The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-18
HON. d. WYATT AIKEN's LETTER.

Hon. D. w. Aiken, our Representative
in Congress, under date of Washington,
December 5th, as relates to political sub
jects. Col. Aiken's constituents will
learn from it with no little regret that
their representative regards the Demo-
cratic party-the party called into exis-
tence during the administration of Wash
ington, although under a different name,
by the efforts of the Fcderalists of that
day to destroy the State governments
and establish consolidated Federal
government |; the party which for more
than sixty years controlled the admins
tration of public affairs of the country,
and made this one Of the first countries
Of the world, and the party, and the only
party, which to-day as in 1870 is opposing
consolidation and imperialism, has out
Tired its usefulness, and should be ,cipcd OUT
Col. Aiken would not destroy the eXis-
tence of parties, for he recognizes their
necessity, but he does object to their de-
signation as Democrat and Republican,
and would have "new dear'-a new
party--formed by calling convention
of the industrial elements of the country,
and forming Presidential ticket with
out regard to either of the political par
ties. This is speculatively beautiful, but
practically impracticable. Suppose Col.
Aiken should assemble his con1 ention of
the industrial interests of the country.
What discordant elements would COM
pose that convention There would be
Democrat and Republican, the Butlerism
of tho Atlantic and the Kearneyism Of
the Pacific, the advocate of protective
tariff and the advocate of free trade, the
constitutionalist and the consolidational-
ist, all striving for the ascendancy, with
no power or common tie to harmonic
them. From the assembling of such a
convention as this, composed of discor.
dant, waring elements, we should have
confusion worse confounded. The whole
thing is chimerical and wholly impracti-
cable. If constitutional liberty is pre-
| served on the American continent, it
| must be through the instrumentality of
the Democratic party. Destroy this par
ty, and the rights of States and the lib
| erty Of the citizen are gone. The mis-
sion of the Democratic party will not be
accomplished as long as American liberty
as secured by the fathers of the Republic
is to be preserved as common heritage,
and perpetuated to succeeding ages.
We regret still more that Col. Aiken
should have deemed it prudent to pub
lish to the whole country letter, the
ONLY tendency of which is to dishearten
and demoralize the party with which he
has been identified all his life, and which
placed him in the high and responsible
position which he now occupies, and to
encourage and sustain the Republican
| party, which he has abused in no uncer.
tain terms from its beginning. He ex-
presses the conviction that no partisan,
as Democrat, can carry the State Of
New York, and that Democracy cannot
carry Indiana. In other words, that the
defeat of the Democrats in 1880 is incuitd-
| bic. If the next Presidential contest is
| to be between the Democrats and Repub-
| licans, and we can see no other possible
prospect, then this expression of convic-
| ton is most unwise and impolitic. 1t
can accomplish no good for the party or
the country, and we can find no motive
for its publication, unless there is organ
lied, or in the process of organization,
! "new deal' in the formation of politi-
cal parties not disclosed in the letter or
elsewhere. We confess we do not under
stand Col. Aiken's position. If he in
tends to enter the contest in 1850 under
the Democratic banner, he would not
have proclaimed in advance the inevita-
BILE defeat of his party; and if such is
not his intention, and he is engaged in
the organization of a "new DEAL" the
people should be informed of it, and
know something of the remedy proposed
for the ruin sought to he accomplished.
Is it true, however, that the success of
the Democrats in 1880 is improbable, not
to say their defeat inevitable. Senators
Hampton and Butler, with the leaders of
the party, say that with judicious selec-
tions of candidates we will succeed.
The prospect of success to-day is more
promising than it was in 1876, when
Tilden received majority of near half
million of the popular vote of the whole
country. We do not despair of success.
We are much moro hopeful than in 1876,
and if united and confident we shall look
for success; but such letters from the
leaders of the party, published in the
papers of the whole country, as that Of
Col. Aikens will seal its doom. =
EXTRACTS FROM LETTER.
A run of six, eight or ten hours in the
limited express, the express or accommoda-
ton train, brings one from New York, 240
miles, to this beautiful city, the seething
cauldron of political partisanship. Party
rule and party limits measure the patriot
ism of those who come here to make laws.
Distance lends enchantment to the view"
and possibly, as one approaches greatness
its awe-inspiring majesty appears. 1t
seems to me there is no greatness States
manship-here. The leaders of both parties
are DarClSaTS, NOL SIdIeolIlSii Iiies ulC oCS-
tional in politics, and not patriotic. Every
question of importance has its Democratic
and Republican friends and enemies. A
"yea and nay" vote generally separates the
focks, but at heart there are sheep and
goats in both focks. Sectional measures
Show that blood is thicker than water
Pension appropriations or Northern i'm
provements easily close up the gap between
Northern Republicans and Northern Dem
ocrats. Southern pensions or Southe ern i'm
provements keep it closed up. Atthe South
we have struggled most manfully for home
rule, and style ourselves Democrats. At
the North a mere sentiment-the Solid
South-has whipped IS per cent of the vo-
ting population into the Republican party,
and if our Southern leaders continue to
thrust into Northern faces Southern choices
for Presidential honors, the remaining rs
per cent. will be there before the ides of
next November And then, what are you
l. IL -