The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-27
AN ADVOCATE OF COALITION.

AN ADVOCATE OF COALITION.
A communication appears in another
column from John E. Breazeale, ESQ.,,
who comes forward as an advocate of
coalition with honest Republicans, and
cites the example of Gov, Chamberlain
TO prove that there ure honest Republi-
cans in South Carolina disposed to give
the people correct government. Before
entering upon the argument, it is peril
nent to the issue made by Mr.. Breazeale
to ask few questions, which will indi-
cate the value of his opinions as to the
proper action of the Democrats. In the
first place, does Mr.. Breazeale belong to
Democratic Club? As he seeks to
create the impression that others are
actaated by prejudice in advocating a
straight out fight, is it clear that he is
not acting from similar feelings? Is he
not an appointee of Governor Chamber
lain's, and does he not hold the Office of
United States Commissioner Can a
mans prejudices not sway him fully as
far in favor of any measure as another's
will influence him against the same
measured On the score of prejudices,
we .hink Mr.. Breazeale is unfortunate
in making the allusion. Now, as We
understand the custom of political parties
in this country, unsought advice from
outsiders is not generally accepted, and
it would be better for Mr.. B. to connect
himself with the Democratic organiza-
ton before attempting to influence the
action of that party, and we feel conf
dent that free discussion inside the ranks
will never damage the cause. Indeed,
this is the very advice given by Mr..
Breazeale, but ne cannot perceive where
in he is TO obtain a hearing, unless he
oins the party, and we are quite sure his
views will then be accorded respectful
consideration, even by those most strenu-
GUS in their advocacy of square issue
with Radicalism in all It's protean forms.
But We viii not dwell any longer Upon
the source from which this advice
emanates, and will briefly examine the
points made therein. We deny the very
first proposition laid down, which is that
'tthe Republicans have majority OF
thirty or forty thousand voters in this
State" We do not believe there is any
such a majority, and there are no figures
to sustain the statement. On the con-
trary, the very last square out fight"
was made in 1868, when Gen. Grant was
candidate for the first time, and when
the State was under quasi bayonet rule,
at which election the Republican majori-
ty was exactly 1859 votes. No election
since that date has been conducted upon
partisan principles, for the bulk of the
Democrats have consistently voted for
Republicans of every shade and hue.
Not only is this true, but there are thou.
sands of Democrats all over the State
who have refused to vote any ticket in
every election, on the ground that they
would not vote for Republicans. This
class is stronger than ever to-day, and
any fusion or coalition in the pending
campaign will drive them away most
certainly. But, for the sake of the argu-
ment, let us admit that the estimated
difference between the parties is abso-
lutely correct. Does this prove the
assertion that a square fight is perfect
folly? 1t was majority of thirty-fve
thousand votes which the Radicals
claimed in Mississippi, and yet they were
defeated by thirty thousand at the polls
But experience has proven that the
colored man will vote the Republican
ticket" 1t is not strange that experience
has taught this lesson in South Carolina,
where only Republicans are nominated
by either party. But when did the
colored man have an opportunity to vote
any other ticket? He has not certainly
been given the opportunity of ranging
himself with the Democratic party, when
such party has existed only in name
until recently. In fact, it has not ex-
listed very much in name during the last
four years, for the majority accepted the
appellation of Conservative, which was
done as concession to the Republicans
mainly. We have just as much right,
therefore, to assume that the colored man
will vote the Democratic ticket-pure,
unadulterated and straight-out-as the
advocates of coalition have to assume
that the colored vote will be caught in a
net by throwing out the bait another
time that we are supporting honest Re-
publicans. Until it is demonstrated-by
actual experience, not supposed-that
the colored man will not vote the Demo-
cratic ticket, we submit that all such
assertions as we are considering are
worth just nothing at all.
Now, let us examine briefly the propo-
nition that Gov. Chamberlain has given
tangible evidence of sincere desire to
reform the State government, and is
working earnestly in behalf of the State
generally. The recent utterances of the
Governor as contained in his letters to
Senator Morton and President Grant, not
t, mention his speech in the Radical
State Convention, show conGlusively that
his main purpose and most ardent desire
ia to firmly establish the Republican
party in South Carolina, and remove the
disgrace and odium which attaches to