The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-03
THE TWO CONVENTIONS.

dents have met ana 1QJOulueu' Ih@'
of the former adopting platform
broad, strong and liberal enough
for all Democrats who truly desire
to see the breach in the party healed
instead of widened, to stand without
the surrender of single principle;
the latter accomplished nothing,
without it was in succeeding to
make confusion worse confound-
ed" With the result Of both some
are pleased and some displeased.
The decision OF the latter in taking
no action in opposition, if they are
sincere, to the majority Of the peo
pie, was for the best interest OF the
State. The Democracy of this State
cannot afford to divide. THERE'S too
much danger fer such an experiment
to be tried. Party unity is absolutely
essential to good government. tits
right which all citizens are justified
and should exercise in differing as to
men and measure up to the very last
moment of the day on which the
primary election is held, but when
the result is declared let US stand
uncovered in the presence Of the
people and bow in humble sub
mission to the will of the major
ity as expressed through the ballot
box. We acknowledge that might
does not make right, neither does
the weak make right, and it is posi-
BILE for the minority to be in the
wrong. In matters Of this kind
we must exercise spirit of fairness
and sound Judgment, and strife and
bitterness shouldnot mar our fairness
nor warp our judgment to the end
that both wings of the party might
flop together again in unison.
1t is possible, and if it will be a
balm to some scared consciences We
will admit, that the Reform party
might have made mistakes, and
where is the party that has not, but
the wonder is that more mistakes
have not been made when we remem
Der what bitter opposition this Ad-
ministration has had to contend with.
We assert without fear of successful
contradiction that Tillman has never
during his four years of Office, taken
one step along the line of reform but
what some one has always be found
to take out an injunction and some
Judge ready to issue the writ, in Or
der to run the government to expense
and thus prevent reduction OF
taxes to accomplish the downfall Of
Tillman and the restoration of their
faction to power. But Tillman's po-
sition has almost been invariably sus
tanned even by prejudiced court at
the final hearing Of the cause. Had
the present Administration not been
impeded and these obstacles placed
in the way of an economical admin
istration of State affairs, our people
would have today been on better
terms and the Reform movement
would have been fairly weighed in
the balances and received the plaudit
of we'll done OF been condemned ac-
cording as it redeemed or failed to
redeem its pledges.
Admitting, if you please, that hard
things were said at the beginning Of
the reformation, but this does not
Justify nor excuse the opposition for
continually and eternally abusing
those who might happen TO differ
with them on men and measures and
in doing so they are responsible for
the division now existing. The
monumental blunder the opposition
made was the failure of the minority
to accept defeat gracefully and fall
in line so that they would be i'll a
position to be of some service to the
State. Some of them would
have been entrusted with RESPONSE
bic Office and been useful, but in
standing aloof they have put them
selves in position to be Of no use.
Now that we have but one ticket
in the field let US all go to work for
the success of the ticket and after
the election to reunite the party.
It is indeed gratifying to every