The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-13
AAsKELL'S DEMOCRACY.

Mr.. &. A. Douglass of this city, then
took the floor and in superb manner,
his whole frame vibrating with in
tense feeling, spoke as follows:
II am very glad, Mr.. Chairman, that
the gentleman who has just taken bis
seat has opened this discussion. 1t is
along the line of liberality and kind
ness, and enlarging and increasing the
Democratic party, without at the same
time offering kindness coupled with
an insult. I could not remain silent,
Mr.. Chairman, tonight, after hearing
the remarks made here and felt it my
duty to say in all kindness, that wrong
has been done to faction of our party.
I wish to draw distinction briefly and
to the point between those who voted
for Haskell in 1890, and those who
voted for Weaver in 1892. It llay be
denied in the heat of partisan debate
in the controversies that arise between
honest men, that Haskell was not a
Democrat, but in the quiet of our
homes, talking as men to men, as
friends to friends, he is not only true,
but tried Democrat. His action may
have been a mistake, Mr.. Chairman.
It may have been political mistake.
It may have been expedient, CT it may
have been inexpedient for Haskell to
have run and been voted for, but to
say, Mr.. Chairman, that for those rea-
sons he is not Democrat, is to assert
what his history and his whole life
controvert and prove to be untrue. He
is to-day as he was in 1890, mistake or
or no mistake, polite or impolitic, ex-
pedient OF inexpedient, wise or un-
wise, and as he was in 1892 and
through his whole past life, Demo-
crat true to the heart, Democrat to
the core, and say it in tbis..presence'
be it wise or unpopular, because, Mr..
Chairman, it is the Almighty Gods
truth. And I tell you, gentlemen and
chairman of this committee, that at
the time Of his action we bad no pri-
mary election. The masses OF the peo-
PIE did not participate in the election.
There was then no manhood suffrage
as we are now proud to call it, and
there was no pledge taken then to
abide any particular action. There
was great heat in. that campaign and
violent discussion. There was man
arrayed against man, brother against
brother, and yet we aresn now as we
were then of the same white blood, the
same. blood that courses through your
veins and mine, the same instincts of
courage and honesty of conviction as
there .is among the members of this
committee tonight. But, gentlemen,
when the election of 1892 came on, the
| executive committee, intending it as
kindness, said that these -who followed
Haskell should be permitted to vote in
the primary of 's2. And why should
they not? They had violated no Sec
ton of the party''s Constitution. No
oath that they had taken had. been
violated. They had not voted for the
Republicans or a Populist, or for any
body but Democrat"
| A member of the committee-"Oh,
| yes, some Of them voted for Republi-
cans. How about Ensor?"
Mr.. Douglass-"4fsny of them voted
for Republicans condemned it in un-
measured terms. If men who voted
for Haskell voted, for Ensor or any
other Republican, as I said then, Mr..
Chairman, I condemned it in my coHn-
ty as condemn it tonight"
| But let US remember that we took
no pledges then. I did take an oath
in 1892, and by the Almighty God /
carried it into effect by voting for
Cleveland and for Governor Tillmap,
(Applause.) So am here to say that
would be untrue myself, a coward as
to the convictions Of my own heart. if
stood here and did not draw distinc.
ton between the men who voted for
Weaver and the men who voted for
Haskell. Weaver made no pretentlons
in 1872 to be a Democrat, and the plat
1 form he stood upon was different
| from the Democratic platform; indeed,
he.was in avowed and open hostility to
the Democratic party. Whether Has
kell was or was not to be permitted to
vote, or his friends to vote, in 1892, I
say be was always good, an honest, q
loyal Democrat, -. -, ~
A member: "How about that vote
for Ensorw
Mr.. Douglass: II say that Ensor
was and always will be Republican,
and if ever vote for him or any Re
publican may my right hand be para
lyzed and my tongue cleave to the roof
I of my month.
A member: "But what about Has
kell voting for hlm"'
Mr.. Douglass: II don't know that
that was true, sir, and if be did be
should no more be excused for it than
if you or or any one else had done so.
If he has done so I cannot approve his
action, but say that to me he is, and
always was, and alway will be a true
Democrat.
Now: then, in conclusion I say that
we are there as representatives of the
Democratic party. We wish to allay
all party differences. We wish to
bury the Ratchet. We would be friends,
We ought to hold out to each other, as
you once saids Mr.. Chairman, the olive
branch of peace, aud when we do it
we will realize that we are men of the
same blooG same race, courage and
! oborcotor, op6 uba0 xvo. hold ont this