The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-11
PRINCIPLES OR PARTY.
The Crisis Eas Come and the Issue Must
Re Met.

Alliances in each Of the counties OF the
Sd District held their quarterly meet
ing at the appointed time this month
except Oconee. The Alliance in Oco-
nee could not meet on account OF eX-
cessiye rain. But am assured thai
Oconee still holds her rank among the
| foremost Alliance counties in the State
aud can be thoroughly depended upon.
Throughout the entire district progress
can be noted. Generally the lecturers
have proven faithful and efficient and
q great deal has been accomplished IN
the educational field. Judging from
the County Alliances the principles
and demands of the Order are we'll
understood.
The most important and encouraging
feature of the progress Observable IS
the deep seated determination to sup
port the demands. An Intelligent con-
ception Of our real condition showing
the money power unconscionah!y ap-
plyiny the pressure Of money contrac-
tion upon the people, already oppressed
beyond endurance, for the evident pur-
pose of coercing them to acqulesce in
the continuance Of financial system
that has brought poverty and ruin
upon them, or submit to another more
destructive, leaves no doubt in their
minds that the responsibility for
prompt action is upon us. And they
recognize that no policy action that
would compromise the demands, or
restrains them u pressing forward
to secure their enactment can be safe,
or offer the slightest hope of relief.
The consideration of policy is now
the object of greatest Importance.
Shall our policy be founded on priEcl-
pie or party? That is question to be
determined. In South Carolina the
white people by education, association
and habit have formed an attachment
to the Democratic party. 1t has been
and is their party. 1t is the political
organization in which they have been
held together in the State and white
supremacy maintained. Two years
ago radical change was made in the
State Government and we still have
white supremacy, and the people who
now form the Democratic party IN
South Carolina can be relied upon to
preserve it under any and all circum-
stances. Not by virtue of the party
name, but by the inherent qualities OF
the people. The conditions were such
that reform in the State politics came
within the Democratic party. But:
had it not been so, the reform was in
evitable and would have come. There
is no need Of change of party name IN
South Carolina. The interests Of the
people can be protected under any
party name provided the principles
are correct. Reform is the essence ana
as it can be secured through the DEM
ocratie party Of South Carolina that is
sufficient.
But in Natianal affairs the condition:
are favorable. AS in State politics re-
form is the essence. Financial reform
is imperative. Can it be secured through
the National Democratic party? Ger
tainly not. Not because it is the
Democratic party, but because that
partv has abandoned Democratic prin'
ciples. With the Republican party ii
has become the servant OF the money
power. These two political parties are
no longer held together as rivals IN the
interest of the people, but have degen'
Grated. into political machines, grasp
ing for the spoils Of office, and selling
out the interests Of the people for cam
> paign funds. Each has become party
without principle. We are upon the
eve OF a Presidential election. The
party leaders look to New York. Cleve
: land and Hill. The former is The
choice of the capitalists while the latter
is afraid to antagonize them. Neither
of these can afford to endorse our de
nands. We could not expect assist
: apce from either. Like the party they
propose to represent they bow in sub
mission to the money power. Our re
form demands cannot be secured with
out new alignment in National poll
tics, and that alignment must be Dase(
upon identity Of interest. The North
eastern States are money lenders. I'M
Southern and Western States ar
: largely agricultural and borrowers
The former naturally opposes an eS
4 pansion of the currency while the lat
E ter need it. The Democratic Congress
t men of the Northeastern States Woul(
S not hesitate to protect the interest o
: their constituents in defiance OF party
During the discussion of the sllve
bill a member from Massachusett
went SO far as to say that the Demo
cratic party must choose between tn
t Democrats of the North and the ALL
:. ance of the South. The Democrat
t party has chosen. 1t has abandone'
Y the interests of the farmers and laborer
and sided with the money power
= What will the people do? Will the.
/ still idolize that party? In it patriot
: ism is dead-beyond resurrection
: Party success and Doodle is its motto
five are partisans, if we continue t
i fight for party success for the sake
G party supremacy and the spoils tn
y party offers then this country
: doomed.
: The breach created by special privi
: eyes making the rich richer and th