Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-06-05

ANCE. {3s$
FARMINGToN, S. c., May 90, 1890.
Mr.. ED1ToR--Be kind enough to
allow me the use of your columns to
reply to those of my fellow citizens
who have expressed a desire for me
to become a candidate for the guber-
material nomination of our party.
In the expression of their wishes
as they reached me, along with the
high personal compliment conveyed,
there is the ring of q call to duty.
! accept both and will give my best
efforts to deserve the one and meet
the demands Of the other.
This is perhaps enough; but that
there may be no misapprehension,
so far as | am concerned, permit a
word as to tho present status as see
it.
I trust and believe that we are
still a unit as to a common sentiment
and desire for tho best interests of
the State and its people and the
great common purpose to guard and
promote them. And all agree that
our Democratic organization is the
only agency through which this SON
timent can be practically operated
and this purpose affected by us.
Our differences are confined to the
ways and means to be used by our
party for their accomplishment.
Where such differences exist some
of us are certainly in error, and pos
sibly none Of us are absolutely right,
In this emergency our Democratic
authorities have arranged for the
canvass of the State, certainly not
to fomcnt a family quarrel or that
partisan strife and personal scramble
for office which is alleged to prevail
in conventions of politicians, but for
the fair and square submission of
differences, freely and frankly stated,
to the people themselves for final adj
judication and adjustment.
If they can be submitted calmly
and dispassionately, and the people
bring to bear OH their public bust
ness that practical business discretion
which they exercise in thcirprivatc af-
fairs, the decision reached, while it
must necessarily oycrrulc the vicws of
some of us, will be worthy of free
people and command the respect and
cordial support of all.
But should it be otherwise, and
we become involved in partisan
strife, and allow passion and pr> ju-
dice to take possession Of our reason
and judgment, the decision will still be
the best that we, as a people, are for
the time capable of, And it must
be sustained with unanimity. Any
clcan-cut division of us will surely
result in graver consequences than
unanimity In even error for sea-
son can bring upon us.
llcdgcd about by unprecedented
dangers and difficulty, we must sink,
or swim together. W must stick
to the ship, for it requires us all to
even control her steering gear, and
as long as we do that we retain the
power, if we will exercise it, to res
cue her from dangers to which we
ourselves may inadvertently or rcck-
lessly subject her.
| shall attend as many of the
meetings appointed by our executive
committee as practicable, and direct
my effort to the discussion of the
situation in its bearings on our COM
mon interests, and in the hope that
may contribute to that rational
agitation which will tend to throw
the light of truth upon it, and ena-
BILE us to perform intolligently our
duty as sovereign citizens, Yours
respectfully, JomN BRArToN.
From tho Cotton Plant