The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-12-12

No event, since the memorable
cslpp.a{{gp Of 1876 Wien Radicalism
'Was aeyhfoned and Democracy WAS
~gHttated once norei:in control Of
the affairs OF the State, has [iappcneG
Of greater Significance to our people
than the municipal election held in
our chief city on tuesday last. In
that tamtjdign the people, who had
become tircd'cf the oppression they
had SO long suffered, united in com,
mon cause and achieved ut the ballot
box sweeping victory over those
whose purpose Iit was to grow rich
at the, expense Of the citizens; so in
Charleston, there was d community.
of sentiment and interest among her
people, which rallied ht the polls to
wrcst the City (rdm confusion anu the
hands OF those WHO sought 10 build
themselves up upon her ruin.. As
Gen. Hampton on that occasion bore
the standard Of true Democracy.
through the most terrible opposition,
TO victory; SO Capt. Courtenay on
this lead the party OF honest govern
'r:aenr 4nd "soi;nd principles TO sue
Cess s'grand rs TINT achieved in
1876. A uelcar at that 1.-THE
would have been most disastrous, re-
sul,ing ultinlalelyin The disintegra-
'.on OF the Dclnoccalic party by Civ
ing an indefinite lease of poweiio Our
"nscrupuous opponents so dcrea. in
the late municipal election would
prove TO he ruinous TO our hopes by
giving p: ominencc and intluence to In
tcpendcnliam that wonlA finally dcs-
trey otrpa1ty ofgahizatiohl it wUuld
have. 'been@a calamity to the entire
State. Victory, ON the one occasion,
was death to"Radicalism SO in this,
we trust, 1t 'silt'bc death to, Indc.
pcndcntlsm. '''..!.:
The result Of this Charleston clcc-
lien brings out few facts which the
Nhshffcrtcd potion Of our citizens
might remember: First, that our rpco-
pie, notwithstanding the hue and cry
against it, correctly understand the
Importance ofpart.r Organization and
will not allowlir TO be broken up l.y
the schemes Of those who oppose De
mocracy; that III ic'inMucnce ofprinci.
pie exercises a" groatcr power over
Lhc masses than tliat' Of leaders work
Ing for selfish ends and that The day
for fraud and bull DOING, ON the part
ef politicians on election occasions,
is enara in Soqtir Carolina.' These
facts, established rs they arc by this
election, ought certainly TO bring
par!: into the folds Of their party,
those WHO have wandered away under
iaisc fhip.2ooions ami make them
iirm Adhcfcnts TO thc principles con-
trolling the conduct or their fellow
itizcns. The remedy for party cr-
sbre is not 10 be found in Indepcnd
ea1tislh or in boiling, but in candid
hnd Aonest' discussion of differences
md firm resol:c 10 abide by the de
cision Of the party: IL view Of the
stubborn opposition 70 hr overcome
as,d'tiic' great Interest ut stake, such
a'cbarsc Is the only sensible one and
hest calculated TO give success. Had
lilis policy been pursued there would
have arisen no OCCASION for split in
tbs Chgrlcsion Democracy or for re-
proacias Of ohe bhrsy against another.
it is'veryilhbU@aht that The feelings
of bittcrness,' engendeied by this con-
test, shoild soon die out, ana that
the party hereafter stand as INIT
not only il Charleston but through
out the etate, anti with stil the force
of firm Organization be prepared to
enter upon thc political contest Of
next fall, - ">l
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