The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-12-01
ADDRESS OF THE STATE DEMOCRATIC
COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE.
The People Urged to Maintain the Organi.
cation Of the Party, and Prepare by
Training and Discussion for the Cons
pter Issues of the Failure.
Rooms OF TIE STATE \
DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
COLUMBIA, S. 9. November 22. 1882.
To the People of the State: The State
Dsmocratic Gommittee congratulate the
people OF South Carolina on the success
which attended the efforts of the Democratic
party to elect their candidates, and preserve
intelligent, just and economical rule in the
State. 1t is especially gratifying to the
committee to know that peace reigued
throughout the State on election day, and
that the conduct of the election, under the
stringent provisions of wise laws, is unas-
sailed and unassailable. With the excep-
tion of single county, where the Democrats
placed no candidates in the field, the whole
State is in Democratic hands, and six of the
seven Congressman are the regular candi-
dates of the Democratic party. There is
undoubted cause for rejoicing in such q
triumph as this, especially as, for the first
time since 1864 determined endcavor was
made to defeat the Democratic party by
joining the labors of few malcontent t WI hites
to the votes of the ignorant and prejudiced
negroes.
The political campaign on the part of our
opponents was marked by vulgar viruleuce,
and by uuscrupulous vituperation of the
most eminent men in the State The whole
Democratic party was arraigned and con-
demncd for imaginary misconduct; and it
was broadly asserted, in defiance of the
facts or in ignorance Of the condition and
the needs of the State, that tho time had
come when the Democracy should be re-
moved from power, and be succeeded by
the con. binaticn OF contradictory elements
which, animated by the expectation of pub
lie plunder, had undertaken to oppose and
defeat the Democratic party.
The most shameful part of the whole
business is that the officers of the Federal
Government, who are appointed for the pub
lie service and whose wages are paid by the
people, gave unhesitat.ng, unremitting and
unscrupulous support to the anti. Democratic
candidates. The election fund which was
raised by assessments upon the tens Of
thousands Of persons in the Government
service was used freely in South Carolina
The demagogues, who pitted themselves
against the candidates of the Democratic
parry wSfsSUslaidcd al al pants blythe
officers of the United States Government,
and by the money filched from the lean
pockets of Government clerks-whether
poor or well>to do, whether men or women
in every part of the country. Great as
the difficulties of the political situation were,
the Democracy have elected their candi.
dates as the lawful aud legitimate result of
just administration, wise nominations and
liberal principles 1t is also welcome fact
that the manner in which Federal patronage
has been abused is admitted to have had
much to do with the political revolution in
the North and West at the November
election. The State Committee, however,
cannot be unmind.ul Of the circumstance
that there is in the plenitude of our strength
an element Of weakness, and that the party
should prepare iu time for contest that
will be more severe than that through which
the Democracy have passed.
The platform of the Democratic party
adopted in the State Convention last Au-
gust announces, in general terms, tho prin-
ciples which should be the rule of our
political action and conduct. The Demo-
craoy in thatplatform demand economy with
efficiency in the conduct of the Government,
popular education as the bulwark of free
institutions, honest home rule, fair trials by
impartial juries, reform of the civil service,
the prohibition of assessments upon the
public servants, for political purposes, for
any reason and in any disguise, reduction
of the duties on imports, and the sacred
maintenance of the public credit, National
and State. Here is the chart for our guild
ance, and if our path be illumined by the
declaration that what we most desire is
"justice and equality in the State, so as to
ensure harmony and good will between the
races" and that what we look to and work
for is an "indissolube Union of indestruct--
ible States" we cannot 60 as:ray and shall
be proud Of our position as Democrats and
as members Of the party which represents
the great principles of American progress
The Democratic party is the soul of action.
It has confidence in man and an abiding
reliance in his high destiny. 1t seeks the
largest liberty, the greatest good. Its OBJ
ject ;s to build up the great interests of the
many to the least detriment Of the few.
1t remembers the past without neglecting
the present. 1t establishes the present
without falling to provide for the future
1t cares for the weak and permits no injus-
tice to the strong. 1t is the pioneer Of
humanity and the oonservator of nations.
It fails only when it ceases to be true to
itself. We recall here the essential princi-
Piles Of Democratic faith as declared by
Thomas Jefferson eighty years ago.:
equal and exact justice to all men, Of