The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-31

and the Democratic party will be onl,
a name and will become the thirC
party, should it be fortunate enough
to carry a single State. But those who
urge that we stick to the party, nc
matter what may be its platform, will
retort at once that il the silver Demo
Gratis bolt at Chicago, the same result
| will follow. | grant 1t so far as the
present organization is concerned and
also 80 far as the name is concerned,
because there would inevitably be q
new party formed embracing all the
clements of the three parties which
stand for free silver and financial re-
form. But the principles and the plat
form OF such q new party, If it be
formed, will be those OF jefferson and
Jackson and Lincoln; and If it does
not win the victory this year, it will
be bound to carry the country in 1900.
LII will be the genuine Democratic
party. 1t must not be forgotten too
that the Republican party is split and
torn over this issue as we'll as ours.
Now let us look at our local condi-
tions in the light of past events and
the present surroundings-some
The Register seems entirely to ignore.
In 1897 there were not less than thirty
thousand Reformers in the State and
possibly more who were strongly
tempted to vote for Weaver and were
loath to participate in the national De-
mocratic convention by Sending dele
gates to it. Where do these mon
stand to-day, after having been de-
ce1ved and betrayed? The news comes
to me from all parts of the State that
expressed in his letter, and they feel
it 80 strongly that unless they have
assurances that participation in the
next National Convention will not bind
their consciences and votes IL they do
not SEQ proper to endorse its action,
that they are now gravoly considering
the question of remaining aloof from
the party primary in May.
l think, however, their numbers are
largely increased. and that they in
1aet embrace great many Conserva-
tlves and q large majority of the Re-
formers. There is no analogy In the
comparison which The Register makes
between those Democrats who in the
past have run on Independent tickets
in the State and those of us who now
propose to leave the party at Chicago
should 1T be untrue to its principles
and it's old faith.
Our one overpowering and overmas-
tering issue in State affairs has been
white supremacy, and this under the
stitution was adopted made revolt |
against the white majority nothing
less than crime. While those condi-
lions do not now exist, and while am |
always ready to abide the will of the |
State, there Is nothing which demands |
!uch loyalty in national affairs as is |
urged by The Register. The party or
yanization in the State will remain in
tact and those white men who choose
20 go to the Republicans or to ally
themselves with goldbugs of the Cleve-
land"Carlisle stripe, can do so. What
am striving to prevent is the division
>f the silver Democrats and the de-
'truction of the Reform movement,
ust what has occurred in every other
Southern State.
know there are some men in the
state who will remain in the party as
,ow organized, and be for whoever
nay be nominated on any kind of a
platform, but it is poor compliment
% the people at large to consider them
70 blind and SO welded to the name
Democracy that they will longer take
he shadow for the substance. l have
triven with might and main to pre-
rent the disintegration OF the Reform
Democracy. There are few who will be
bold enough to deny that ! kept the
Alliance ofrom committing the blum
ler of sloughing off and joining the
'opullsts In '92, which practically de-
troyed 1T In other States. 1 have
promised the people who have trusted
ne and who have needed my counsels
hat l would lead them out when the
line came. That time is now upon US,
mi fxr kl.
party or leave it, and If my advice has
my weight with the people of the
State, they will align themselves in
solid phaianx for the purpose l have
Indicated, and by so doing force the
'etlrement of the towards and sy-
,ophants and treacherous leaders now
as Democrats. The
party can only be thus rejuvenated
and then press onward in its glorious
mission OF emancipating the people |
and restoring their liberties under the |
old banners, and always under the |
time honored principles of Jefferson |
and Jackson. 1t is simply question |
ot reforming the party and bringing
1t back or leaving it. If we can re-
Form 1T we can hold on to the name
ceed in doing this then we take the |
principles and seek new allies and a
new name.
Every consideration OF statesman
ship and patriotism demands such
action on our part. We cannot stand
still but must move forward or surren-
der to traitors. AS South Carolinians,
we should move together and towards
the light, boldly and bravely. We all
want to stay in the party and hold on
to the name II we can do So to retain
our self-respect. This will be deter
mined when we get to Chicago. The
present duty is to turn out at the pri-
maries and select true men to attend
the State convention.
b. II. TILLMAN.
Washington, March %.
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