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

In another column Col. ID. Wyatt
Aiken cites our paragraph upon his new
party programme, and becomes quite in.
dignant over it, attempting to put US in
the position of making platform for
him, which he repudates, spurns, con-
TENNIS, &c. In this he is arguing from
an assumed premise which does not exist.
We have made no platform for him, but
merely criticised the platform be has
made for himself In this we do not
think we have misrepresenlcd him. Our
remarks were predicated upon the follow.
ing dispatch from Washington:
"Col. Aiken says he is in favor Of the
Southern Democrats in the House form.
ing party of their own. Then they
could control the balance Of power.
They could then say to these other gen.
temen, go ahead and propose such legis.
lation as you desire. If we like it we
will vote for it, if not, we will vote
against it. no matter whether it originates
OH tho Democratic or Republican side
They could then, he says, command such
respect as is now denied them. For the
past ten years the South has bcen play.
ing kite for tail end of the party, and
the tail has controlled the movements of
the kite"
This is what we called favoring inde-
pendentism, and as Col. Aiken does not
deny holding these views, we nre of opin-
ion that he has nothing - complain Of
in Our article. He is not an Independent
in State politics, nor an independent,
individually, in National politics, but he
favors an independent party iii National
politics. lie docs this, os course, because
he does not like the action Of the Nation
al Democratic Party. This il precisely
what McLane and company have been
doing in South Carolina. They have not
only advocated an independent party
here, but have actually formed one, and
our people will remember that IN their
speeches they really claimed that they
were the true Democrats, and that the
rest Of us had left the faith. This is pre-.
cisely Col. Aiken's position in National
affairs. BY this we do not mean that he
is member or sympathizer with the
independent party in State politics, but
what we mean is that the same principle
that would justify the formation Of an
independent party in National politics,
would also lead to it in State politics.
Col. Aiken favors tho formation of IN
independent party in the Union, because
he ia dissatisfied with National Iegisla.
ton. Upon the same principle others
might favor The formation Of ah indepen-
dent party in State politics because they
do not like State legislation. In our
opinion, both these positions are mis-.
chieyous and wrong. The remedy for
any grievance lies inside Of the lines mud
not outside.
These independent sentiments are not
new with Col. Aiken, for he deliberately
expressed the opinion in letter TO the
Meas and Courier in December, 1879, thnt
both political parties have outlived their
usefulness and should be wiped out.
The following extracts from that letter,
written from Washington, show his real
sentiments:
Il seems &c ne there is nc greatness
5tatesinsnshir-he.e. The leaders Of
both parties are partisans, not statesmen
they are sectional in politics, and not
patriotic. Every question of Importance
has its Democratic and Republican
friends and enemies. A "yea and nay"
vote generally separates the focks but mt
heart there are sheep and gosts in both
tlocks. Sectional measures show that
blood is thicker than water. Pension
appropriations or Northern improve.
ments easily close up the gap between
Northern Republicans and Northern
Democrats. Southern pensions or South.
ern improvements keep IL closed up. At
the South we have struggled most man.
fully for home.rule, and style ourselves
Democrats. At the North mere senti.
nIent-the Solid South-has whipped rs
pet cent. of the voting population into
the Republican party, and If our South.
ern leaders continEe to thrust into North
ern faces Southern choices for Presiden.
tiai hon0Ts, che remaining 25 p0T cent,
will fa there befue the ides OF next
November. And then, "what are you
going to do about it3" a'H
Looking the field all over, Messrs.
Editors, and analyzing the incentives
that prompt the actions of your legisla.
tors, am irresistibly convinced that If
we wish to live in peace and prosperity
under our own vines and zig trees at the |
South, and cement this Union with a |
cohesion really patriotic and rue, the |
tins has come for "new deal" political |
ly; or If not yet, is not far distant.
Both the political rarties of this country
have ont.lived their usefulness, and |
shenld be wiped out. The word Repub.
,ilcan, used In o partisan sense, is hateful |
to every respectable Southerner who loves
the land that gave him birth. / have
reason to know that the. word Democrat.
:s, z1assl - 3 eaEs.Sasa ssa.sse sense, Is ne ,ssse |
distastefnl to o majority of the voters of
the North, and they of the better CLASSES.
Then how, can these two. discordant ele.
ments assimilate for the public veal? |
They cannot. would not destroy par.
ties. They are necessary to establish a |
wholesome public opinion. But they
should never be allowed to become sec.
tional. A Solid South ys. q Solid North |
simply means house divided against |
itself; andtas true IA the book in which |
IL was written will be. the, sequence of |
such division. We have the HSolid
South" 70. day. The ".Solid North will
Come 80 coon that It will seem like to.
morrow when it Is passed. My conyio.
Meuis the peEtiaan does not live who can |
carry New York an Democrat.
Neither will Democracy carry, Indiana.
All else is Republican. II. this result is
inevitable, as I ,erily believe 1t is, what
alternative have We j5."s
$4 The people have it in their power to