The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-08


to the August Convention there was a
great diversity of opinion rs To the best
policy to be pursued by the Democratic
party of the State. The difference was
not confined 10 widely separated SECTIONS.
but it was seen and felt in the same coun.
ties and in the same neighborhoods. All
felt the absolute need Of a change but
differed as to the best mode to secure il.
The press of the State was no less divided
in opinion, and WAS classified as extreme.
conservative and fusion, according to the
leading views of each journal. The old
political leaders and trusted men of the
past divided in opinion. While this was
true, the people at large, the heretofore
leaders, and the press Of every shade of
conservative opinion united on one great
and leading idea, to wit, the paramount
Importance of organization. Before any
policy was defined for the State, the
press. including the Ne,cs and Courier,
day after day drilled into the people the
then abstract iden of organisation. The
very different views of ultimate policy
entertained oy tho press enabled it to
drill this idea into the minds of fusion
lists. conservatives and straightouters,
which perhaps could not have been nc
complished had a l.olicy of any kind
then been adonted, or even universally
advocated by the press.
The next leading idea impressed on
the people was, that when organized
they should stand together. as one man,
upon whatever policy the State, in con.
vention, might ultimately adopt. No
journal advocated these ideas mure siren.
uously and more ably than the Neps and
Courier and other journals, then dubbed
as fusiUnists. These fundamental ideas
constituted the basis, the only founda.
ton, on which the surerstructure of
success could be even hoped for, much
less accomplished. The entire pres OF
the State united i'm their advocacy, and
differing in policy these ideas were more
readily disseminated and took better
hold of the popular mind than they
could otherwise have done. Organize
and net together were the abstract ideas
universally advocated from the May to
the August Convention, all matters of
State policy being unsettled and open for
free discussion. Not only line press du-
ring this period, but the best and wisest
men of the State Of all professions and
av0catiOns differed honestly rs to The
best policy, for which we impute no
blame to any one, but rather regard it
fortunate. Through the process indica-
ted, the minds of the people were thur
oughly prepared 10 accept and act upon
any policy the Stale, through Il conven.
tion, might adopt. AS consequence, so
soon rs the convention declared the poll
cy, nominated candidates and adopted
platform, the press, as unit, advocated
the policy, and each journal, having pre-.
viously inculcated the doctrines Of organ.
ization and united action in the minds of
it's readers, carried over to the policy its
readers, whatever had been their prcvi-
ons views Thus, out of this division of
views of policy came n more solid and
compact union of the intelligent proper
ty-holding element Of the State than had
ever been known. We are willing to ad-
init that the sterling integrity of Gen.
Hampton, the perfect unassailability of
his character, as Union man before the
war, as brave soldier during it, as n
quiet and unobtrusive citizen since its
close, and as man without reproach at
all times, gave strength to the move
ment. His name was tower ofstrengtL
10 the party, beacon light TO guide the
people safely to success, and his counsels
of moderation not only gave us peace
and unity, but robbed our opponents of
every chance OF successful attack.
as 10 the question, who originated the
movement, we answer, the people. From
the days of reconstruction, the opinion
has been universal, that the only hope Of
wise and economical government rested
in the restoration to power as rulers of
the intelligent and property holding
class. Their interest and State pride
gave motive to { esire, and their informa.
tion and experience furnished the wig.
dom to devise a good government The
ruling majority devoid of both could
never giveit. The adoption ofthe straight
out policy we also attribute to the people.
They mad tried every expedient likely to
give them relief from the incubus of ex-
orbitanJ taxation without success. They
had patiently listened to, aud hoped for
the iuiiiiment af, smauy promises OF
reform made at each recurring election
by the Radicals, and all had been in vain.
They had acted with tiie party in the
hope of better times. They saw and felt
they were annually growing poorer and
that their hard earnings were squandered
by foreigners and Adventures. They saw
no hope of fdeliverance from utter financial
ruin but in a change Of rulers, and with
little hope ofspccess but with the energy
of despair, they determined TO try the
apparently hopeless expedient of a
straight Democratic ticket. The adoption
OF the str,iight oiit puiicy was due 10 ilt,
inan or set OF men Of the Democratic
party, but to the misgovernment and
oppression of the Republican party
With the odds against US, no effort would
have been made to defeat that party had
it given to our people a government they
could live under. All felt it was neck
or nothing. Our existence here depended
on sue, ,ess, or such show of opposition
to misrnle rs would command better
government from the Radicals. The
May Convention neither declared nor
recommended any policy, but simply
said, organize: The people when organ
| lied in convention declared the policy.
and the people it was who gave success
to the policy. With due Difference to all
our contemporaries who are conteEting for
the credit of starting this movement, we
will say SO Tar as our county is concerned
! .hhccyy a.d nothing &c &c NTH Z. o.:
delegates went to Columbia instructed Ia
vote for straight Democratic tickc.
and we doubt if either the mover Of the
resolution, or one In twenty OF the con.
ivention, which passed it, ever read q
column in either of those journals. You
have all done we'll in your sphere, but
the people have done better. Let IL.
labor together 10 make cur victory per
| petual, so that our children's children
may rejoice in November harvest of thi.
our frat centennial.-Ktopee C5urie,.
- An educated younp man went n