The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-03

continuance aud disastrous eHec's-a
situation largely induced by the results
then existing and impending of that
republican Legislation which de'oo-
cratic administration had no part or
parcel in euac,iug, sauctioning or con-
douiug. but which it only uDfortun ately
Inherited from its predecessor.
The people recollect that it was
under national democratic ADMINISTERS.
ton that the Sherman Law was repealed,
not as promptly as some Of us desired,
it is true, bat nevertheless uocondi-
,ioually repealed within eight months
after our advent to power.
eve promised the people IN our
Chicago platform that this statute.
which. was eating out the vitals OF our
financial body polite, should not be per.
United to endure. and the promise was
redeemed. despite the adverse 2redic-
tious Of our adversaries We also de-
clared in favor of repealiug that last
law which invaded state rights, meusced
the liberties of the citizens. multiplied
federal officials, involved the expendi-
ture of millions of money, continued
sectional animosities and was as ILL
conceived, unnecessary aud impotent for
the prevention of fraudulent practices
and the promotion Of pure elections as it
was vexations and offensive iD its
enforcement.
II poiut you to the fact that the
democratic party-although entrenched
for four years with the distribution OF
all the official patronage incident to the
execution of this powerful law, yet With
patriotic self-sacrifce, deliberately cast
aside all The power, influence and
patronage involved therein, subordioat.
ing temporary selfish interests to the
public good, wiped this odious law from
the statute books Within the first year OF
our administration, and at the ensuing
congressional elections the spectacle will
be witnessed for the first time in twenty
four years of state elections conducted,
as they of right ought to be. without
federal interference, dictation or intimi.
,ion-without federal supervisors. mar
shals or other obnoxious federal agents
or ipstrumentalities, but with state
officials selected or chosen by the people
themselves. according to state laws and
usages. an exempli6cation of the prin-
ciple of home rule in states aud a
viudication of the doctrine of sover-
eignity of the states as it was recognized
by our forefathers from the foundation
Of our government until that evil day in
the sixties when the republicans.
although a minority party, owing to our
own divisions accidentally obtained con-
troll of the country. We rejoice that
with democratic rational ascendancy,
the country consistently returns to the
simple methods. the sound principles
and the correct administration of public
officers, which characterized the earlier
aud better days Of the republic
s'The enactment of the Mckinley
tariff law vas the eliminating atrocity
of republican recklessness in legislation !;
measure 80 extreme, so selfish, so
unreasonable that | hazard nothing in
asserting that conservative aud fair
minded republicans everywhere re-
GREETED the party exigencies which SEEM
ed to demand ITS passage. 1t was the
very personi6cation of prosectionism run
mad.
''Tbe Mckinley law has gone where
the woodbiue twineth-gone TO stay.
never to be re-enacted again BY any
political party. 1t is true that there
was vexatious and unfortunate delay.
which we regretted. .occasioned in part by
the ap,iquated rules Of the senate. which
tolerated Unlimited debate-rules which
We did nos frame but which We inherit
ed, aud which, by reason of our slender
majority, we seemed unable to change,
bu, which | trust in the near future will
be abrogated but the fact should be
remembered that the record shows that
we occupied less time by some mouths
in repeating the law than our opponents
took 10 enacting it in 1890.
The administration Of President
Cleveland has been clean handed, pains,
taking and patriotic. The various
departments of the national government
have been conducted with success aud
the democratic party as whole Is
entitled to the confidence Of the masses
of the people whose interests it endeav-
ors faithfully to serve The administra
ton Of our state government under
democratic auspices has merited the
public approval
The Democratic party in this State
stands as it has ever stood for religious
liberty. which is guaranteed to all by
our Constitution, and arraign the Re
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