The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-06-20

Hopeless Of Relief Through inc NatIons4
Democracy, He Advocates Union With
Populi.ts-Pscurar Views stronsly Sta
ted.
COLUMBIA, S. c., June l3.-The let
Ter below was published in the State OF
last Monday. The State edltorla!lY
saws it is a remarkable letter, still the
more remarkable because 1t proceeds
from lawyer and a Strs1ghSou5 De-
mocrat, who is known 10 Us as an non
est and earnest and conscientious man
Here is the letter:
To the Editor of the State: The de-
cision Of Congress against Tree osnRs
is fateful turning point ID the analrs
of political parties in the United StaIes
and most particular in this State. Ihe
DEVELOPMENTS Of the past twelve
months have wrought great change
in the views and feelings of many, II
not most, of our conservative Soutn
Carolina Democrats. We no longer
regard the designation "CleVeiano Oe'
mocrat" as proud badge. Inc Dugle
call to the defense Of National DE-
mocracy," once awaited with eagefness,
no longer could wake in our hearts a
ready response. We are as unanimous
in our disgust with the so.called Demo
cratic administration as we were IN
our loyal enthusiasm for it year ago.
We have beheld the party's principles
ignored, its pledges violated, corrup-
tlon (or at least sectional and class self
ishness) rampant in some departments
OF government nov presided over by
this time-hoDored and hitherto much
trusted and well beloved party. AT
last we had only the State bank tax
repeal to place our trust IN, and we
were looking with alternating nope
and fear as the day approached for the
execution Of this promise, which was,
after all, merely to restore what mad
been unlaWfully taken from us, put 10
return it at time when 1t Woulo oe
such a reiiet that our hearts sWelied
with thanks for it as a benefcent glrt.
Alas, bitter disappointment! Nero
fddling while Rome was burning Is a
weak counterpart of the present spec
tacle.
AS men, we must do more than re-
pine. Perfdy must be rebuked, be-
trayal punished, the faithless IN othce
taught q terrible lesson. Else what
hope for the future? What guarantee
that political servants will not again
refuse to do the work which their mas
ters have appointed and paid them to
DO? What means of securing the leg
islation which the people decide upon !
What ground for voting for party
because of approval of its platform !!
What hope Of preserving enthusiastic
confidence IL party or in Leadership p
$50 essential to a high morale in the
ranks of an army if the rallying cry
is still to be that which by sad expert
euce has become inseparably associat-
ed with craven impotence CT unblush-
ing treachery? Hope, trust, redhot
fusion of hearts into one great purpose
to do battle against the common enc
my are impossible to an army demor-
allied by such leadership, unless 1t be
completely reorganiZed and given new
officers in whom confidence may be
placed Cif not by knowledge Of its be-
ing deserved, then by the absence OF
knowledge of it's being undeserVed.)
But the peoples condemnation OF
faitbless leaders, in order to serve as a
wholesome warning for the future,
cannot safely discriminate between
leaders and party, exponents and the
thing itself. a party must be judged
BY its performance, and, failing to car
rY out its pledges, for whatever reason,
should be repudiated in disgrace. The
corruption or incompetency Of lis ser
wants is its corruption or incompetent
cY. It matters not that we are palned
to give up our historic party and that
the principles professed IN the plat
form are still cur principles. The ready
free lance of the independent IN
politics is the best stimulus to
healthful vigilance in pursuit Of the
right path. Any attempt 20 cling with
affection to dlscredited party ana to
reform it from within, tn degrade its
recognized leaders and substitute Lew
ones is uphill, unwise and wellnlgh
utopian. Revolt in the ranks and a
stunning blow alone teach the needed
lessons.
Opportunities are not to be ignored
with expectation of their return. A
party which after thirty years OF
striving and waiting is given brill
liant opportunity must use 1t or never
have the impudence to ask for 1t again
The Democratic party has damned it.
self. No one can satisfactorily explain
the present public course by laying all
blame on leaders. It is evident that
it's members are discordant and are
yoked together unity. For those in
its ranks who adhere to original pria-
cipIes, believing that there is still in
them life and promise, 1t is folly to
seek to hold up their standard against
triumphant and entrenched treason
The faithful should draw out from sur
r00ndings which, like the Augean sta
bIes, it were the task of Hercules to pu
rify, and separating themselves from
degenerate companions, should draw
up their line Of battle in new field
and rally to them all free and bold
spirits who would fight the hostile gar
rison Of the perverted government.
Rebellion finds a response in the
manly heart. A bold stroke for the
right arouses enthusiasm. A new or.
ganiZation is instinct with life, is not
hampered with the dead weight freight
that IN time it gathers. Only the wide
awake and dead.in-earnest take the
step. The slave to habit and the half
hearted are left to burden down the
old organization. The new broom
sweeps c!eaD, and the new machinery
will move off with the perfection in
every detail that comes from the appli.
cation OF the newest Improvements
without the drawbacks of patched work
and cramped quarters. New wine can
not be put in old bottles. The apathy
the groVe-Ike administration of many
details that narrowing precedents and
growing negligence bring, the ever
looking back with hardly glance for
ward, the unconscious individual sub,
ordination of thought to habit and au
thority, the stagnation and decay will
be left; and by as many years as were
necessary for the accumulation Of this
collection Of evils, by so many years
at least, shall We probably be in bet
ter party than We are in.
Such is now, I believe, the sponta
neous, though PROBABLY underlined feel.
ing of rs all. But what shall we doi
FN6oro non norGIv bn q 1o,Tht that h9S