The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-20
The Unity Of the Party.

Mr.. EDITOR: There never has been a
time in the history of the Democratic
party of this State when unity was more
essential to the success of the party, and
the full and complete redemption of the
State, than the present. 1t is too late in.
the day to propose coalition, or measures
looking to coalition, with the Republican
party of this State for Our final and COM
plete success in the great work of re-
form. Whether wisely or unwisely, the
disheartened u mocracy of this State
have In the dark past abundantly tried
such coalition to become thoroughly con-
yinced that there wss no hope of any re-
form by the aid of the Republican party,
as party. Hence, the Democracy were
driven by the sheer force of circumstan-
ces to adopt the only way of escape from
evils inconceivable, by hosting the ban
ner of straightout Democracy, (under
the lead of Hampton,) and making a
determined and united assault on the
strongholds of roguery and rascality.I
And how valiantly we succeeded the his
tory of the last campaign abundantly.
shows. While it vas straight.out fight,
yet the platform upon which we made
the campaign was broad enough to ad-i
nit every honest man in the State upon
its foundation, whether Republican or
Democrat. So will it be again in the;
present campaign. But any measure or
course of action calculated in the re-
motest degree TO weaken our party or
ganization at the present time is TO be-
especially deprecated. And whyf Be-
cause failure TO succeed in the present
canvass, either in the legislative or exec!
utive departments of our State govern.
ment would be tantamount to giving up
all that we gained in the desperate strug-i'
gle of the preceding campaign, and en-
tail irretrievable ruin upon the people Of
the State in the future. Even Gov.
Hampton deems the maintenance of our
party unity Of so much consequence in
the present struggle, that he publicly
warned the people in his Anderson
speech to beware of independents, and to
frown down any attempts to divide or
distract the Democratic party of the
State on local issues. But. say some,.
our last Democratic Legislature did some
things we did not like, and omitted to.
do other things which we think should
have been done. If the people general.
ly think so, of course through the appli-
ances of the Democratic party they can
easily change their representatives with,
out in the least disturbing the harmony
of the party. Perhaps, under the cir
cumstances, it might be better to do so,
and send fresh delegation. right from
the body of the people, to represent them
in the next Legislature. Where we are,
as a people, undergoing such rapid
changes in our sentiments and necessi-
ties, perhaps this policy might be the
best. But we will take the occasion
right here, once for all, to say for our
selves, that we car never hope to choose
a delegation more faithful to their trust
than the old one has been. Errors they
may have committed, mistakes they may
have made; but any person who will
take the trouble to scrutinize the general
course of our representatives from first
to last during the last two years, must
come to the conclusion that these gentle.
men were faithful, conscientious and
honest in the discharge of public trusts
confded to their keeping. Aye, fellow
citizens of Anderson, look 10 their fdel-
ity in the trying ordeal through which
they were called to pass in the very inau-
guration of the Hampton government at
Columbia. Look at that forlorn hope,
surrounded as they we're by the myrmi-
dons of Grant and Chamberlain, march
ing in a body to the State House, and
armed with no other weapon of defence
than the inward consciousness of up
holding, as God would give them strength,
the honor and rights of an outraged con-
stituency, in the face of dangers the
most appalling, and with their lives, as
it were, offered as sacrifice on the altar
of their country's good, if need be. The
people of the State never can, never
ought TO forget, the gallant bearing of
Hampton and the Democratic Legisla.
ture, under the most trying circumstan.
ces that ever confronted legislative
body in the history of the world. They
came through the fiery ordeal with their
honor unscathed, their fidelity unques.
toned, and their sagacity, aud prudence,
ana WlSuOHl, dS IL lusplTeu JEOW aUOYe,
the admiration even of their political
enemies. Shall we permit light and
trivial mistakes, comparatively, on mere
ly local issues, to overwhelm a recollec.
ton of their general fidelity? God
forbid.
But before we close we will give few
reasons why We consider the Democratic
party in more danger in the present cam
paign than the last. 1t is generally
conceded that the Radical party will
make no opposition to Hampton and the
State ticket, and will confne their efforts
to the County elections. Now, we all
remember two years ago what wonder.
full power on the masses was possessed
by rallying on Hampton in opposition to
Chamberlain. The pressure was so great
in the contest for State officers that it
required no effort to bring every white
man to the rescue, together with thou
sands of negroes. With no opposition
to Hampton, this motive power will be