The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-16
Editor Anderson Intelligencer:

desire TO state that the article which an
peared in your last weeks issue. above nv
signature, was written for and sent to the
Charleston Netrs and Courier for publication,
but that paper delaying to publish rs early
rs l wished, (although intended) reman-
ded the communication.
1t, with an explanatory note accompany.
ing, l handed in to you personally. AS q
matter OF course, expected its insertion
along with the communication, or at least
AN acknowledgement in your criticism
This would have been but common justice,
and would have shown all absence of in
tention on my part to provoke discussion
In this County, rs also that l had anticipa-
ted Che structures of the local press upon the
programme Of the State Cxa-,,.iv. Com.
mittee.
1t is proper. furthermore. to state that it
was agreed. that an interchange Of views
should be conducted "s,lapiter IL, ,nodo" and
with liberality. To the discriminating
reader leave it TO compare the tone. Ian
gusge and animus Of the article with the
critique.
Thus much I venture to say of myself,
that my whole life and conduct, and all my
antecedents, identify me with the honora-
bic and virtuouB of my species, and yet
there is not one syllable of rccogniti, \ of
the fact, or bare intimation that an honest
difference Of opinion is possible. My arti-
Gle is characterized as fnnciful, unvise,
simple, absurd, preposterous, deceptive,
foolish and destitute of argument-te iu-
dice. Yet you devote nearly column and
hnif to its refutation, without reaching
the argument. This were a compliment
indeed, and confession, however reluctant
OF the estimation placed on it. Ignoring
| its main features, and in contravention to
all fair discussion, you gratuitously get
| clear outside and back of It, and lug in the
action of the Democratic Club at this place
on certain resolutions introduced by me
more tnan Two months since, and already
given whnt publicity could be given them
in your sheet Would you say nothing of
| the refined courtesy wherewith they were
received? the noble scorn and indignation
with which they were treated? or the mag
| unanimous bearing towards veteran Demo-
crat? Why not have said also that one
third, or less. of the Club was PRESENT, and
that the vote was by no means unani-
NOUS response? Let as confine ourselves
directly to the issue made.
Passing without consideration other OBJ.
jections, which will be met hereafter. / will
| noticH just here only the reflections upon
| my conccmnation of the resolutions and
programme of thc Executive Committee.
The 1NTELLIaENoER itself, after q time.
| mildly excepts. That Committee spoke
| either with Or without authority. If with
authority, then their action should be ac-
quiesced in; If without authority, then
! they are amenable to the charge of ar at.
| tempted usurpation of power. But wheth-
er the one or the other be true, 1t is clear
ard patent beyond Doubt, that ..:ay N.
tended and expected endorsement. They
promulgated the resolutions, with what
object7 For rejection2 No! For accep-
tance7 Yes No reasoning, no logic can
| set aside this conclusion. A mistake was
made; an errc- committed. Apology is
impossible.
Feliow-citizens, realizing in some meas
| IRE the political s;.ustion III Souti, Caro-
lima, have hitherto ventured to suggest q
course to be pursued, and plan to be adop-
! ted, (when more fully matured and deyel.
oped,) looking towards stability and perma-
nent pacification, seeing that parties were
in formation and transition state; that
differences existed on local subjects and
questions threatening division; that the
| Democratic party in the State represented
Dy the Clubs compared with the whole vote
vas in minority of perhaps 10000; that
in our last general election we had carried
| this number, who were unconnected with
| any strict organization; that in our own
| County from 1900 to l4oO more voters sup
ported our nominees in the general election
than in our primary that our system of
primary election unynodifed excluded these
from participation In the selection of canii-
| dates; that Hampton and the Legislature
| had recommended, and virtually pro.
| claimed, amnesty for all the late past, even
! towards the ring and chiefest offenders :
that the liberality and broudness and cath.
| olicity of the views expressed in the last
| campaign, and reiterated In tho beginning
OF this, by our Governor brought victory,
and would insure future success; that the
Radical party Is In o state of disorgariza-
| ton, and without leaders.
These constitute some of the reasons
why modification should take place. IL,
| as in New York or biassachusetts party
lines were already strictly and rigidy
drawn, then 1t might appear there was con-
tradiction between party right and the
recommendation, But surrounded by
! anomalous and peculiar circumstances. we
should shape our policy accordingly. In q
minority, we must, by superior address and
management, If possible. secure majority.
| 1t has been urged thnt any relaxation
would lead towards disintegration that de-
signing men wonld take advantage of it
thatBome would come into the Clubs with the
sole view of promotion; that "radico.demo.
cratic Democrats might be selected by the
primary elections, and tiiat II any are out
side the Clubs the fault Is theirs" Granted
that like the gates Of Janus during the pre-
valence Of war, our Club doors always
stand open to receive members. The invi-
tation is standing and general, yet it is q
fhct that many good men, many who helped
on to victory in the late canvass ytill remain
unaffiliated. We may not be able to see
Why this Is 80. They may not be able to
eatisfy us for their non. af;liation, but the
! fact Ia sill unchanged Is it not exn.yiient
without the least compromise. of principle
on our part, that we retain the strength anG
power of the 1900 or 400 voters who united