The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-07-11
LEXINGTON, S. c.,
REFORM DEMOCRATIC CLUBS.

REFORM DEMOCRATIC CLUBS.
IF the reorganization of the Re
form Democratic clubs throughout
the State and county, separate and
distinct from the regular Democratic
clubs, is solely for the purpose OF
looking after and protecting the in
terest of the issues fathered and ad-
vocated by the March convention OF
1890, and those incorporated in the
State Democratic platform by the
convention of 1892, and to which
the Reformers of the State stand
pledge and are responsible for their
success or failure, they are timely
and proper and their thorough re-
organization should be encoura &c
by every legitimate means at our
command.
Experience has taught us that We
have willy and almost never sleeping
opponents who are as keenly
watching every move upon the poll
tical checker board as a hawk
watches a chicken and are as equ-
ally prepared to take advantage
at q moments warning Of every
mistake and error made by the
Reformers, and we. are admon
ished that 'sthe price of liberty is
eternal vigilance, hence it is the pa
triotic duty of every Reformer to see
by organization and otherwise, that
no advantage is taken OF them.
To imagine for a moment that the
Conservatives ara not well and
thoroughly organized is grave and
fatal mistake and we should not al
low ourselves to be lulled to sleep by
any such delusion. So we'll are they
organized for the campaign that we
believe we risk nothing in asserting
that should circumstances be such
as to give them the least en-
couragement to do so, up to
within twenty-four hours OF the
general election, orders could be IS
sued from their headquarters and an
almost unanimous Conservative vote
could be polled for or against any
measure. The only thing wanting
is the opportunity which presents
the faintest ray Of hope for the sue
cess of their efforts for them to de-
yelop into active and aggressive op'
moment of all the reforms now IN
force. It is only through the
force of circumstances that they are
apparently so passive and indifferent
as to the outcome of the campaign
now upon us, who, like sleeping
volcano, are in position to spring
into activity and with fire and brim-
stone, overpower the majority
With minority vote. Such being
the case, it is only acting the part OF
prudence and wisdom for the Re
formers to be in a position to meet
any emergency which might arise
with well organized and disciplined
force. In saying this much it is but
just and proper to say that we i'm
pugn the motives of no man. We
claim and exercise the right to do
our own thinking and to form our
own csaelusions therefrom as our In
telligence and the lights before us
NAV suggest. We cheerfully and
sillingly concede the same right to
others. Because others cannot see
things as we do and differ with us in
regard to questions Of public policy,
is no reason why they are dish onest
and desire the nations overthrow and
the aubjucation Of the people in the
bonds Of serfdom.
The Reformers are contending for
well defined principles calculated, if
made laws, to remove the heavy bur
dens under which the people are
suffering. Believing in these princi
pies we are in sympathy with the
Reform movement, but, while this is'
the case, we cannot nor will not lend
uraid and assistance to objects end
ing to the advancement of one can
didate in the Reform ranks before
the people in the primary, over an
other: hence if it is the object in
the formation of these clubs to
champion the cause Of any particu-
lar candidate, or set of candidates,
their reorganization should be dis
coursged,