The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-04-04
~Crow-Eating to Excess.

The Smith matter in Columbia,
has absorbed the attention Of most
OF our exchanges during the past
week; and it is not strange, for
never before has that political par
ty which represents honesty and
good government prepared for its
followers such n dainty dish. II
the charges against Mr.. Smith be
true, (and so far as we have seen
no effort has been made to disprove
them) few men in the blacklist days
of misrule stopped lower than j.
NJ. Smith as q radical Senator.
But this man is now the demo-
cratic nominee, for the Office Of al
derman in Columbia, and the ques-
ton is, does party allegiance de-
mand a support Of such q man. We
are free t. admit all that can be
said as to the disaster which may
result from a split in the "party of
principlc"-"the white mans par
ty"-"the grand old democratic
party in South Carolina" We adj
nit that there is great danger in
refusing to support the will of the
majority and that the party has a
right to expect hearty support and
faithful work Gifts members, at the
same time we trust the day will
never come when the voice Of this
paper will be raised in support Of
one who has sold his country for
money and bartered principle at q
price. We cannot agree 18th the
almost unanimous sntimcnt Of the
state press and advise Column
bia democrats to swallow Mr..
Smith. If he is guilty Of these ter
riblc charges of bribery and corrup-
ton while representing this state in
the Senate, we advise no man to no.
nor him with a vOtenow. AS loyal
democrats we must often bend our
wills to suit the will Of the MAORI
ty,-- we must often eat crow, but
we submit that the crow is the last
bird on the Democratic bill-ot-fare.
No honest man can swallow the
fcathcrcd creature OflOwer degree.
Likes and dislikes arc to be,set at
naught,-we may support incompe-
tencc and even ignorance for the
success OF thcz.party, but it is ask,
ing too much to support IN who
has thus prOstitutcd his sacred trust,
If it should ever come to pass
that party fcalty demands a disre-
gard Of the tirst..principles of homes
ty in a candidate then the stability
OF our government il not assured,
and we have little hope for a per-
petual enjoyment Of those rights
and liberties that have been handed
down to US.
If no charge, other then that he
was once a Rcpubli can, had been
shown against Mr.. Smith, the vot.
ers might with propriety be urged
to "hold their breath and take him
straight" We do not accept the
doctrine, once a Republican, al
ways a Republican: for, while we
admit freely we.have little affinity
for them, we must have ii place for
mugwumps. But, we do hold to
the doctrine, once a thief, always
unfit for Office, even that of alder
nan
The grand line Of separation be-
tween the Democrats and Republi-
cans in this State has been, homes
ty; and when this is obliterated, it
is fal worse for South Carolina
than "Independentislh." The AID
vERTIsER has always opposed po-
litical action by any organizations
or societies other than the Irregular
democracy" but when the regular
democracy takes up q radical as
cal a s a candidate, it is %unreason-
able to expect that honest men
q "throW high their ready caps
in air" and vote for such mon. If
we would maintain o solid democ-
racy, let us teach men the penance
they must do for past deeds,-let
us show ourselves loyal to demo.
Gratis and deal dealt to traitors.
Ne ~ A 4 4, [