The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-15

~vention that has so truly espoused the
cause of woman and prevented her from
bartering away that silence which Is
golden, for the sounding brass of public
voting and the tinkliny cymbal of public
speaking.
Swearing Them In-The Autocratic
Dictum of the Executive
Committee.
AS ma have been seen by our report
of the meeting at Abbeville on last Sale
Day, the State Democratic Executive
Committee propose to run this campaign
on principles consonant with their own
autocratic notions. 1t only remains to
be seen how tamely our people will sub
NIT to the indignity offered them by the
| State Executive Committee in the follow
ing paragraphs Of their recent circular:
Each aSpirant for the position Of candi-
date, when he accepts the nomination so
made, shall Immediately notify the Coun-
ty Chairman in writing of the fact, and III
the same communication state that he Is
a member of some club, and subscribe to
the following pledge: IL agree to abide
by and support the nominations of the
Democratic party, and not to accept eth
er a nomination or III office from any
other Source than the regularly constitu-
ted Democratic organization.'
o the day fixed for the primary cleo
ton each local club shall hold an election
for candidates Of the Democratic party,
and report the result in writing over the
signatures Of the Managers to the County
Chairman. At this election none but
members of the local clubs shall vote,
and each member, before being allowed
to vote, shall take tho following pledge:
II solemnly affirm that | am L duly en-
rolled member of this Democratic Club,
that l have not voted at this election and
that l will abide bv and sustain all nom
nations made by the Democratic party,
whether for Federal, State or County Of
~ticers."
When compared with their action in
the last campaign, it is truly wonderful
to observe the rapid strides which this
Committee have made towards assuming
the Dictatorship of South Carolina. In
the last campaign, this committee, 1t
seems to us, was characterized more for
IFS inaction than anything else, except
perhaps q Difference to the will of the
people and q willingness to confer with
them and to work in unison. But now
how different. These men holding over
from the last campaign propose to die
tate to our candidates for official stations
the amount Of humble pie they shall be
required to eat, before they shall have
official honors conferred upon them by
our people. And not only are candidates
to be required to "swcar," but each indi-
kyidual voter shall be called upon to do
his pro ito share Of ''swcaring' before
he can exercise the constitutional rights
Of All American citizcn--a proceeding
which we predict will cause a good deal
more cursing than "swcaring." We do
not understand that the State officers and
congressman are to be asked to "swear,'
although when "swearing' is to be so
much the fashion us to make an oath the
test of a gentleman and Democrat we
cannot comprehend why they should be
denied the privilege Of testifying in their
own behalf
II this assumption Of power is not
stopped, we may in the campaign which
succeeds this, expect to see this commit
tee prescribe the amount of blue blood
which shall flow In the veins of those who
aspire to be candidates, as we'll as
to fix the moral standard of excellence to
which a voter shall be required TO attain
before he he allowed to vote or to take
any part at all in the political destiny Of
the State. We have not been informed
what will likely be the action of the A b.
beville County Democratic Club OH this
most extraordinary emanation of the fer
tile brains of the Executive Committee,
but we are free to say for ourselves
are not willing to vote for any man who
will without reluctance take SC debasing
an oath as either of the above. We trus:
that no office seeker in Abbeville county
is willing to admit that his party fealty
is doubtful, and that it is necessary for
him to take an oath to define his political
faith. The mere thought of the nccessi-
ty of such AT oath is an imputation which
it seems to US any spirited gentleman
would resent.
The action of the State Executive Com
mittee in tho premises reminds us OF a
little incident which occurred in Able
villo Court House, while the Radicals
were in nominating convention two
years ago. Then the negroes were in
great doubt as to the sincerity of their
white Republican friends and were dis
posed 10 distrust all that class, but more
especially any and all Of the new IN
verts to the faith. When making their
nominations the name of a white man
was brought forward for office. a corn
field delegate being on the qui viUe objected
to the nominee because he chad never de-
clared himself to be a Republican" The
nominee being present Immediately arose
from his seat and "declared," a second
brother being more suspicious than the
first, thought it necessary to ''swcar
him." The candidate then rosc and
''swore." This still was unsatisfactory
to a third sable brother who thought the
candidate should be required to "hold
up his right hand and swear" The all
didate after IL little hesitation again rose
from his seat and "hcld up his right
hand and swore." The White maj
didn't get the nomination. Subsequent
ly, the name OF another white Republi-
can was brought before the convention.
and he too was pressed "to his political
fealty, but pressed q little further than he
could bear, he politely asked tho conven-
ton ito 80 to -" and left the hall.
This white man got the nomination.
We submit that there is u parallel be-
tween the action Of the Radical nomina-
ting convention and the action of the
State Executive Committee, and we
doubt not there will be u similarity in the
action ofthe ot1ice-seekers. A portion may
promptly eat their allowance of humble
pie, but the remaining portion, and
better portion too, may not do so, even if
they fail to instruct the State Democratic
Committee to go to the torrid zone. Our
own opinion is, that any man worthy to
hold office will rafISe to take fha ,ootb