The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-07-25
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF ANDERSON
COUNTY

COUNTY.
Mr.. EDITOR had the honor to address
you in a communication over the signature
of Democrat" published in the INrELL1-
GENcER December 2Oth, 1875, urging upon
the Democrats thorough and unfinehing
organization, such as would bring every
man square to the front. That communi-
cation expressed our plan of organization.
Township after township responded to our
communication by organizing their Demo-
cratic clubs, and electing their delegates to
County Convention to meet at Anderson
Court House on salesday in February, 1876,
az suggested by Democrat" We had q
Convention on that day, and the County of
Anderson was organized into solid and de-
termined Democracy, upon the principles
of straight-out policy. At the first Conven-
ton of 1876, that recognized the State
Democracy. we had the honor to be ap-
pointed a member of the State Democratic
Executive Committee. Notwithstanding
some of the leading papers Of the State, and
many of the counties, were opposed to
straight-out policy, we still adhered To it
and urged it upon the Committee. Other
members did the same. This Committee,
as the State, was naturally divided in opin-
ion upon the subject, but they were all good
and true men, and desired nothing but the
welfare of the State. We finally determined
our policy by calling State Democratic
Convention, which met in Columbia on the
18th day of August, 1876. The Convention
was largely attended and the same ques-
ton of "straightout' was again considered
in the Convention, and we, having at that
time the honor to be member again, fa-
vorsd the "straight-out' policy, which was
finally adopted by the Convention. Not,
however, without strong and powerful OPP
position, but when adopted every member
at once gave his full faith and allegiance to
it, and made their nominations for the State
with Gen. Wade Hampton at its head, and
the campaign soon afterwards opened at
Anderson Court House. and from that day
until the day of election the people of the
State kept it up day and night, and VIC
tory was won, and glorious victory it was.
In the inception of that contest we prom
ised in behalf Of Anderson County twenty
five hundred Democratic majority. 1t was
thought by many that our zeal for the party
had caused Us to over estimate the strength
of the County, but the Democrats made our
promise good, and increased it to three
thousand one hundred and fifty votes.
This was glory enough for US.
In that race We were asked by many to
become candidate for the Legislature.
This we declined, because we believed we
could do more for our party as private
citizen. There being good men in the field
they were elected, and faithfully represented
the County. And we think we hazard
nothing when we say that no body of rep
resentative men have ever, since the founda-
ton of civil government, shown more de-
votion to patriotism and ,heroism. than the
members of the last Legislature. It was
they that asserted your rights and marched
into the State House under circumstances
that would have been creditable to the
Stonewall Brigade in the late civil war. By
this act they saved.to the State the victory
won by her sons and daughters. But my
fellow Democrats, it is one thing to gain
victory and another to maintain it. To
make good the victory won and the bless
ings secured to our people by it, requires
further and still more concentrated action.
1t has been we'll said that the price of
liberty is eternal vigilance. Recognizing
this great TRUTH what is our duty ir the
coming contest? 1t seems to us that it will
be found in this: To adopt the platform of
1876, or one akin to it; nominate straight
out Democrats for State and county, and
let every Democrat support them, whether
their choice be placed in the field or not.
And all independent candidates must still
be known and recognized as the worst enc
mics of the State, because such policy, if
permitted, would destroy the Democratic
party, and give the State back into the
hands of vice., Ignorance and corruption.
We know all men upon all subjects cannot
agree, but our peculiar differences must be
settled in primary elections. We must
know nothing after that but to elect the
men who are nominated. This will save
the State and make our people prosperous
and happy.
The complimentary suggestion Of myself
for the State Senate from Savannah town.
ship. and the communication of "Lo1."
made it, in our Judgment, proper for US to
make this communication, and while We
expect in the future, as in the past, to de.
vote our time, talent and strength to aid
and assist the Democratic party, we do not
in this campaign ask Office, and ,uin not be-
come candidate before the people. The
first thing to be done is to get the State
right, and then it is time to look out for
places of honor and trust. One of the great
est evils we have to contend with in the
party is to be found in too great thirst for
Office. And while this is the case, the clubs
should be the more careful to place in NOM
ination only those who, by their acts and
devotion to the party, show them to be men
well worthy of our confidence.
Never, in the history of our State, did her
services require SO much talent, fidelity and
honesty as she does at this time. Abbeville
has done well to call her MCGOWAN, Edge
field her Bonham, and the other counties of
the State should profit by their example.
Let no Democrat forget that we, BY our
united effort, did moro than redeem the
State. We elected in part good and true
men as representatives from this State to
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