Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-10-30

HE WILL sUPpoRT THE REGULAR
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

Col. j. Il. Nj IRBY-My Dear Sir:
When 4 wrote q personal note to
you recently my intention was to
remain silent until could give my
views to you moro fully than was
then done; but since my return home
so many friends have asked of me
an expression of opinion on tho con-
dition Of political affairs that | gave
a brief statement to tho press n fow
daye since. This, perhaps, renders
it necessary for mo to address you
again; but rs various communica-
tions and invitations to speak at pub
lie meetings have reached me, / take
this method of making my views
known to those who have done me
the honor to ask for them.
Another reason that induces mo to
take this course is tho fact that my
position regarding political matters
here and my conduct have been
grossly misroprcsentcd in some quar-
ters, and 1 desire that my fellow
citizens may be fully informed as to
both, so that they may Judge Alright.
When my old constituents OF this
county, who had 50 often trusted and
honorcd me in the past, invited me
to address them in June last, l came,
having but N object in view, and
that was to appeal to our people for
harmony, for Cancellation, for unity
of action. l expressly d'sclaimed
any intontion of Interfering in any
way with the canvas for Governor,
and l neither advocated any candi-
date 0 opposed any. l said that
the people were the sole and proper
judges in the selection of their OFF,
cials, and that from their verdict
there should be no appeal. III order
that there might be a full and free
expression of their wishes as to the
selection of candidates, I urged that
a primary should be held, and had
this plan been adopted tho present
dcplorablc condition Of affairs would
not have existed. Other counsels
prevailed, and the result is a divided
party and a bittcr''contest between
Democrats; all. OF. ;;:whom sf"uld be
united to maintain the supremacy of
our party and to promote the welfare
of our State.
No one deplorcs the unhappy dis
sensions in our party more than
myself, and | would willingly make
any sacrifice to heal them were it in
my power to do so. But the only
remedy Ahat.~ ."a"-.i@ apI'iteh mus,
cowuU from the conservatism and tn,
patriotism of the people themselves
and We can only hope that by the
exercise of these virtues the dangers
threatening IL may be avertcd.
1t was tho conviction Of my ina
bility to reform our broken ranks
now that induced nc to decline tt
take part in any public discussion OF
the hustings. My judgment is clca1
that public meetings at this juncturt
would be unwise; that they would
only tend to widen the existing
breach in our party, and perhaps t(
make in irreconcilablc. We want nc
further excitement; we have had
already too much of that, and of &
pernicious charactcr the issues in.
volved arc fully understood by tho
people, who T. entirely competent
to decide them.
But whilst | shall not speak again
in this canvass, l shall support tho
! ticket nominated by the Convention
in September; but III doing this l by
no means endorse the grave charges
which have been made against the
Democratic party Of the State,
Honesty and integrity have marked
every administration which has gov.
crncd the State since 1876, and VIC
shall indeed be fortunate if our off.
Gals in the future shall be as able,
rs patriotic and as honest rs they
have been in the last fourteen years.
/ am impelled to support the Sep
TENDER ticket because it was nomi-
natcd'by the Democratic Conven-
ton, and because the other ticket
lacks that endorsement. | regret
deeply that this hitter ticket has
been brought out, though I have the
greatest respect for the gentlemen
composing it, and l do not, for one
moment, question the motives of
those who nominated it. For the
gallant and distinguished gentleman
who is at its head | entertain the
highest possible regard and esteem.
cannot forget his eminent services
to the State, in peace and in war.
10 him we were largely indebted for
the success which crowned our
efforts in 1876, and there is no Office
in tho gift of the State for which
would not earnestly and cordially
support him were he endorsed by the
recognized authority OF the Demo
cratic party. All Remuneration of
him and of those whom he repre-
sents is, i'll my opinion, unworthy of
those who indulge in it, and it will
only serve to prolong and cmbittcr
the unfortunate strife which now
divides our party. No one who
knows Col. Haskell can doubt his
sincerity, his conscicntiousncss or his
Democracy. certainly do not; and
while | think that he has made q
mistake in lending his name and his
influence to tho movement inaugu.
rated by his friends, I shall not
dcnouncc the man who was my COM
rade in the war, vino was one of the
ablest and bravest officers in my COM
mand, and who was my trusted friend
onI ol,,;,n, g, 3TR