The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-13
AN OLD TRICK IN A NEW DRESS.

an OLD TRICK IN A NEW DRESS.
The preamble and resolutions adopted
by the Republican County Convention
on Saturday last will be found in this
issue. This fresh device to catch unwary
Democrats needs little puncturing, and
it will not be amiss to send the antidote
along with the poison. For the sake of
convenience, andbecause we have reason
to believe that this precious scheme ema-
anates from that source, we will treat the
preamble and resolutions as the produc-
ton of Senator Cochran, whose favorite
plan to "divide and conquer" is herewith
revealed. He sees plainly enough that q
thorough and enthusiastic organization
of the Democracy portends speedy over
throw of his power and influence in our
local elections, and that it is necessary
for him to manage adroitly to stem the
tide which is rapidly fastening his down.
fall in politics. He throws out the bait
with insinuating grace, trusting thereby
to delude and deceive unsuspecting Dem.
ocrats into false security, or win them over
to an open advocacy of this pet scheme.
But Mr.. Cochran might as well understand
now as hereafter that he has deceived
many good citizens of Anderson just
ence too often by his flattering demon
strations for compromise and concilia-
ton. In the last campaign, when there
was coalition ticket for State officers in
the field, the masses of Democratic
voters were friendly disposed towards
any one who seemed desirous of electing
that ticket, and it was easy enough to set
a trap for wavering and disorganized
voters. Mr.. Cochran was successful in
the effort then made by him, because his
true purposes were not exposed to the
public gaze, and large number of DEM
ocrats were really earnest in their belief
that his motives were sincere and his
object the public good. Had the subse-
quent conduct of Mr.. Cochran justified
this favorable opinion, his present effort
would be received quite differently. But
the moment he failed to meet just expec-
tations, and outraged decency by casting
his vote for a notorious villain like
Whipper, he forfeited the last vestige
of confidence as to the purity of his in
tentions and the worthiness of his mo-
tives. Hence, the overture now made
will be received with scorn and derision,
and none will more readily reject his
propositions than the Democrats whose
votes assisted him in the last election.
It was their trust and confidence which
he betrayed on that memorable Black
Thursday, and universal condemnation
has resulted therefrom.
The facts of the case are burlesqued in
the boastful declaration that nominations
were pnt aside in the last campaign, in
order that each member of the Republi-
can party ''might be free to cast his vote
as his feelings and judgment might die
tate" MIR. Cochran was working to Sc
cure his own election, and he Was all
things to all men, so. that his name was
upon the ticket, but he was just as much
the nominee of the Republicans as if he
had been regularly nominated. Their
ballots were cast for him soldly and
almost without exception, which was
rendered certain by the distribution of
printed tickets through the customary
channels. So long as the feelings and
judgment Of the Republicans were
friendly to his own election, entire free
dom might be allowed as to the balance
of the ticket for local officers. Here was
his true aim, object and sole desire, and
we have no doubt that he feels comfor-
table assurance that such course re-
suited in good" to himself, although we
are unable to discover the benefit derived
from his service as representative of
the people.
The preamble and resolutions are a
mixture of conceit, arrogance and impu-
dence. The recommendation is made
against nominations, "unless the Demo
cratic party shall by party machinery,
and free application of the party lash,
put before the people men who, in our
opinion, are Objectionable to majority
Of the conservative voters of Anderson
County," As the contingency seems to
depend upon the judgment of Mr.. Coch-
ran, and taking as criterion all past
experience since he has been in politics,
the Democrats may safely conclude that
their nominees will be Objectionable. 1t
would appear reasonable to any one, ex-
cept a tricky, scheming politician like
Mr.. Cochran, that the Democrats were
competent to make their own selection,
and pronounce judgment as to the fitness
of their candidates for official position.
But this willy Senator has become so ac-
customed to interjecting his Opinions
into the Democratic ranks that he con-
cludes he has unlimited freedom in this
respect, and he forgets that his "inau-
ence" is on the decline in Anderson
County. Yet, if the Democrats are not
subservieut enough to consult Mr.. Cocb-
ran in regard to nominations, we are
made to understand that the Republicans
are pledged "to vote for firm, Just, expe.