The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-06-26
Is Party Allegiance Dependent O
Public Pap

deep regret tlaC tlc Dclllocl"Cic l'li'
ty Of the State, which last fall mani
tested such rare unanimity, should
now evinco certain signs of disson-
sion and possible weakness. Still
moro is it to DO dcplorcd that this
discord arises not from any differ.
cnce Of opinion on matters of vital
Importance to TIC party, but from
tho manner Of distribution OF public
patronage, as if the primo object Of
cur magnificent struggle last No"
vombor was merely to secure posses
sion Of the public pap. Such con-
dition would be mortifying to the
last degree. The movement in
November last was an uphcaval of
the people in Their majesty to wrcst
tho State from tho hands of thieves
and aliens, and to restore her to her
self 1t was not petty and dc:5rad-
ing scramble between the Gins" and
tho 'touts " Tho possession Of the
public Offices and the dispcnsation
of public patronage were brta small
incidoot. And yet it now seems that
in certain counties tho whole DcmoA
cratic party is by the cars over somo
trifling appointment or nomination
for q county Office. Williamsburg,
at last accounts, was rent in twain,
and the contending parties, Demo
Gratis III good standing, woro indulg-
ing in tho bittcrest personalities. The
casus dCM appears to have arisen
over the selection Of somo person
as county treasurer. Thus for the
sake of ono small office tho whole
prospects of the people arc permitted
to DO seriously damaged, if not
irretricvably ruined. In Georgetown
a great deal of feeling has been
manifested over tho appointment
also Of treasurer. Governor Hamp-
ton having selected some other pcr-
son than the one nominated by tho
county executive committee. There,
in county in which tho blacks
have SO enormous Il majority, the
taxpayers should be glad enough to
have their Offices filled by any de
cent men, whoever they may be,
lnstcad of quarreling over the par-
ticular individual to be selected
Our ncighboring county Of Kershaw
appears also to have an clement dis =
affected for the same cause
Now, while any person has his
preference, and enjoys the right to
exercise it, still no ono should suffer
individual feeling to interfere with
his solemn duties as member Of the
party; especially during this transi
tion state of politics. 1t is impos-
aiblo to please every ono. And at
tho present time, as tho political
condition of all tho counties and
the popularity Of respective indi-
viduals are not familiar to the Ex~
ccutlyc, he is liable TO make somo
mistakes. These arc of little i'm
aortancc, relatively, SO long as men
Of good character arc selected. II
Smith and Brown arc equally honest
and equally competent, tho choice OF
either one or the other to fill some
position that is moro appanago OF
the party, gives no excuse for bick.
ering and rocrinination, nor for
lukcwarmncss to the interests of the
Democracy
This course Noslld argue that the
ultcrior object of tho organization is
ignored, and that what WAS Il mag
mficent contest for prlnciplc, fol
tho triumph ofrisht over over wrong
has dcgenelntcd into u scramble fol
five loavcs and two small fishes.
Tho people must decide whicl
Wow they will adopt--whetho,
they will maintain their oreanixatio,