The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1893-02-08

Briefly, we will try and give you
some very pertinent reasons why we
should not now relax our hold, but
press on to final completion.
We admit that in some sections
our cause has suffered ignominious
defeat, ilst that defeat may be q
blesa ~yuise,i if you will but
stu 8 and, aided by past
:: :: : , T; ;:: !: ;'' p; pr; . s ca;
clearer through the financial and
political situation to day than we
could six months agog Another
good reason why it would be suicidal
to think of dissolying now is that we
have somAo of the elements of war,
enough for a big battle twenty
months heAce. We have, g few
thousand d&drs in our State treas
ury, a few Adred in our county
treasury and ~ of the subs have
small amount hat money judici-
ously used AZ propaganda fund
would work wSAders il our State.
An additional $500 copies of our
organ, the Cotton Plant, scattered
among the poorer farmers Of our
State would be an tincible power.
Can that idle money SSbe used for a
better purpose' LIT cannot, then
it is our duty to ag ne and discuss
this matter and do
!: : =, ]; T.! !! !! ! o.!
at sea without piloE OF rudder. The
truth is many of is did not then
know where we we're at. Some ap-
Piled for initiation through curiosity,
some wanted Office! others wanted to
''bust" the merchants, still there
were others that Topped in for the
loaves and fishes, confidently hoping
and believing that they would be
rich in very short time. Many Of
the last named class were sadly and
sorely disappointed and soon Topped
out. Now the wirs edge is worn off,
the boom has ceased to roar and
most assuredly we all know "where
we are at All who are aboard at
this time certainly mea business
and will surely stick to the old ship
until she either soes down Or safety
arrives in port.
If we ever expect to accomplish
anything permanent and preserve
our God given liberty through the
fundamentally of our order, we
must voae u principles though we
be compelled to step beyond the
narrow confines Of party lines to do
it.
As an organized class, we should,
by truth nd~argument, educate the
masses to vote our principles with
US. In order to educate the@eit will
be necessary for US to have some sys
tematic plan at once. But before or
while that plan is maturing it is ex-
pedient to note one very conspicuous
fact. Of course it would be worse
than folly to spend our efforts and
substance "Cssting our pearls before
swine trying to educate those who
are hide bound, those who have been
in the muddy partisan pool so long
that the moss has grown thickly and
covered their backs, like Ephriam of
old, Joined to their idols, in regard to
such we advise, let them alone. But
when a candid honest independent
seeker after truth can be induced to
read aud think, he must necessarily
learn, and by learning a change oc-
ours.
Wise men otter change their opin-
ions-fools never do. Gladstone, one
of the most enlightened statesmen
of this or any other age, has changed
his opinion, on vital questions, many
times. Compare him with John J.
Ingalls, if you want to know the diff
ference between a statesman and a
mossback. Luther changed his opin-
ion and at the risk of his life vigor-
ously protested against the licentious-
ness and corruption in the church in
in which he had been brought up.
Campare him with the wicked, licen-
tious and bigoted priests of his time,
if you would comprehend the differ
ence between a true reformer and q