The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-10-09
Ths Journal.
CAMDEN, 5. C., OCT. 8, 1890.
mDGE HASKELL'S LETTER.

The polilica! event which has caused
moro comment for The past ten days than
any since the adjournment Of the Septem
ber Convention, is the letter Of this gallant
and distinguished son IT Carolina in the
N,ms and Courier Of the 30th ultimo. We
confess that it has panied us beyond ex-
pressior We hold that no man however
exalted his character or distinguished his
services. can be excused for this position.
II is iudependentism outright-uncloaked
and unconcealed-.lnd il tolerated or
upheld puts an end forever to Demo-
cratic organization and breakes down
all marty lines, and extinguishes all
party discipline. 1t relesates every Demo
cral to his individual action. ignores party
machinery, and does away with even
the form Of party law. 1t is, in hne'
a fatal stab at Democratic supremacy.
which is synonymous with white supremacy
in South Carolins, ard mongrelizes and
dcmoralizes the party beyond the possibility
VI redemption.
The reasons for his position are untenable
and undemocratic. Because he cannot
vote for Tillmau. and Tillman has done
and said things he condemns. therefore he
wll not vote for him. and there should be
a ticket placed in the field against him.
Grant the force OF every charge against
him, and the bitter dose it may be to take
him, vet is he not tho regular nominee oil
the party, put in the field by the only re-
cugniz.d organ or agency OF the party-a
State Convention, called. not by the I'LL
msn faction. but lthe regular State ESecu'
tive Committee, elected by the Convention
OF 1888? But, says the Judge, the August
Convention perpetrated outrages in forcing
certain delegates to lOave it. Is the sep
tember Convention to he held Responsible
for thisr Again, the September Conven'
ton refused TO seat the Sumter and Fair
field delegates. Grant that it was an out
Rage, and yet did not this Convention have
the right to pass on the credentials OF mem
Lers. and if the right was improperly exer-
cised, YET is this suilicien. to evoke indepen'
dontism? Grant. again. that Tillman sald
and did things during the campaign whlcf
were disgraceful, yet did not the Straight
outs contest the field with him, and wel'
not Earle and Bratton pitted against him
and we're not the issues of the campaign t'
be decidca by the September Convention
Was not the race made fairly and squarel'
for that event? Ifso-and there is no gain
saving the fact-then when that Conven
lion nominated him. how can any Demo
crst saw he is not tho lominee Of the party
lie is. unquestionably, and the matter re
solves itself into this, that Judge Haskell
and those who agree with him refuse t
abide by the party nomination, and pro
pose to camp outside.
There is no Disgusting it that Tillma'
captured the organization OF the party ant
was successful in getting the nomination
and unpalatabic US it is to thousands
Democrats in the State. yet allegiance t
the party demands that it be submitted t
und acquiesc,d in. Any other ulc ofactio
is fatal in the extreme, nor do We believ
that corpcral's guard will follow JulS
Haskell in his erratic course.
Tillman proposed to submit il beate1
for the nomination. and il he mad been ant
then attempted the role Haskell assumei
there could not have been found langua9
strong enough to damn him to political in
fanny. Fair play is a jewel, and any olhe
principle is suicidal.
1t will not do, as some contend, to asser
that the party is broken up already. 1t ha
Received severe strain, but it has vitslit..
and conservatism enough left to reasser
its rigor, and when the passion and bitter
ness engeudered by tho hottest struggle w
evsr had have passed, we confidently e1
pect reunion Of the dissentient elements
on the common ground Of sclf-interest aIt
mutual necessity. The hopes and destin!
OF the State aro wrapped up in Democratic
supremacy, and if wo never forget th'
grand fact that we are white men and mus
maintain our rule, then all will be well.-
But if we follow Judge Haskell aud bic
for the negro vote then, indeed, will all b,
lost, and bribery and corruption" in bid
ding for this vote, which he foresces vii
ruin us beyond the possibility Of redemp
tion. This race question il far deeper and
broader than he seems to think, and we art
surprised that he has not given it the
weight il deserves. 1t is the antagoniSm
OF opposing institutions, and We cannot lei
the burs down and maintain our civiliza
ion.
Political miscesination is the precursor
OF social miscegnution and the ultimate
decentralization and degradation OF our CIV
ihzl,ion. We must hold fast to white su.
premacy, and even untoward and to be re-
rretted methods. when the pinch comes. ol
carving elections, arc better al 1 healthiol
than mongrelized negro and white atIllia'
tion on common political plane. This
will degrade the white man and still more
dcmorulizo the negro. Take a town cleo.
ton here rs u sample and what worse poll,
t,csl hell can one imagine. If its methods
and practices should inure all over the
State?
The temporary triumph over Tillman by