The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-15
LETTER FROM MR. ANCRUk.
He Defends the Independent Move.
ment, and Cites Us to the Act OF
Judge WRrdEaw.

| SuuFe "HTNA"".
To the Editor OF the Abbeville Press and
criticized in harsh terms the Haskell Ticket"
and It's motives. Feeling as do TO my many
friends in your county, ask the use OF your
columns tU say 10 them that our action is
caused not by mere desire for office or reck-
less indifference to the good Of our State, but
by the tirm conviction that we are following
| the commands OF true and honorable prlncl-
pies and pursuing course WIN wnicn NV vii, LIRE re-
mon country.
1t is useless for any denial that there has
been Il egrowing indifference to a. strict oh'
servance of the principles Of the Democratic
party. This eliminated In the "Shell mani
festo" and the March Convention with It's
nomination for Governor and separate Slate
Executive Committee.
| The want OF immediate action against this
undemocratic movement and seeming apathy
of our leaders can, In my mind, only be ac-
counted for not from Indifference 10 the graVl-
ty Of the situation, but only to the great rear
that aggressive action might result In split
| in the party" They hoped that the leaders
IN that movement would realize tue dangers
to the State aod cali halt to their unpatrlo-
tic recklessness in trying to override the
wishes and conservatism OF the minority as IL
proved. ,.,,
agreement for us az 10 consiaeI the oplnio@us @
complish the seeming impsssibility OF COVER
ing republic with one political party.
| The personal abuse and reckless charges or
the late campaign are too recent and deeply
| i'm pressed on our minds to need any repeti.
| lion and it should be our aim 10 SO act, That
we, the people OF South Carolina, will con-
vince all men that we VIII not alio" al any ~ VINO ,ho
| high and honorable offices 1or Whlch tney
may be candidates.
The policy Of inactlon was followed, till
meeting of anti-Tillman man was called,
At that meeting voted against q separate
ticket because thought IT so late 10 the ca M
paign that we should cling 10 the hope that
v hen Tillman was assured OF the act mat ne
had secured the machinery of the party, and
nomination, he would DO something TO bring
together ihe warning factions OF our party.
Though could not for several years nave
voted for Tilman under any possible contin-
gency, was willing to do all could not TO
make the division In the party permanent
split, though believed IT to be SO.
Now let us calmly look over the past and
see If Tillman has done anything which could
make one believe that he even wants those
who opposed him to affiliate In politics with
him.
On two occasions the August and Septem.
Der State Conventions. word from him
would have disarmed all active opposition 10
him. for his opponents loved the Democratic
party too we'll and feard the results OF divi-
SiCn too much. not to have eaten large mod
icum Of dirt and swallowed the insults put on
them.
The treatment of the contesting delegates
makes their fight my fight and proves conclu-
sively to my mind that my susplclons were @
correct and that we, who opposed Mr.. TIL.
man, can only be in the Democratic party as
he has made 1t, by being slaVish suppliants 10
his will.
ship OF 1875. and while such dictatorship lasts,
there can he no such party Of the people.
Obeying then the dictates OF what l beleiVe
to be true manhood and patriotism, con-
cluded to Join this movement as most
solemn protest against the methods of this
campaignn. and hope that our effort may
help TO bring back our peoole to strict o.
servance of the principles of 1876. true reform
in our party methods and an observance Oh
the wishes of any minority.
In conclusion Il will say that majority does
not always. in fact never. have all the patrl-
ism and wisdom on its side
You people OF Abbevile have not forgotten
that in the Wild and reckless days OF 1850 you
had man whom you and the State had loved
to honor, man who had the courage OF his
convictions and principles to get up before
your Secession meeting and enter his pro-
test against the recklessness OF your leaders,
when he knew he would be, as he was, hoot,
We have lived to see the wisdom Of his
views and the correctness OF his prophecies
and the remem brance should make The peo-
pie OF Abbevtlle county more cautious in con-
demning any who refuse TO join the popular
clamor.
On this occasion Abbeville again has a man
who believes in manhood and principle-A.
Z. Haskell who Is willing to suffer abuse and
misinterpretation, rather than be wanting In
what he believes to be his duty to his State.
Yours respectfully, w. A. Apcrum.
Just one word. Nobody doubts the patriot
ic motives Of the Independents. The fact
that Mr.. Ancrum WAS not a citizen Of Abbe-
vile county at the time, may account for his
Misrepresentation as to Judge Wardlaw's posi-
tion. He, like the anti Tillmanites. protested
most vehemently against the impending ac-
81 h,f fuHo ha lya
the Independents, yielded his opposition and
made common cause with his friends. II he
had turned against us. and in the supreme
moment Of our trial, had given aid and COM
fort to the enemy, 1t is possible that we
would not now revere his memory.