The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-08-08

Dut QYlne TO forgive.
For the State Democratic Execu-
tive Committee / entertain the high
est regard, so also with my distin-
guished friend Gen. John d. Kennedy,
for whom I feel more than ordinary
concern, but I can not, to save me, see
any good that could result from
Joint conference such as proposed by
you.
The August Convention meets in
twenty days. Its action will be con-
elusive as to the matter of primary
or no primary-the latter condition
being most probable. I deprecate
the thought ofprecipitating primary
upon the people during the campaign,
and nothing could be devised that
would contribute so much to divide
the Democratic party. The very
least friction just now is the most
desirable thing hoped for, and the
adoption of any suggestion looking
toward the perpetuation of, conflict
ing influences, such as would result
from q hotly contested primary cleo
ton, quarter of a century would
hardly heal the breach incident to
such proceeding.
It is my opinion that the ,.complec-
ton of the august Convention will
reflect the ultimate result of the Sep
tember Convention, which if true,
would be sufficient to satisfy all 'rea-
sonable minds, and would also give
abundant time and opportunity to
heal all the bitter disappointments
caused by reason of defeat For
these reasons most respectfully de-
cline to invite the committee over
which 1 have the honor to preside to
participate in the conference proposed
by you. 1 have the honor to be, very
respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
@. w. SHELL,
Chm Cam. Com. Farmers Assn. S. G.
GREENv1LLE, S. c., July 26, 1890
Capt. G. w. Shell, Laurens, S. G.
My Dear Sir-Yours of the oath
inst, was received last evening. I
regret that you adhered to a decision
against theproposed conference, as I
am sure you have misconceived the
main object of comforting together
upon the political situation. 1t is
also unfortunate that our interview
(Which was held at your request to
avoid such q result, as I understood
it) should have failed to impress you
with the real purpose of the confer
ence. I sought to convey the idea
that the paramount object in view
was the concentration of forces to q
particular end, namely, the unity and
perpetuity of the Democratic party
in South Carolina, at the close of an
exciting and eventful campaign. It
was not my purpose to make the con-
ference an occasion for urging the
adoption of the primary system in
in choosing delegates to the Septem-
Der Convention. That matter will
be settled at an early day, but as you
seem to hinge much objection against
the conference on this score, allow me
to say that I do not at all agree with
you as to the effects of a primary
election for delegates, such as I pro-
posed for the consideration of the
August Convention. The people are
going to have primary elections in
every section of the State, and to elect
delegates by this method is not 'spre-
cipating" anything they do not want.
1t would be easy enough to arrange
for the election of delegates at the
same time the county officers are
chosen in this way, and it is possible
to do SO without friction or unneces-
sary excitement. I confess that the
adoption of this method of selecting
delegates would interfere with the
prevailing mode by which few men
are deciding upon representatives for
whole counties, but nevertheless 1
give the primary plan the preference
in all cases.
But, 1 wish to say on the main point
at issue that it was expected to meet
in conference for free interchange
of opinion upon the political condition
of the State, and not to gain advant-
age for any faction, nor to bind any
one to q given course against honest
convictions Of duty ndresponsibility
The strained relations existing be-
tween the factions and the unusual
heat engendered by the campaign
now In progress do not augur well
for the future harmony of the party
in South Carolina, and my chief OBJ
iect in suggesting the conference was
to secure adherence to regular meth
ods and recognized usages, 80 that
there will be no reasonable excuse
for splitting the party in twain, as
mas been threatened in certain con-
tingencies, nor justification on the
other hand for the enactment of meas
ures that will prove offensive or de-
grading to any portion of our party.
We are fellow-Democrats, and what.
ever affects one of US will surely touch
the other in our political relations.
So long as there are open questions
to be considered, there will continue
fIietion and conflicting influences, and
it isIale to tell grown men that they
can secure place by an ignoble sur
render. Bus when the contest is
over between the factions, there will be
the test of true manh006 an exalted
courage as to who can best Nerve a
united party, the manifest duty of
which is to preserve the honor and
uphold the integrity of our ancient
commonwealth. Believing that the