The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-26
PARTY ORGANIZATION.

falrs, ana 1t required almost unce3siDg
work to bring the entire element opposed
to Radicalism into close, compact and
thorough organization, bent upon effect
ing deliverance from oppressive evils,
and effectively disciplined in such man
ner as to achieve success The work was
slow and tedious in many portions of the
State, and there was fearful lukcwarm-
ness among prominent leaders here and
there as to the necessity for party organi-
zation. When the May Convention was
held, the chief argument against imme-
diate and forward action was that this
organization had not been effected, and it
was agreed TO use the most strenuous ef-
forts to perfect the organization before q
policy was decided upon. Three months
were employed thereafter in the attain
ment of this object, and the united press
Of the State, in alignment with the
Democracy, vigorously urged the ncccs-
sity and importance for welding together
us a unit the conservative citizens of the
State in : 'upremc effort 10 secure cur
political r, 4emption These efforts were
largely successful, and when the August
Convention brought together the repre-
scntatives of the people, that body was
prepared to ospeak tho sentiments of large
and growing constituency. 1t IL needless
for Our purpose to recount the familiar
scenes of the campaign, which exhibited
almost every day the power and efficiency
of disciplined organization. The re-
suits attained were due in very large
measure to the party machinery thus set
in motion, and no sane l,nn will deny
that without this effective agency the
triumph Of our ticket was not possible in
the recent campaign. Anderson County
gave the largest majority i'll the State
according 10 the extent of its population
and it resulted from the splendid and
compact organization within its borders
Edgefield could not have achieved its
glorious victory without the discipline
and strength of its Democratic Clubs
Abbeyille was wrcstcd from the unholy
grasp of ruthless cormorants by its eff
cient and thorough mobilization of it,
gallant hosts. Lnurcns was brought from
under the heels of tha oppressor by the
salie untiEing means. Barnwcll was res.
cued from the despoilcr by constant, un.
ceasing work through its yigilant Clubs
white and colored. Grccnvillc, Spartan.
burg, Pickens, Oconee and tho rest were
made to contribute strongly to the gener.
al result by the thoroughncss. efficiency
and zeal of their respective organizations
Are we to forget these things? In the
general rejoicing over the fulfillment o.
our hopes, and the complete victory Of
the gifted and noble Hampton, are VIC tc
relax party discipline, and allow tho
frnits of our victor to be turned intc
ashes upon our lips?
We do not sound needless alarm wher
we say that Immediate danger lies before
us. The willy and astute leaders of the
Radical party are not yet willing to fore
60 all efforts to break down the Democ
racy. Their weapons are changed, it is
true, and they are not using the means
80 familiar to our people to regain wha,
has been lost to them. Yet they arc al.
ready connecting measures to bring about
divisions and disscntions in the Demo.
cratic ranks, and unless vigilance and
unceasing watchfulness arc displayed by
our leaders. these men will secure by in
trigue and dissiE.Ilation the opening
wedge to their desires. The point of
immediate attack is in the approaching
election for Chief Justice. Tho plan is
to throw solid vote of the Radcai part
in favor of the D,oiarate Democrat, who
can comr.a1d the suffrage Of few Dem
ocratie members of the Legislature, and
thus defeat the election of any one upon
whom the main body of Democrats may
unite. This scheme is the creation of
Carpenter, Melton and others, who were
ostensibly silent in the last campaign,
and whose object in defeating the Demo-
Gratis virtually in this initial movement
will be to galvanizc anew the expiring
party to which they belong, assume the
leadership in its ranks, and prepare for
the next campaign. Neither Carpenter
nos Melton care anything about the office
of Chief Justice, or have any genuine de-
sire to place Democrat in that position.
Their sole object is to break the ranks Of
the Democracy, and they ara content to
work for any one who Is willing to allow
such base intrigue to lift MIN into high
position. We have no fear that their
present plans will succeed, because they
cannot find any prominent Democrat in
the State who would knowingly permit
such proceeding in his favor to gain
headway, and because the Democratic
members of the Legislature will assured
ly place an estoppel upon this scheme by
making caucus nomination. Indeed,
the success of Governor Hampton's ad-
ministration will depend largely upon tho
unity of action on the part of the Demo-
cratic members. The small majority on
joint. ballot cannot be risked by any ideas
of individual orsaparate action, and when
it comes to tho selection of Chief JUS
tice, it will be necessary to stand together
rs ole man. A caucus can and will de-
eide rs to the choice Of tho Democrats,
ed ell difference &c opinion 20 tn the