The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-05-31
For the Times.
From Cross Keys.

For the Times.
From Cross Keys.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CONCEALED wEA.
Mr.. EpIron.-As somo of our people predic,
ted, our FIRST attempt TO organize Democratic
Club was q complete failure, there being but
about FIVE or six present at the hour and place
.assisssted. We, horete PR appointed tho follow
ing Saturday 10 make Shother attemptS and with
what success you will notice in the proceedings.
We enrolled about forty names. and 1 have
since added ten more. think by the County
Meeting in July that our numbers will be swelled
TO a hundred or more.
The system of Primary Election seems to have
infused. new life and energy into the actions of
some Of our community. It meets with alarm
ing appreciation. Men who would never join
our club before, will now join if the election is
restricted to the members Of the various clubs;
advocating that each Office seeker should be
elected upon his own merits and not by chance
or conventional regulations.
But whilst endorse the actions of the State
Executive Committee, in the main, l think they
were premature in presenting this system to the
people. The time is not yet come to offer any
thing new that would in the least tend to con-
fruv0-or--srs,t~ov porurvai opInvsus. we
should wait until the democracy is more thor
oughly established before experimenting with
new systems. 1t will take longer time than
we have for all the peopleSo become acquainted
with anl reconciled to the change.
Some may think that the plan would give
them direct voice in the nominating of candi-
dates. They forget that tho field woul be made
broader for the formation of rings, log-rolling,
Sc, than ever before. Two or three townships
might swell their numbers to the utmt st name,
meet together, make up ticket and run it over
the remainder of the County with random or
township tickets. Some, however, may pro-
nounce that n bugbear, and hold that this OBJ
lection could be overcome by electioneering.--
We want no electioneering in the democratic
ranks. Let that be done in convincing radicals
and dissenters of the errors Of their way. The
Offices should rather hunt the men and not the
men the offices. The old plan is good one
let's not burn the bridge that carried us safely
over the stream. And l will hazard the asscr-
tien that whom the system Of Primary Election
is put into action, our representation will be
far weaker than ever before. Look and SEQ if
it is not the case with those Counties that have
already adopted the system.
Our steps should be slow and cautious there
is An element existing among us that every true
man should watch and crush when in his power
do hope that the County Convention will weigh
and analyze this matter well before they adopt
it.
Crops are looking we'll in our section-the
recent rains and hot sunshine bringing up cot
ton in many places whersyaome jsised they
would have no stands.-~General Green is also
marshHling his f.roea, -tKrsatentng ruin ani re-
treat to his adversaries. .'
l notice Oats in some places ready for ~
sickle, in others, and especially where they
were sowed late, arc materially injured by the
rust.
The colored portion of our community were
thrown into wild excitement on last Sunday
MOI ming by the shooting of James Shedon by
one Frank Whitmire, both colored-the ball en-
tcring the top of the right breast and lodging
in the heart. Jim was good humble worker
and voted the democratic ticket and, accord
ing to the evidence given in at the court of in
quest, was perfectly justifablc in his actions in
the matter.
The Legislature should take hold of this matter
and stop the carrying of concealed weapons
There is scarcely negro in the country but
what has pistol or n knife swung to his side,
to the annoyance and fear Of our better citizens
T.