The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-11
a GENTLEMAN FOR PRESIDENT.

In all of the speculation about Presi-
Dental candidates, the burden of inquiry
on the Democratic side seems to be for
man who can be elected; and this is
proper, for the issues involved are so vast
5 and important that nothing less than the
perpetuation of the Republic is at stake.
The political battle in 1880 is to be the
test conflict between the Capitalization or
monarchial party and the States rights
party. If the Republicans succeed, the
present Constitution is doomed instru-
ment and the Republic is on the extreme
verge of its overthrow. If, on the other
hand, the Democracy is successful, the
Union win be preserved in its integrity,
and the doctrines and principles of the
fathers of American liberty will again
give peace, happiness and contentment
to this country, which in its past glory
!, has won for itself the appellation of "the
land of the, free and the home of. the
brave" When such issues as these are
at stake, it is not 70 be wondered that the
party of constitutional government is
very solicitous for the nomination of
candidate who is reasonably sure of elec-
tion. In this feeling we ourselves join.
This, however, should not cause the
Democratic party to make q negative
canvass for the purpose of avoiding GER
tain issues which the Republicans will
seek to bring into the coming contest, as
for instance the old bloody shirt war cry
against the South. That issue will in
eyitably be raised, and must be met, let
the candidate be who he may, and the
party cannot succeed in any negative
combat upon it. The Republicans
charge the whole Democratic party with
seeking to restore the South to inau-
ence and control in the government, and
that charge cannot be met by nominating
some unknown man or even some man
who is opposed to the South. 1t would
be subterfuge, which would bring the
Democratic party into contempt and
weaken its claims to the support of the
intelligent voters of the country, for it is
evident that whoever is elected President
by the Democrats will have to receive
Southern votes to procure majority, and
the Southern question will enter as
consequence with all its possible force
into the canvass, let the nomination be
given.to man who has record or to.
one who has none. This being the case,
there is but one chance for US to succeed.
and that chance lies in squarely present
ing the issue to the country that the
Union has been restored and will be
maintained in its integrity; that the civil
war is over and the South is once more a
part of the Union, and is loyal to it; that
the dead past should bury its dead, and
that the Union of to-day is a Union for
ever, in which there should be no North,
no South, no East and no West, so far as
the administration of the government is
concerned. With this platform the NOM
ination of gentleman for President in
whose life and word and purposes men of
all parties are compelled to have faith,
there is every probability of triumph.
The country wants a President for
whom there is sincere respect, and
whose integrity is entirely above re-
-ps5ash6 The nomination of such man
would be the strongest plea which could
be put forth for the public suffrage. 1t
would at once command the respect and
admiration of the country, Its very
novelty would command for it strong
following. The people have become so
accustomed to the nomination of men
whose regulations are liable to censure,
and whose success is attributed to combi-
nations and tricks, that it would be
general and genuine relief to see some
pure and spotless man of Roman integri-
ty and Christian purity placed at the
head of Presidential ticket for their
sufrages. If the Democracy has the
strength to do this, success is within
reach. It has the man. Our readers
already know to whom we refer, for Sen
ator Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware,
stands out to-day as far above corrup-
tion, intrigue or deceit as any man that
America has ever produced. he is Sec
oud to none in his devotion to duty and
his fidelity to his every trust. He is.one
man that has all along his life been ac-
tuated by the ennobling doctrine that "it
is better to be right than to be President" :"
He would not make promise that he
did not intend to fulfill, nor utter SEN
timent which he did not fully believe for
any triumph, either personal or political.
The country would, therefore, believe in
the man, and could not help believing in
the party which placed itself under his
leadership. His letter of acceptance
would be read not as bid for votes, but
as the enunciation of policy which
would be faithfully and conscientiously
carried out if he should be elected. The
country would have in his nomination
the assurance that Democratic success
would give US an able, pure and patriotic
gentleman for President, and the enthu-
siasm to result from this assurance would
be the best possible guaranty of victory.
The Southern cry could not seriously in
jure Senator Bayard, for he has been too
consistent and patriotic in long course
.c-,ll;. ,o-r;oa for opv ona m dopht his