The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-22
COL. AIKEN SPEAKS,
'VASHINGToN, ID. C., May II, 1873.


WASHINGTON, ID. e., May II, 1884.
DEAR SIR: Your issue Of the 18th
inst, contained the following extract:
This is in keeping with Col. Aikcn's
views rs expressed a. Townville. in this
County, in 1880, and if adopted by the
Southern people would lead TO the utter
disorgnnization Of the Democratic party,
both in national and in State politics.
The idea is impracticable, and it's express.
sion is mischiev0us. 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 20 10
suit them? The mcre statement Of Col.
Aiken's position shows how utterly de.
strnctive of party government his views
are. II tho Democratic party in the
Union should he dissolved, it will be i'm
possible to hold il together in the sepa.
-ate States. 1t is fortunate for the party
through the Southern States that the bulk
OF their representatives are more prudent
:hah 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. If by linking
my name with McLane's politically you
mean to doubt my party fealty, spurn
the imputation with the contempt it de.
serves. Equally contemp,uous is my opin.
ion of .ything like "Indepenlen,isn,,"
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 suspected you of
gainsaying this doctrine. But as you
propose to exhnme Dir. Tilden, and have
pinned your faith 10 Mr.. Randall and his
thirty-eight followers, rather than adhere
to the platform cf the one hundred and
fifty five good and true Democrats whom
Mr.. Randall recently defeated in the
passage of 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.
IT, OH 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 18th Con.
gress the South, including Maryland and
Missouri. had 95 Democrats, while the
North had but GO. Please tell your read.
e.s Why 60 men shculd shape legislation
for 952
In tho 46th Congress the South had
upon the floor of the House SO Demo.
Gratis while the North had but 81. Please
advise the public why those 96 men were
not as capable of legisla.ipg for the vel.
fare of the country us those ga?
In the 47th Congress. which was Re.
publican by reason of the lack OF North.
ern Democratic votes, the South was
represented by 83 Democratic Congress.
men and the North by but 4s. I would
like you to advise me, if the public care
nothing for it, why 83 men should pay
continued Difference to the wishes of 48Y
In the present Congress there are 80
EtsRzch Democrats IN She ancE Of the
House from the South where
there are but 80 from the North,
exclusive of two or three political
nnndescripts called Greenback Democrats
and National Democratic Greenbackers,
whom l have not counted. Think you
these 90 have no claim upon the leader
ship In the National Congress when they
are discussing questions of National i'm.
port9 deny that their effort to do 80
would at all tend to disrupt the National
Democratic, party; 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
disrepnte because led by men many of
whom have been actuated by se.f f.aggran.
dizement rather than by desire for the
supremacy of genuine Democratic prin.
ciples. ,@ aesi
| take no stock in McLane and his
followers, nor do I look upon Southern
1ndependentism as anything but Repub-
licanism in disguise, but I do say if
McLare's party could elect majority of
representatives in the Legislature Of
South Carolina, /, would think him de.
msnted If he did not shape the legisla.
ton of that body. How, then, can i
yield subserviently TO Northern Democ-
raey on the aoor Of Congress, when I
know they have Fewer votes and repre-
sent only doubtful States. while the
southihas moro votes there and 10 a
surely Democratic sectiouf
6 But I am writing far more Than / 10.
tended, and will close by asking on, inser.
tion In your next Issue. ,;a4y
5,4s s Very respectfully,
;,f D.siyyATrsA AIKEN. {
. : To e E. .l3,.;!'G 3. ;siGUnaAy. Inn 4. ESQ dndtrson,