The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08
THE DEMOCRATIC CRISIS.

THE DEMOCRATIC CRISIS.
The Republican party has for the past
six years been playing she bully with the
Democrats, who have not had the discre-
ton to avoid issues with them nor the
nerve to meet them when presented.
The members of the Democratic party
have always been apologizing for its po-
sitions and cringing to know what the
country will think of them, instead of
doing what their judgment tells them is
right, and then defending it before the
country. They have not sought by a
firm and resolute course to lead public
opinion, but have tried to follow it, and
in the endeavor have failed, because to
have followed it would have required
them to become Republicans in many
of the States. The Democratic party
appears just like huge army, capable of
immense conquest, but unof6cered, act
ing without concert, and therefore being
repeatedly whipped by an inferior but
skilfully oficered enemy. 1t has made
the mistake of trying to get party out
of power by Cancellation, when all history
has shown this to be an impossibility.
They have practically said to the Re-
publicans, if you will let US do so we will
turn you out of the Offices OF the gov
ernmentand take them ourselves, to which
modest proposition the Republicans have
repeatedly replied by howl of treason,
rebellion and revolution which has terri
fed the timid Democrats, and caused
them to Immediately begin apologizing
and begging the country to forgive them.
It has really become painful to witness
this state of things, and it is to be hoped
that its termination is at hand. The Re-
publicans have bluffed us on finance, and
when defeated by near half a million
votes for the Presidency, they had easy
work to frighten the Democracy out of
taking the prize which they had stumbled
upon. twas then plead that the Demo-
cratic party ought to be conciliatory, and
that it would appeal to the country for
vindication against the fraud on the bal
lot, and that its moderation in asserting
its rights after so great victory would
secure for it in future an overwhelming
triumph at che polls. If concession and
conservatism could have done any good
for the Democratic party or for the coun-
try, then was the time. What has been
the result? Let the elections held since
that eventful period tell. We have not
gained single State. Hence we have
not been benefited. This, however, is
not the worst. We have lost heavily in
our Congressional majority, and have
lost the States of New York, New Jersey
and, Connecticut, and therefore the policy
of concession has as usual benefited only
those to whom concessions have been
made. This is the natural result of the
course pursued, for it is bound to impress
the independent voter that the Demo
Gratis are acting simply from the stand
point of party advantage, and are not
fighting for great national principles,
which should not be compromised on the
mere grounds Of expediency.
The application of these remarks is
evident. Another crisis is upon the
Democratic party, and brought on, too,
by its own deliberate and persistent
course. We believe its action up to this
time has been wise and advantageous, if
it has the spirit and resolution to press
its policy to the end, but if it has been
simply feeler and at the bid of the
President, over whose Inauguration the
party has already backed down, there is
to be another stampede or another surren-
der, then the whole contest has been q
a ridiculous and egregrious blunder,
which it will be extremely difficult, if it is
possible at all, to retrieve before the
next Presidential election. If we are to
continue forever yielding and receding
from the policy we declare our intention
TO act upon, our party will come into
contempt before the people, and on the
very threshold of triumph it will vanish
from the political powers of the country.
Voters do not like q weak, vascillating
and cowardly political party any more
than individuals do a craven mar.
They do not like to give their sufrages
to party which is either unable or un-
willing to have them counted when cast.
We have already been so unfortunate as
to display the inability in the Presiden-
tial contest, and it is therefore highly
important that no further temporization
or vascillation shall be INDUCED. The
country expects Congress to stand to the
position it has assumed, and if it did not
intend to do so it should never have be-
gun this awkward business. We can
make nothing by concession. By pursu-
ing the policy begun we can triumph.
The road backwards leads to defeat,
while that in front leads to victory, and
we should move on along the whole line.
Secretary Sherman is in consultation
with his friends as to the propriety of