The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-05
sUMgER's FIGHT FINISHED.

servative Democrat from the beginning
and have believed 10 straightout
incorporating fight against Tillman-
ism from the first We wanted the
State Executive Committee to read Till
man and his followers out Of the party
in 1890 when they disregarded demo-
cratic principles and precedents and
by we'll laid schemes crammed certain
candidates down our tbroats. Then
was the time when straigbtout fight
should have been made. 1t was not
made, and the men who advocated it
were called radicals and worse. When
we had been carried into conventions
and the primary with the Tiilmanites
By the weak -kneed action of the Execu-
tive Committee, and bad become bound
by pledges to abide the result, then
straigbtout fight was inaugorated under
the leadership Of Col. A. c. Haskell.
The principles be laid down we're in the
main in accord With ours, the men on
his ticket we admired, but the time for
making a straig ghtout fight bad been
allowed to pass aud all Of us could not
20 into it. We had made pledges
which We felt bound to respect.
In 1892 We remained in the organi-
cation succeeding to the democracy of
the State and claiming to be the organ
ICED and Legitimate democracy. We
made a fight within the organization
and we're defeated, because the machine
10 the hands of an unscrupulous ring
was too strong for Us.
Long before the campaign of 1894
opened, we, in common with a few
others. urged the formation of demo-
cratic clubs and the Reorganization Of
the party according to strict democratic
principles. Nothing was done. The
suggestion was either ignored or men,
tioued as useless aud foolish
Left to ourselves in Sumter County
where the true democracy has been
kept alive and in fighting trim while
other counties have supinely subm itted
to the populists, We went ahead and did
what we could for ourselves. Our
clsbs we're recognized and the fight
for county Offices, Senator and Repre-
seutasives, made and won. We made
fair and square fight against the re-
formers and as we did not care to par
ticipate 10 the State Convention let the
delegates 90 to them by default. In
the Congressional race We were left
without a candidate. Up to the last
minute q great many of US were under
the impression that Congressman lzlar
would contest the election with DR..
Stokes His failure to do so allowed
DR.. Stokes to obtain the nomination In
Sumter County on less than oDe-halt
the vote cast.
Having made the fight in good faith
we cannot 20 into an independent move.
mept and support ticket put out at the
general election. At an earlier date we
were anxious for the line between dem
,.rats and populists to be drawn, and
when the Irby Executive Committee
adopted provision permitting Repub-
licans and what-not to vote in the dem'
ocratic primary were still more anxious;
but now after we have made our fight,
as best we could, and in doing SO made
certain pledges We cannot 60 into the
proposed straightout fight. 1t is too
late for us. Others who have not
made pledges can do SO if they wish,
but we do not believe any democrat
who participated in the primary of the
2Stb ult., can consistently join this
eleventh hour movement.
It may be urged that fight for princl-
pie even at the last minute is right.
Granted, but what is to be done when
the fight has been shirked and postponed
by time-servers until only the last
desperate hazard remains Are we to
sacrifice our pledges to join those who
held back when the fight was urged Oh
as matter of principle. We think not,
aud We trust the Democrats Of Sumter
County will not 20 into the fight at this