The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-05-26
THE STATE CONVENTION.

Elsewhere we print the proceedings
Of the May State Convention which met
in Columbia on Wednesday of last week.
The meeting and the action adopted
would hardly have been recognized as
Democratic prior to 1890, and perhaps
even so late as 1891. But then we must
not forget that this is a "record- breaking"
period, and that everything sis alright so
long as it is right" even if we are forced
to wonder by what standard the fright"
is determined.
On the evening before the Convention
met majority of the delegates met in
caucus to map out a program for the Con-
vention. Admission into this caucus was
not granted to delegates as privilege
they were entitled to as Democrats who
wished to assist in devising a plan Of
procedure for the Democratic Conven-
ton of the next day, but only those were
allowed to take part in these secret coun-
sells who. were in sympathy with the
dominant party or who were acceptable
to the leaders and were in accord with
their ideas and conception of men and
measures. Thus we have the anomalous
condition of a Democratic caucus into
which Democrats are denied admittance,
and which is caucusing against Demo-
,crats, for there were none other than
Democratic delegates sent to this Con-
vention, and they were all. known to be
Democratic.
However undemocratic and unusual
this method may have been itwas openly
admitted on the floor Of the Convention
that the course to be pursued had been
determined upon in this caucus, so that
the Convention had only to adopt the cut
and dried program of the night before.
The proceedings of the Convention
we're just as undemocratic and unusual
as was the caucus.
Ex-Presidcnt Cleveland, the most dis
tinguished and honored private citizen in
the world, perhaps, and who in 1884 led
the Democratic hosts TO victory after
series of successive defeats since 1850, is
denounced as the most corrupt tool OF the
money powers, and it is declared that his
nomination will be looked upon as q
prostitution of the principles of Democ-
racy." Nevertheless, this same Conyen-
ton will almost surely have to support
Cleveland as the Dem ocratic Presidential
nominee or bolt the party's nominations.
Should Cleveland be nominated, as the
signs of the times now strongly indicate,
how can man who believes his nomina,
ton means "a prostitution of the princi-
pies of Democracy" vote for him and re-
tain his self-respect at the same time?
Yet that is the position in which the sup
porters of those resolutions may find
themselves in a short time to come.
The ocala demands are endorsed and
the Democracy committed to their sup
port. If they are Democratic, it is not
the Democracy 'as taught by our fore
fathers and as we understand it." Those
demands will hardly stand the test of the
National Democratic Convention.
The Convention refused to support res
oiutions condemning those who have
been instrumental in spreading the MEM
bership and advocating the platform Of
the Third or Peoples Party and denoun-
cling the st. Louis platform, nor did it
mention or condemn its most powerful
and active enemy, the Republican party.
We arc forced to the conclusion that
South Carolina is suffering from the evils
of more complete system Of ring-rule
and bossism than ever before in her his
tory, and that many Of those who are
now. shaping her course are ignorant or
forgetlul of the essential principles of
Democracy; and we fear that in their
zeal to do something they may wreck
the Democratic party.