The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-07-25
ATTENTION, DEMOCRATS.
AN AnDREss TO THE DEMOCRACY OF SOU.

vi" On July luth, tue fotowing address has
been issuei by the Advisory Committee:
To the Democracy of South Carolina:
All white Caro'in'ans worthy of the race
f,om which they spr,pg and of the name
they be.r, and entitled to share in the tra-
diton CT the past. the prosperity of the
present and the hope Of the future, are
Democrats.
To such, aud only such, We earnestly and
confidently appeal.
ALI that wo have and are, all that we
hore for AMI desire to transmit to our chi'-
dren, depends upon the continuance Of
white supremacy in this State; and this
supremacy depends upon our devotion and
loyal to Democratic principles, unity. bar-
mony and organization within party lines,
obedience to the rules and faith in the JUS
tice and success Of Democratic aims, par
poses and methods.
10 each succeeding generation Of our race
Is entrusted the ark Of civilization, and
upon each devolves The sacred duty Of de.
Tending, preserving and transmitting our
racial heritage of civil and religious liberty,
the fruits of labor and Of thought, the gar
nered stores OF material and intellectual
weal'h-all that is good of what our race
has won and held by hand or brain, by
Vaior, industry Or wisdom, throughout the
ages.
Is this generation Of Carolina Democrats
equal to the trust, Judging the future by
the past, we unhesitatingly answer, yes 1t
is however. true that "eternal vigilance is
the price Of liberty" and tho least vigilant
psHdng over Ss e"t T. irs a w5oS a%r
State is prosperous beyond precedent, wax
log each day stronger in material wealth,
leading in the race for mechanical and iu-
dustrial supremacy, our people living and
thriving under laws made by legislators, in
terpretsd by Judges and eI ecuted by officials
OF our own race and choice, with peace and
security Mt home, respect and credit abroad,
We are suddenly confronted with such dan
ger as has never before threatened the
Democracy of this State; the danger Of di-
vision in our own ranks.
Infallibility and perfection are divine at.
tributes, and have never yet been granted to
human wisdom or human institutions II
injustice has been done, errors have been
committed, or mistakes have been made, re-
member that to err is human; aud remem-
Der also that the great party to which we
belong IS broad enough, strong enough, wise
enough and just enough to right all wrongs
correct "li errors, rectify all mistikes and
mete out equal AMI i'm; Partial just &C to all
men.
Remember that all true Carolniaus are
democrats, and az such entitled TO full,
free and equal share in the management,
cont'o and policy Of the party, and that it
requires the combined and earnest effort, of
n Democrats i'll the State to keep the Re-
publican wolf from our door. As Demo-
Gratis, we know no class. Brothers in blood
and racc, destined TO stand or fall together.
we depreca'c all efforts from whatever
source, to destroy the unity aad integrity
upon which the strength and life Of our
patty depend.
In order 10 better understand the rosition
We now occupy. let us recall the history Of
tue movement which has resulted in the |
condition now confronting us, and take coun-
sci together on This extraordinary emergency
in our parry affairs.
A convention composed Of farmers repre-.
sentlng not less ,han twenty six Counties in
the State, held in tho city of Columbia on
December lst, 1887, unanimously adopted
the following resolutions:
"Resotued, That it is not the purpose of
the Farmers Of the .sState to make
tnelr organization AAfInoliIicaL body
hostile to other. Glasses, :-pegS js...it
their intention 70 attack the 9,ygNtro Fida
State sfhssSs norAhsir poAcy H6&fdgGSoF
dictate to the Legislature.
THAT We believe in the thorough orgaui-
cation offhsFarmcrs Of the Stats with the
object and firm purpose of developing its
agricultural resources"
These gosolutions, ported by B. r. Til
man sAfheirpan of ~ committee ON reso-
idnohs were adopte without debate at his
request, and expressed the purpose and
scope Of the movement inaugurated by him
(and the will of the people represented in
that movement)
In November, 1888, another conven-
ton of the association of the asso-
citation was held at Columbia with
amall attendance, which elected
new Executive Committee, having G. W.
Shell as president aud chairman er-oGcio.
No meeting of the association was called or
held in 1889 and the Shell commit
tee held over, their successors not having
been appointed. In November, 1889, thi,
committee met in secret W thout instructions
from or noticA TO tho association, and autho-
rized G.. W. Shell, as chairman ex-o6cio, to
issue call for convent on to NJ ect in Colum-
bia on the 9th day of March, 1890 Per-
verting the authority thus given and in will
fpl disobedience of the expressed will aud
purpose OF the association as set forth in the
resolutions of 1887, O. w. Shell, over his
in his official capacity as president
and e1-e1fcio chairman, and with the conni-
vance of b. II. Tillman himself declare, issued
the call now known the Shell Manifesto,
in which he says: ave will draw UP the
indictment against those who have been and
are still governing THIS State" thus seeking
to array the farmers in a position of hostility
to other classes of Democratic tizens and
to poison their minds against the officials to
whom that party had entrusted the admins
tration of The State government since 1876.
For his own sc fish purposes, the farmers
have been taught that to criticise Tillman is
to abuse the Farmers Movement, tha' to op-
pose his methods of nomination is to oppose
farmers themselves. and that to declare him
unworthy of support is to say that the far
mers have no right to meddc in politics or
to suggest either men or measures TO the
party We beg our brother Democrats to
disabuse their minds of all such IDEAS and
TO listen TO us rs friends who are equally in
teresed with them in the true welfare of
the State Not one farmer in Ten believes
charges made in this campaign against
tho Democratic party or its officials
Every fair-minded advocate of the
Farmers Movement sincerely regrets
IL IT. Il