The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-09
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ment Of our political difficulties. IffrinneSs
With moderation can be applied; il forti.ude
with Cancellation can be possessed; if thor
ough organization on such basis can be had,
the most pleasing anticipations may be in
dulged for peaceful and prosperous future.
And what more ft occasion has ever trans.
pired in the history of any rcople to prac-
tice the virtue of forgiveness? It is the part
of the victorious to be n-gnanimous.
After civic achievement unparalleled,
and deliverance so complete that the most
sanguine could not have expected, can We
not afford to extend liherality? The gov
ernment is ours, with all its influence and
patronage, honestly and wisely admins
tered. AT It's head stands patriot, aided
by able counsellol3 and subordinatas. ANY
considerable opposition to the administrs-
ton has long since ceased Acquiescence 10
universal. obedience to law is cheerfully
rendered Throughout the length and breadth
Of the State, the whole gang of late con-
epirators In fight, in prisons, in disgrace,
powerless, tho Republican patty aston
ished, terror stricken, deInoralized, disbsn-
ded, and without leader-what more
could we ask? what mere desire7 Can
there, therefore, be any well-grounded ap.
prehension, adverse to the continuance of
present rule? Surely not, IL dissensions and
divisions are kept out the ranks of the DOM
inant party. The danger lies here, and it is
OF the last Importance that the wisest coun-
sells and most consummate management
should prevail. Differences of opinion as 70
method and policy at leaat should be toler-
ated, and the whole question exhaustively
examined before conclusion reached, and
not plan for conducting the campaign
suddenly, prematurely promulgated, for let
1t be remembered 1t was the prestige of
great name, intense adherence Of the most
corrupt, profigate, tyrannical government,
and the common and imminent danger
unifying all the elements of opposition into
one burning mass Of enthusiasm and indig-
nation resistless as an avalanche that
brought victory to our standard. 1t could
Hc., however, have bean aohieyed-it wns
not achieved-by the unaided exertions Of
the orthodox Democracy. Many who stood
aiooT from clubs, and respectable number
of Republicans, came gallnntly 20 the breach
and contributed largely to SUCCESS Then,
is it just, Is 1t right, is it expedient to pro-
scribe these and deny to them all participa-
ton In the selection of candidates for Office :?
There can be but one nnswe emphatic
No! Is the exigency so great as to require
the lines to be drawn at such sharp angles2
Self-preservation is the first law of nature
the right of revolution is inherent; the
overthrow of besotted despotism, like
that from under which we have just passed,
by nctual force may he justified; but there
can be no justification for the preparation
of palpable wrong.
Not only gratitude, but expediency, and
even necessity, demand that we extend to
these classes proper consideration. The
relative strength of parties Heretofore
standing) Is, say as so to 100. Now, if by
any mathematical statement it can be DEM
onstrated that 80 is equal to 100, then it will
be admitted that the pure Democracy of the
State can carry the election. This is an abb
| surdity. How mey the proposition and
result be reversed2 I answer, by subtract
| ing twenty thousand from the majority of
our opponents, and casting them up in our
column I indicate plan: Let organiza-
ton even bo more thorough, let every club
increase Its membership, let no candidate
be placed in nomination before the clubs
| except known and declared Democrats, (and
members, If you please. Of some Democratic
club,) in the primary elections invite unaf-
| filiated Democrats and we'll affected Repub-
licans to cast .heir votes with us, and count
no votes which may be cast for any who are
not Democrats. In 80 doing we ask Tor an
| endoE=s.z,eHt e=,y, and allow tbs simple
privilege OF selection and election between
candidates of our own party. This would
be an act er gratia and Cancellation thot
would have beneficial harmonizing
effect. The councils the internal workings,
tbs plans Of the campaign ara al Kept with
in the walls of the club room. How could
such o course pursued by the Democratic
party tend to disorganization or diminish
ing efhciencya Why, it is preposterous to
suppose that Democrats would nominate
any but Democrats of known and estab-
lished reputation. Then, away with solemn
oaths, pledges and prescribed formulnries.
Are the rolls of the clubs lost, that you
| need swear them? Possess we no conf
dence il our members. that we cannot trust
them? LGok we ior candidates to be dropped
down from the moon or some other far off
planet that we know nothing Of their char
acser or antecedents that we need require
pledges of themf Trust We nothing to In
tegrityP or hope we nothing from the as
| cendant star OF Democracy3 Principles
cannot be injected into the brain or their
acceptance be forced by double pressure
power. ~
I know not if there Is sufficient toleration
at the present in, the public mind to permit
on honest difference Of opinion as to the
policy to be pursued by the Democratic
party in the approaching canvass, or that
you may feel justified to publish any reflec-
tions or criticisms upon the attitude assumed
by the party. 1 do desire however, to enter
my most solemn dissent from, and protest
against, the programme recently enunciated
| anu sent forth by the Central Executive
Committee, for Isee in it the seeds of dissen.
sion and the entering wedge Il much fear)
TO the speedy disin.egrntion of the party.
I look upon 1t as Democratic, inexpe-
| dent and proscriptive cannot conscien-
tiously accept or support it. I would not
enjoy q party triumph at the sacrifice OF
| principle, or the violation of tho spirit OF
| liberty. Icannot countenance or contribute
to o humiliation, and party machinery
that practically disfrnnchises n respectabIe