Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-24
In Union thoro is Strength.

This is and has been tho motto
of the Republican party for years aud
under it many victories haze been wen at
tho POLLS Vote tho ticket is q mandate
which every Republican feels bound to obey.
and without inquiring as to the fitness, quali'
fication, moral character or antcccdents Of
the nominees, tho ranl; and file follow their
leaders. We cannot sny it is an evidence Of
a high order Of liberty. a blind adherence
to party is a species of dcspotism in converting
( tho ballot into q machine to work out the
ends Of few individuals. While the leaders
arc honest and labor solely for tho public
welfare, no great dctrimcnt cnsucs; but when
they wranglo over men without regard to
the principles they cmbody, liberty is endan-
gercd The ballot is power fer good or evil ac.
cording rs il is used. If voters read, reflect and
ponder well the principles of good govern
mcnt and cast their ballots for men seeking
Office purely and solely upon their fitness
and qualification in a moral and intelligent
point of view, then liberty and honest go
vcrnmont are secure. On the other hand,
when voters desire only to know the party
nominees and yoc the ticket without inquiry,
there can be no security. Tako tho Credit
Mobilcr investigation as true, and what
citizens, hoping and expecting honest govern
mcnt, could support Garfield? Is j: trnc?
1t was taken by a Committee appointed by
Republican Congress, and by its report Gar
fold comes out worse damaged than Colnx,
who vas by it laid on the shelf. Were
every word Of that report known and ad-
mittod to bo true tho mass Of the Repubi can
party would vote the ticket purely for party.
Itmay divide and wrangle over nominees,
but nominations unco made, tho party again
becomes solid.
Tho Democratic party, on the other hand,
ut least in tho South, is hard to unite. IT'S
voters believe in preserving their individuality
and casting their votes according to their
individual opinions and preferences. They
cannot brook nominations by conventions
and can barely bo induced to unto on nomi"
nations by primary elections in county
matters. This is II good sign Of the honesty
and frmncss OF the party, and under ordinary
circumstances would DO highly commcnda-
ble. In our present situation, however,
union is Indispensable to success. Our
together, without reference to personal
preferences. a solid party must be met by
ono equally compact, and whoever promotes
disscnsion or division plays into tho hands Of
our opponents. The day may come, and we
hopo very soon, when wo can return to our
old plan Of voting, each voter supporting the
man he thinks most competent for the Office.
Until this day comes, let US all strive to
promote harmony in our party and thus
preserve tho power in our State SO hardly
won in 1876.
Wo bopo to pursue this subject further
hereafter, and say something rs to tho danger
Of arraying class against ca0s, upon the
question OF avocations and professions. This
10 to be dcplorcd and should bo combated by
oyery Democrat. We aro ono people in
race, in government, in interest and in all
things, and whether man bo a doctor,
LAWYER, merchant or farmer should have no
weight in tho selection Of officers, but the
fitness and qualification Of the man.
Ia Ex-Jndgo Townsend is at the head OF an
Independent movement in Marlborough
county, which docsn'. amount to much.