The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-16
THE REPUBLICANS ALERT.

Mr J. c. Hemphilj, the efficient and
we'll Informed Columbia correspondent
OF the Ners and Courier, writing from
our State Capital, under date of Febru-
ary 18th, says:
was told yesterday by prominent
mined at the recent conference of the
Central Rer blican Executive Commit
tee to hold general conference in this
city on the second day of March. This
conference will be attended by two dele
who will be chosen b. the central com
selected, and on last Tuesday invitations
the conference. This mode Of selecting
was adopted "in order that the brains Of
The conference in March will shape the
future course of the party and finally
determine upon some definite plan Of
party" will furnish an interesting study
for the newspaper people at least.
The Republicans are evidently watch
ing their opportunity to seize the State
government, and no'i that there are
rumors Of indepcndentism in the Demo
cratic party, they think the time auspi-
cious for reausctation of the party Of
"fvc years more Of good stealing in South
Carolina" Independents have always
been the ally, if not the twin brother,
of Radicalism. and call it by whatever
name you may, all persons who will re.
feet for a moment must perceive that
any faction which splits up the white
people of the State tends TO restore the
negroes to the control of the State gov
crnment. They have the majority, aud
only need small detection among The
white voters TO enable them to retrieve
the power which their venality, their
ignorance. their extravaganza and their
tyranny lost in 1876. Whatever may be
the purposes of the Independents their
tracks lead only to the Republican ranks.
1t is not reasonable for five or ten thou
sand independents TO lead ninety thou.
sand Republicans. Experience has
shown that the Republicans gain all OF
the advantages which are reaped from
independents in politics. Those who
assist to break up the Democratic party
are only helping to rehabilitate the old
Republican organization, which is still
controlled by Whipper, Smalls, Elliott
Rainey, Sam Lee, L. w. ii. Mackey
Taft, and that class of men.
If there are grievances in our politics
the Democratic party, which include:
the wealth, the integrity and the intclli
gence of the State, is the party to correct
them. A few thousand white men can
not reform abuses by uniting with ninety
thousand negroes, for in that combination
ignorance, corruption and prejudice vii
always predominant over the true inter
ests of the State and no one, exccp
demagogues and olIice.seekcrs, will eve
advocate reform, which they can onl,
accomplish according to their own ad
missions, by the aid of the party whi,'
has heretofore disgraccd, robbed ant
Africanizcd South Carolina. This kline
of reform may suit the disgruntled office
seeker, tho demagogue and the morbidly
revolutionary, but it cannot be The
course which those who are interested
in tho permanent. welfare Of tho countr,
will endorse.
The Republicans, of course, commend
their new friends, and would make them
and the simple-mindcd who believe
them, think the Independents are grea
heroes; but at tho same time they are
drawing their forces together, and ar
ranging for the campaign which they
hopo the independents will render i
possible for them to win in South Caro-
lima. The people of the State will bt
kept apprised of the actions Of the party
leaders, and it will remain for the whit,
people of tho State to determine whether
they shall ever come back to power il
our midst again, Only through spill
among our own people can harm come
to the government of our State. Who
Is willing to help restore these public
cnomies to power again? Those wht
wish to do so cannot render them more
effective service than by raising an indie
pendent party.