The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-05-05

taIio!l over IL was more expensive to the
people than it is now. And after the
war, when that same road was managed
by the Republican party, it involved
the State in debt and ran down to the
very verge of wreck and ruin. The only
sensible solution Of the great problem of
transportation is IN "thc most rigid,
honest and just State and National gov
crnmental control and supervision"
! In the light OF the serious and unuis-
putcd facts enumerated in this letter,
appeal TO the dlspassionate, sober iudg-
tnent of our people for one sensible rea-
son or excuse ior abandoning the DEM
ocratlc party and trusting our hopes and
fortunes and liberties TO an untried, un-
trained and heterogeneous Third Party.
Does any one answer that the Demo-
cratic party docs MT grant the needed
relief to the people? Upon what facts
| does he base such an opinion? The
Democratic party has not had control of
the government for one session or one
day in the last thirty years; and in those
thirty years of Republican rule, every
evil of which you complain has taken
root and become embodied in our laws
as the avowed and permanent policy of
Republican administration.
During all that long period, tue united
Democracy has carried the tlag of re-
volt against the Republican policies,
| arralgning its leaders, denouncing its
extravaganza, its corruptlons, and its
urpatlOns-conirOntin and fighting it
In States and nation, until a majority of
the States and an overwhelming maiOri-
OF the people have enlisted under the
Democratic banner Of reform. What
possible excuse, therefore, for desert
ing our flag now when glorious victory
seems within our grasp and when DEM
ocraIlc victory means defeat 80 the
authors OF all the wrongs of which the
people complain.
| But commanding as arc the consider.
atlons above set forth, there are still
more momcntOu5 reasons Tor standing
unItCdly and firmly in the ranks Of the
| Democracy which is the true party Of
| the people.
First and paramount among these
reasons is the tact that dcscrtion by
Democrats now, renders moro probable
the continued supremacy OF Republican,
Ism III the government, the pcrpctuation
OF their hurttui policies and the indeii-
mite postpOncmcnt of the day OF relief.
With the Republican ranks united
aud Democrats divided, VIC may lose
control OF the next House of Represen-
tatlVCs, as well as OF the Presidency,
and thus render possible the passage of
the hydra a-headcd force bill, with its end
less trains OF evils, the horrors Of which
| no language can cXagGcrate. In the
great and memorable battle against the
lorCc bll' and Tor the rights and liberties
OF our people there was no difficulty in
| locating our enemies on the one side and
our friends on the other. There were
some brave and magnanimous spirits
among the Republicans who appreciate
cd the cnormity Of that inlquitous force
bill and who rcvoltcd against the party
which sought TO inllict the mcasurclcss
wrong upon the Southern people. But
the vast majority of the Republican par
JY wrote for, spoke for, or laborcd for
the passage of that bill.
Where did the National Democracy
stand in that fearfll crisis? There was
not solitary Democrat in any State,
city, town or country district in this
whole Union who deserted us in our cx-
( tremity or who failed to oppose this
J threatened destruction Of the prosperity,
| tranquility, peace and liberty of the
Southern people. How then can any
Sou thern mar, who loves his country
get his own consent to desert our Demo.
cratic brethren after such an exhibition
OF fidelity to principle and such devotion
| TO our essential rights?
The Southern people are not ingrates.
They have never been charged with in
gratitude, and do not believe that thew
| will subject themselves to criticism now
| by deserving the friends who did not de-
sert us, either i'll the force bill fight or
during the reconstruction reign Of terror,
There is no sholt or royal road to fin
| ancial relief, but there IS n very short
and rough one to political and industrial
ruin.
Rellci can ouly come through ult-
| mate and complete triumph over the
party, which, for thirty years, has in
lllctcd upon the country, as I have said
above, all the evils of which our farm
ers and the masses Of the people COM
plain. This single and only road to
governmental relief, although a long
one, can and will lead us to success if
VIC press forward with slnglcness of aim
and compact ranks.
But We shall certainly fail and invite
defeat and bring to our people still grca-
ter financial and political woes. if we
now give heed to those who counsel
| DIVISION III our ranks and seek to pre-
.ludicc our l'cOplc a. ainst tho only party
winch has any prospect OF triumph over
Our enemies.
The Southern man who seeks now to
lea! us away from the Democratic fold
assumes a truly fearful responsibility.
We may not all agree as to the special
methods OF relief, but we do asrcc % t.
the necessity Of relief. Some favor free
coinage; some land loans; some a sub.
treasury plan; some the lending Of
money by the general government to
the States and by States to individuals;
some the restoration banks Of issue in
the States; some the purchase of United
States bonds by treasury notes issued in
payment. and some the purchase with
grccnbacks Of a much larger amount Of
silver bullion. All these plans have
their advocates, who earnestly and ably
support them. But inslstance upon
specific plans breeds disscnsion. On
N 1901