The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-29
Upon what Basis Shall We Organize I

calling for an early organization Of par
ties for the coming campaign, we must
add our warnings to those already given
by that widely circulated and influential
journal, the Charleston Ne,0s d Co,trisr,
lest we form our party on false basis:
In the approaching political contest
there ought to be no battle between
Democratic and Republicans assuch:. If
there is, the success Of the corruption
lists is iasvitable. But there should be
a confederacy of all honest men, call
tlsun,1fI what name you please, to put
de- ks gang of knaves' who are CO.
In AXE most strenuous effort to
geN control of our State Govern
me- \ new party should be carved
out tne two already known to US,
con d exclusively of neither Demo-
cray Republicans, but of all persons
Of W .ialeyer shade of politics or COM
plexion, 4ho sincerely desire reform In
our State Government. Nor do we
mean that the Republicans should NOM
mate for office the best of their own
party, and expect the Democrats to sup
bort them. This has been tried and
failure followed. If the Republicans
who mean to redeem the State wish to
have the whole vote of the Democratic
party, (and they need it all,) they must
put men from that party on the tickets
with the better Republicans. Then the
strength of the Democracy will be
brought to bear in all its vigOr and force,
and defeat to the corruptionists Isl sure
consequence. Nor do we ask that tim
i'd, puny, milk-and-water, on-the- fence
Democrats be put in nomination for Of
flee. Such men will carry no weight
whatever with them, but put men OF
strong and decided character--conserva-
tive, reasonable men, Of unimpeacha-
BILE, stainless integrity, before the people,
and we venture the assertion that al.
most every Democrat in the State Will
vote that ticket"
"If the Republicans should do this, and
thus satisfy us that their professions OF
reform are not mere empty words, NE
shall expect to hear from all our leading
men-to see them in the field, earnestly
forwarding the good work Let them
not fail to see, as Pitt did, that holding
aloof from both parties, at such crisis,
will but establish in power the bases'
and most hateful of ALI parties. In
one united, stupendous effort. we can
hurl every thief in our State from his
present stronghold. It is for the leaders
of the two parties to say whether this
shall be done or not. The weight OF
their names will carry hundreds upon
hundreds of votes with them. Surely
no man who loves his State can stand
by and see her given over to merciless
adventures, when an effort from him
might save her from their clutches"
What we want now is union of the
best men of all parties, Oh the para
mount issue of honesty and reform
TO attain honest government there must
be cooperation without distinction OF
party, and Republicans and Democrats
must ignore party organization and par
ty principles, in securing the best men
for Office. ~
AS the Southron remarks, it will moi
do for Republicans to confiEe their Sc.
lections to men of their own political
fold and expect to draw out the whole
Democratic strength in their support
The best evidence that they can give oi
the sincerity of their professions In the
cause of reform, would be to make &C.
lection from their political opponents
for office; and of this libefality of spirit
thew NAV find encouraging examples in
the recent selection by the Democrats OF
New York OF Republican as nominee
for Secretary Of State; in the endorse
ment by the Liberal Repu blicans of the
Democratic ticket; and in the Republi.
can selection of man out of favor with
their party, as candidate for Treasurer
But the Republicans OF south caro-
lima have not reached this stage OF co:
operation with their opponents, and
doubtless will not until: their party
strength is broken down by internal
divisions, and they will thus be forced
to re-organize upon new issues. They
act upon the principle that ito the VIC
tors belong the spoils," and the Longer
they are able to retain these without
calling upon outsiders to share in them
so much the better for themselves.
To them party is but 9 synonym TOR
office e-getting, and the interests OF the
country are sacrificed to selfish consid
erations. From them we can hope fol-
no reform except that which Is extorteo
by the fears of popular revolt, which,
making common cause with the discCn'
tented of their own party, shall sweeI
them from power. Hence they them
selves will raise the rallying cry Of re-
form, and even do something In tha
behalf for electioneering purposes. Bu
this must have an end, and as Republic
canism is dead in almost every othei
State, 80 even in South Carolina we may
hope that it is destined to share the same
fate at no distant day. Then we may
hope for honest government, and not
till then.
For ourselves we do not sea the neces-
sity of the Conservatives organizing
now, much less organizing on the Dem
ocratic platform. Even when such ar
organization becomes necessary, 1t would
seem to be better as urged by the
Charleston News and Courier, and the
Winnsboro Ne,6s, to keep State and
Federal politics apart, aud whilst sup
porting the National Democratic ticket,
to make the best possible terms In local
affairs. Such is the course pursued by
the Conservatives Of Virginia and North
Carolina, aud is consistent with the
full support of the National Democratic
candidates for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency in 1875. The question of
organ ization now seems to be prema'
ture, and the matter of framing policy
to be better left to the contingencies ol
the future.
The Murder of Crews.