The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-24
ANOTHER BREAK IN SOUTH CARO-.
LIMA.

tolerated no differences of opinion
and it dominated the Democratic
party of the nation. Whoever with
in the State differed from the rul-
ing powers had short shrift given
him. He was Amounted with North
Carolina tar and decorated with
South Carolina feathers and fred
out with a directness of purpose
quite P~uritanical in it's dogmatic
precision and a vehemence of man
Q altogether tropical in its
warmth. And when differences
arose between the South Carolina
Democracy and the Democratic
party of the nation the South Oar
DINA Democracy broke up the par
ty and proceeded with more haste
than elaboration to dissolve the
union. In the enterprise, it may
be recalled at this late day without
cruelty or unkindness, the South
Carolina Democracy, to use a ia
miliar expression, "got it in the
neck" IT resumed business along
in the seventies, and in the eighties
was in full feather once more.
There was no real trouble on the
inside of the South Carolina De-
mocracy until 1890, when a very
pronounced difference arose which
resulted in the success by an over
whelming majority Of an Indepen-
dent with the present Senator Till
man at its head. This party is still
In power. 1t has two United States
senators-to wit: Messrs. Irbp and
Tillman--both elected as Z 100
Gratis, but as Independent Damo-
Gratis. In South Carolina they
never tolerate anything that isn't
Democratic. Men may differ as
widely as the poles, but they are
all Democrats.
And now there'e another division.
Senators Irby and TilIman, from
having been the most intimate
personal and political friends, have
fallen out and are no longer on
speaking terms. Both continue to
be Democrats, as are also eX-Sena-
tors Butler and Hampton, whom
they defeated, displaced and sue
ceeded. The difference of opinion
between these two eminent South
Carolina Democrats seems from
this distance to he a trihe obscure
eho AhooootoltidI. SO ldE Us we
can make out it relates to the rath-
er remote contingency Of the ac-
ton of the Democratic National
convention on the silver question,
Senator Tillman threatening that
he will bolt if the convention does
not adopt Il free-silver platform,
while Senator Irby, whose views
on the silver question are precisely
the same as those of his colleague,
maintains 1t to be the duty of the
South Carolina Democracy to stand
TO the party whatever position it
may take in the silver or any other
question. This makes an extreme
ly interesting situation. That is to
say, interesting in South Carolina.
Anywhere else it might not be
deemed of sufficient Importance to
raise a row over, so long in adj
vance of anything in particular
having happened. But Senator
lrby happens to be chairman of the
Democratic State committee, or
rather of one of the Democratic
State committees. And he has is
sued a call for a State convention.
The call is not easily understood,
but the language of it is extremely
beautiful and inspiring. He opens
1T with a recognition Of "the wide
differences of opinion as to the de-
tails of party policies, and party
management" but adds that, fully
alive to the present emergencies
upon the Democrac y, we cannot
but realize that the party's purposes
n successes ear only he attained
by discipline and organization. He
then goes on to say, with tropical
luxuriance of expression: GAS I'M
derstood by us, the hope of the
country is centred in the Democrat
party. Its principles, which have
been handed down from Jefferson
and Jackson, are absolutely neces-
sary TO maintain the equal rights Of
all the States and to secure the wise
and economical government Of the
country. Whatever differences
there may be as to the application
of the general principles for which
the party stands, all must agree
that only by harmony, concession
and loyalty to the party can great
ends be accomplished" This, it
will be observed, though q little
lacking in definiteness as to what
precisely r the "principles which
have been handed down from JEFF
ferson and Jackson" is very fine
and highly impressive. There is
much moro of it; but the conclusion
is most to the purpose. 1t NEAR
business, and run thus: "However
we may differ as to details with our
brother Democrats from other Sec
tions of the Union, we all know
that the Democratic creed and a
Democratic control of the govern
ment are far better for us than any
thing we may expect from orr OPP
p0nents." That's the eist Of it.
However we may differ" it is "far
better for u.s." to stand together and
get what we a out of it.
That, generally speaking, is what
the principles "handed down from
Jefferson and Jackson" actually
mean, and pretty much all that
they mean to the average Demo-
crat of this year of our Lord. Per-
haps, though some day or other, the
voting population of South Carolina
will cease worshipping the fetch
of a party name, and when they
nave real differences of opinion up
on vital questions will have the
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