. ELLIOTT, President.
j. l.. NEAGLE, Vice-President.
w. B. NASH,
H. G. WoRTHINGToN,
E. W. M. MACKEY,
G. D. HAYNE,
G. D. MELTON,
WILSON Cook,