The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-08-23
Senator Beck on Party Discipline.

We invite public attention to the re-
marks of the distinguished Senator from
Kentucky on the subject of Democratic
organization at this time. His career in
the House of Representatives durng the
dark days of Radical ascendancy was so
marked by consistency and courage, that
among numerous eloquent and able men
Kentucky chose him 10 represent her in
the Senate. On the 4th of August he
delivered All elaborate and powerful
speech on the political situation. We
have no rooEi to-day to do more than re-
produce Inc following extract, which we
!-ust our public will read carefully
Democratic policy is cc,ning to the
front, equality of States anu people, home
rule and local self-government has been
conceded already-with n majority of
States presided over by Democratic Gov
ernors, with clear majority of all the
people, regardless of race, color or pre-
vious condition, on our side; with q ma
jority of white votes larger than the
white vote cast for General Washington
on either occasion when he was unani-
mously elected President of the United
States; with the House of Representa-
tives in our hands, and the Senate almost
30; with the certainty that it will be so
at the expiration Of the present Congress,
1T is certain that We cannot only inaugu-
rate, but carry ont in the near future, all
the reforms we demand and pledged our
selves to maintain in the platform of the
party as proclaimed at st. Louis. With
such prospects, with such a cause, when
wo all know that success is only possible
through ity of action and purpose !;
when the only tactics left to the enemy
is to divide i'll order to conquer us, It
seems to me to be the very extreme of
madness and folly for Democrats now to
allow ANYTHING to separate or weaken
them. 1 can hardly understand how
men can run independent or .ote for
independents at time like this. 1
fully appreciate the policy of Radicals,
who cannot elect member of their own
party, foste G discomfort and placing
Ill Office S-ifactoTy or Tebeiiious Demo
Gratis but how any Democrat can either
abandon or weaken the power or the dis
cipiine of his party now passes my COM
Prehension., Kentucky's motto should
be held up before the eyes of all-'Uni-
strength consists only in our unity.
Separately We are atoms, combined we
are invincible. The single arrow could
be snapped like reed; tie well-wrapped
bundle of arrows could not be bent. In
crisis like this, it is far better to have
open enemies than secret foes. Those
who cannot act with the Democratic or
ganization had better join the Radical
party.
"The organization and discipline of a
nartv must he as compact AZ that of an
army. Our strength in Kentucky is our
most dangerous source of weakness. Per-
sonal wrangles for place rarely divide us
when our opponents are equal, or nearly
equal, in strength; they spring up and
destroy us when the opposition can only
be felt in orr dissensions by throwing its
weight into one scale or the other. THAI
is their policy now, all over Ker u ky.
Strict party discipline alone can counter
act it. If q soldier, in time of war, who
had enlisted in your army, refused to
obey orders, lert the ranks, called him
se!f independent, and nrofesaed to lie
fighting on your side while he was draw
ing mis- ammunition, provisions aud sup
plies from the enemy, you would drive
him from among you or shoot him as a
deserter. You know that the enemy
would never support q soldier in any
conflict, civil or military. who is no. in
! their opinion aiding their cause and
weakening the man they are seeking to
defeat. l repeat, our only safety is in
unity, subordination to party discipline,
| Obedience 20 tho viii ui tho majority
and all who refuse to conform to party
orders and support our nominees had
best be driven into the camp of the
enemy."--JOurndt Of Commerce.