The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-22

will never be driven from power by any.
thing like Col. Aiken's programme.
COL. AIKEN SPEAKS.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May II, 1884.
DEAR Sir: Your issue of the 18th
inst, contained the following extract:
"This is in keeping with Col. Aiken's
views as expressed at Townville, in this
County, in 1880, and if adopted by the
Southern people would lead to the utter
disorganization of the Democratic party,
both in national and in State politics.
The idea is impracticable, and its express
sion is mischievous. If Southern Con-
gressmen propose acting as independents
in national politics because they cannot
have their own way in national affairs,
why should not McLane. Clayton and
their associates act independently in
State politics when things do not go to
suit them The nere statement of Col.
Aiken's position shows how utterly de-
structive of party government his views
are. IF the. Democratic party in the
Union should be dissolved, it will be. i'm
possible to hold it together in the sepa.
rate States. 1t is fortunate for r'the party
through the Southern States that the bulk
of!their representatives are more prudent
than Col. Aiken" -
do:not propose to reply to this attack
further than to say, you are attempting
to place me upon political platform
that neither you nor any other man will
be allowed to erect for me. Ifby linking
my name with McLane's politically you
mean to doubt my party fealty, l spurn
the imputation with the contempt it de-
serves. Equally contemptuous is my opin-
ion of anything like. "Jndependentisu,"
either in State or National politics. A
fundamental principle with me in politi.
cal bodies is, that the majority shall rule,
and never before have 1 suspected you of
gainsaying this doctrine. But as you
propose to exhume Mr.. Tilden, and have
pinned your faith to Mr.. Randall and his
hirty-eight followers, rather than adhere
to the platform of the one hundred aud
ffty:fve good aud true Democrats whom
Mr.. Randall, recently defeated in the
passage of q measure vital to the South,
by joining his forces to the Republicans
in Congress, suppose your creed is that
the minority should rule the majority in
political deliberative bodies.
If, on the contrary, you consider that
majorities should rule, you have misrep-
resented yourself and not me in your
issue of last week for in the 45th Con-
gress the South, including Maryland and
Missouri, had IS Democrats, while the
North had but 60. Please tell your read.
ers why so men should shape legislation
for 95?
In the 10th Congress the South had
upon the floor of the House 96 Demo.
Gratis while the North had but 81. Please
advise the public why those 96 men were
not as capable of legislatiDg for the well
fare of the country as those 81?
In the 47th Congress, which was Re.
publican by reason Of the lack of North
ern Democratic votes, the South was
represented by SO Democratic Congress
men and the North by but As. l would
like you to advise me, if the public care
nothing for it, why s3 men should pay
continued Difference to the wishes of 4S?
In the present Congress there are SO
staunch Democrats on the floor of the
House from the South where
there are but 80 from the North,
exclusive of two or three political
nondescripts called Greenback- Democrats
and National-Democratic Greenbackers,
whom 1 have not counted. Think you
these SO have no claim upon the leader
ship in the National Congress when they
are discussing questions of National i'm
port? I deny that their effort to do so
would at all tend TO disrupt the National
Democratic p.rty; to the contrary it
would restore it to that party of fame
and character which it once was, but
from which high plane it has fallen into
disrepute because led by men many of
whom have been actuated by self-aggran.
dizement rather than by desire for the
supremacy of genuine Democratic prin-
ciples.
I take no stock in McLane and his
followers, nor do 1 look upon Southern
Independentism as anything but Repub
licanism in disguise, but l do say if
McLane's party could elect majority of
representatives in the Legislature Of
South Carolina, 1 would think him de-
mented if be did not shape the legisla.
ton of that body. How, then, can l
yield subsequently to Northern Democ-
racy on the floor of Congress, when l
know they have fewer votes and repre-
sent only doubtful States, while the
South has more votes there and is a
surely Democratic section?
But am writing far more than | in
tended, aud will close by asking an inser-
tion in your next issue.
Very respectfully,
p. WYATT AIKEN.
To o. B. MrRRAY. ESQ. dndtrson.