Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-04-24

following: 'The State Democratic
Executive Committee shall request
each county committee to call a
meeting in their respective counties,
to which all candidates for State
offices shall be invitcd.' In my judg-
rsen:, this will meet tho demand for
free discussion of public IN asures,
and amply provide the opportunities
for getting at the views of candi-
dates. But while this is true, and
the Democratic party has given
abundant proof Of it's willingness to
arrange n preliminary campaign, we
are to have tho singular condition of
affairs in the pending contest of a
campaign committee arranging a
schedule of appointments for sin
gle candidate; whereas the purpose
of this arrangement was to hear
from all the candidates. 1t is obliga-
tory upon the State Executive Com
mittce to request these meetings in
all of the counties, and it is left with
the counties whether they will be
held. 1t seems to me that there will
likely arise conflict between the
appointments of the Democratic
party and the arrangements of Capt.
Tillman's campaign committee, while
such conflict ought to be avoided if
possible. Assurcdly the authority
Ct the Democratic party can not be
made subscrvicnt to any faction, and
so far as am concerned, ! will urge
most strcnuously that the arrange
mcnts of the party, as adopted by
the State Convention, shall take pre-
ccdcncc of all other plans for a pre-
liminary canvass of the State. OF
course, Captain rillman or any other
citizen has an mdoubtcd right to
make his own campaign for any
office, but alludc to the possibility
of conflicting arrangements by which
the authority of the Democratic
party might be put into contempt,
and in that event it will be the duty
of the State Executive Committee
to assert the supremacy of the party
us against any faction. Here lies
one OF the dangers resulting from
the construction Of II wheel within
Il wheel and it would be the wiser
plan if all parties would accept the
provision already made for pre-
liminary campaign, instead of acting
independently. Every occasion for
friction ought to be avoided in this
campaign, not only because we are
in the constant presence of the
enemy, but for the reason that the
opponent of to-day becomes the
standard bearer of tomorrow. We
can not afford to split into warning
factions, with poised daggers and
drawn swords, and the quicker every
man realizes his individual RESPONSE
bility for the outcome of the present
agitation, the surcr will the best in
tcrcstS Of the State be subscrved." !"
"Ilavc you decided to call the
State Executive Committee toGnthpr
at an carly day, and is it likely that
the State Convention will meet carli-
or than usual %
81 have been busily engaged for
the past month in preparing for a
meeting of the Executive Commit
tee by collecting information from
various sources, especially from the
County Chairmcn, rs to the condi-
tion Of the party in this State. In
some of the counties the informa-
ton given is mcagrc and fragmcn-
tary, while in others it is full and
satisfactory. 1t is evident that strict
organization docs not prevail in all
Of the counties, and | hope to secure
Il better state OF affairs after the
Executive Committee has furnished
the requisite instructions therefor.
In the matter of registration there is
much work to bc done, and it must
be done quickly. 1t was my purpose
to convene the committee next
week, but prior engagements of
several members will cause it's post
poncmcnt for Il short while.
81 know of no reason to suppose
that til" State Convention will be
called ut an earlier date than usual.
There are extreme views on both
sides OF the question now before the
people, and it is needless to say that
am not an extremist in anything.
| fully recognize Captain Tillman
and those who are acting with him
us my fellow Democrats, while hon.
cstly believing that they are pursu-
ing methods OF an unusual character
which are dangerous in their tcndcn-
cics and altogether unnecessary.
Every reasonable consideration shall
be given to them as to all others,
and so long as they do not trench
upon the righ,iul prcrogativcs of
the State Executive Committee nor
call into question the supremacy Of
the Democratic party, to which they
have pledged unrcscrvcd allegiance,
! can not perceive the wisdom or the
proprlcty of treating them as aliens
and enemies, and least of all is it my
purpose to shape events in that
direction. We need the unity of
our party in this State, and rs
member OF the Executive Commit
tee it will be my aim to preserve that
unity, not to icopardizc it. 1t is
time to counsel forbcarancc, not to
excite animositics, and the thinking
men OF all classes will readily gauge
the patriotism of every one by the
willingness to obey the bchcsts of
his party through the accustomed