The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-11-11
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AFTER THE FIGHT.

4uS SISassA = 1SS1NSAtAn1 U<1seAS 40 49,
and the D emocratics party has again, for
the sixth time in succession, been de-
ssfeated, so that the administration will for
the term of twenty four years have been
in, the control of the: Republicans. It is
but natural that the Democrats, upon the
depression which Immediately follows
defeat, should have been Respondent and
disappointed-in no mood for argument
o. mature reflection. The first bitterness
Of the defeat, however, has now had time
To- tone down, and the thought and judg-
sment of our people may be appealed to
once more. We all recognize the COM
pleteness of the disaster which has over
taken the Democratic party, but does that
afford any excuse for the wild tumult
that, strange TO say, has found expression
I'm some very respectable quarters, in
which it is proposed to disbsnd and sur
render without terms. We think not.
The South and the Democratic party
were. fighting for principle, and not sim
ply for victory. II victory were all that
We desired, it would be wise and discreet
to disband our organizations. Before
doing this, however, let us see what this
implies. 1t means the consent of the
South to the frauds, eorruptions and in
famous appointments of Federal officers
that have and will be made throughout
the South. It means consent to, and
negative endorsement Of, the Republican
programme Of Capitalization, which is
intended to convert this country into a
monarchy in fact if not in name. 1t
means treachery to and desertion of the
Democratic party of the North, which has
been fighting in our behalf and in the
cause of constitutional liberty ever since
the war. It means an invitation for the
renewal of carpet-bag rule in the South
ern States. It means confession that
the South has been endeavoring to cap
ture the government, and gives up the
effort as hopeless undertaking.
The South has been solidly conser, a.
tive, and has stood firm for those princi-
pies which, if triumphant, would make
this Government as pure and great and
benign to all its citizens as 1t was in the
time of Jefferson and Monroe. 1t was q
battle for principle, and though its cham
pions have been defeated the cause sur
wives, and will survive until the Republic
yields to the attacks Of the conspirators
who would rejoice at the destruction OF
liberty and the substitution of an empire
on its ruins. For the South to cease to
act with the Democratic party would be
political cowardice, for it would be equiv
alent to turning our backs upon the men
who have dared to risk their popularity,
their regulations and, in some instances,
their personal safety for us. When the
dark days of reconstruction first gave to
the country solid South-soid for cor
ruption, solid for carpet-baggers, solid
for ignorant negro government and solid
for the Republican party-and when the
whole North and West was solid against
the South, such men as Bayard and Thur
man stood seven alone in the United
States Senate and protested and denoun-
ced the iniquitous measures that sought
to faste'n forever the pail of corruption
and ignorance upon the postrate South.
The shattered fragment of Democracy in
every Northern State kept up tho fight,
and defeat was piled upon defeat, both
National and State, until history can
find in the persistent and firm fight made
by those little handfulls of Democrats in
he North as grand moral conflict as
The world has ever witnessed. They did
not disband nor go into the Republican
.:amp. They do NOT propose to disband.
they are fighting for principle and will
not tenlporize with power. The South
will not disbrand. It cannot afford to do
81. Wo have good State governments