Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-04-06
A Call to DUTY.

the people of the State:
To the Democratic Party Of S,uth
Carolina: After two yours Of profound
peace our people arc ugnin called upon t.
undergo tho excitement Of political trials.
instigatcd by Federal Office holders, who
seek the restoration to power Of the cor
rupt men who brought disgrace aud we'll
nigh brought ruin upon this State. a. no
time 10 the history Of South Carolina have
there been greater quiet and good order iu
all ranks Of society, All classes of our
people are dcvo,ipg Themselves to the task
of repairing lhcii lost fortunes aud build
ing up the waste places which were de-
v'stat:d through years Of tyranny, opprcs-
81 "a and misrulc.
The harmony and good feeling which
! should exist bctwcen tho two races which
inhabit the State have increased, aud VIC
are beginning with gooG reason to look for
ward to period of prosperity and happi~
ness hitherto unknown in our annals. Dur
lug this time the courts Of the State have
! been open and all tic machinery of gov
crnment 10 full operation. The laws have
been administered with justice aud modcra-
! ton. No complaint has been hcurd that
he humbcst ctlz.n has not received the
fullest protection which everywhere in
this country is the prcrogutivc Of an Amcri-
| can.
T., Ill ~ ~
good government South Carolina can to day
safely challenge comparison with any other
State in the Union. But despite the peace
and quiet which have prevailed, despite the
existence Of Stote government ready to
punish disorder, rcprcss crime and protect
its citz ms, Federal officials have seen fit to
drag our people from their homes and ar
raign them not only before Federal Courts,
but before the bar Of public opinion. Not
content with the services of skilled and
learned counsel appointed to execute Fcdc-
raj laws within this State, the attorney
general Of the United States has seen fit
to employ counsel from anohcr State. The
recent letter of Attorney General Brewster
to MIR. Sanders is an Indictment of the
Democratic party of South Carolina. TO
this indictment the Democratic party must
answer. lts chosen representatives. through
whose persons it is sought to pcrpctratc this
outrage, must be defended with all Of the
force anl all Of the cnc,gy Of tho Dcmo-
crstc porty.
The purpose IN view is Too plain to be
misunderstood. He who runs nay read.
When the hand Of the assassin struck down
the President Of the United Stiles it dcalt
blow under which the people of the South
arc yet staggering. The change of polic7
towards the South, ss unmistokahly indi.
cated within the last few weeks, should warn
all lovers of good government 10 be yigi-
liant and active. The decree has gonc forth.
The white people Of South Carolina must
avow the principles of the Republican
party or be declared criminals.
The object of those in authority is not to
punish for alleged crimes in the past,
but 20 make adherence to the priuci pIcs
of the Democratic party impossible in the
| future.
The time for this action has been fitly
chosen On the eve Of State election our
| people are told they must submit to a re-
turn to Radical rule or brave the persccu-
tion of officials who arc aided by all of the
power of the General Government. The
time has come for ou indignant people to
rise in their might aud protest against this
unwairantable invasion of their rights. If
we fail in our duty our civilization will be
lost The foe and the stranger will again
rule South Carolina. The oppression and
the tyranny which marked tho history of
| Republican rnlo in this State will again
disgrace civilization and bring disaster upon
our people.
In this situation of Affairs no true son of
the State can doubt as to his duty. Let
us stand together as one man, and while
confronting the common enemy preserve for
ourselves and our posterty the peace, the
justice and the security which uuder Demo
cratic rule oil classes of our citizens have
enjoyed since the great revolution of 1876.
They whose only offepccis fidelity to Tho
welfare of the State must not be permitted
to suffer as criminals.
JAMES +. IzLAR, Chairman.
j. II. Earle, 9. S. Mccall.
d. NJ. johnson, B. p Barron,
George ID. Bryan, L. w. Dawson.