The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-29
For the anderson Mtelligenccr.

MEssRs. EDITORS: AS member of the
Democratic party, I desire to throw out
some few suggestions for the consideration
of the party in this County.
I do not propose to ask questions at the
hands of those who are to seek our Offices,
or suggested for Office by their Democratic
friends; but that the public should be fully
posted before the primary election takes
place, I suggest that the Executive Com
mittee for the County prepare list of ques-
tions, and ask each candidate to answer, to
the end that Democrats may be well posted
as to the position of each candidate who
ask their suffrages.
I have heard it intimated that some
candidates are to be invited to run for
office-frst for nomination, and if they fail
in this, they are to run. But verify be-
lieve this rumor or speculation hadits origin
in the Radical ranks, from whence all the
corruption, chicanery, rascality and want of
integrity springs. I cannot believe that
any true South Carolina Democrat can be
so devoid of principle and honor as to act
with such duplicity. Disseminating such
principles is not the spirit of our organiza-
ton, but positively at war with it. No man
can become a candidate for Office in the
Democratic ranks unless he is member of
some one of the Clubs, and should not be
supported by any member of the Club un-
less he first declare that he will not, under
any circumstances, be a candidate unless
nominated by primary election. When any
people are degraded to degradation itself, as
we have been for the last eight years, and
been trampled upon and insulted, amid con-
tinued promises of reform, can any man
who has the least shadow of honesty left in
his bosom hesitate to become aggressive and
resolute, and with solid ranks, and firm
determination, 60 forth to purge our State
and County from the corruption that is now
preying upon its verv vitals, or like the
Spartans nobly perish in the faithful dis
charge of our duty.
Then, to be timid and refuse to come
squarely to the front, is to deny the justice
of our cause; and more, it is to wink at
corruption itself.
Then, let the County Executive Commit
tee prepare, and in the name of the party
they represent, require the answer of all
candidates. to the end that all may know
for themselves the position they occupy,
and to put quietus to this rumor, which
1 believe originated with the opposition,
to throw discord in the Democratic ranks.
Any candidate who will falsify his answer,
or connive with his friends to do it for him,
or permit them to do it, or what is worse
than all, will make terms with the enemy
to defeat the nominees of his own party, is
more corrupt, more devoid of principle
than the most debased Radical that is now
gloating over the destruction of our coun-
try, and he will and shall be remembered
and recognized, now and hereafter, as
hypocritical Radical.
Our Club constitutions bind every men,
Der to faithful support of the nominees, to
which he is pledged, and from which he is
not to depart. Then, to depart is to falsify,
deceive and make himself as bad, as sinful,
and unreliable as any man dare to be in the
Radical ranks.
I have no doubt but all the candidates
will be ready to answer all questions pro-
pounded by the Executive Committee, for
we believe all agree that the cause of the
State, the common mother of us all, is
greater than the cause of any candidate;
and if any candidate should be disposed to
bolt from the nomination, it will be the
pleasure of the Democratic party to teach
him lesson, by ignoring him politically
for all time to come.
In conclusion, brother Democrats, let our
principles be as firm and unalterable as the
laws of the Medes and Persians.
A. WATT.