The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-05-13
A Labored Apology.
Col. Knots Tries TO Justifes Himself
for Joining the Republican Party.

Col. Knots Tries to Justifes Himself
for Joining the Republican Party.
To the Citizens of Lexington:
For nearly the fourth of century
in South Carolina there has been no
time in which the real issues between
the contending parties could be dis
cussed or even enter into campaign.
The only one that has had supreme
dominion has been that of The color
line. But times have changed and
the issue of danger from negro DOM
nation no longer is scare crow and
a snare, but the real differences in
the principles of the two parties will
have to receive their due considera-
tion. 1t will beimpossible any longer
to drive them away with the cry Of
negro in the wood pile. The destiny
of great republic, and the welfare
of the entire country, will now have
to engage the attention of the patri-
otic voter. It is evident that the
present Democratic administration
has strewn our country with bust
ness wrecks and failures, has pros
trated our industries, has paralyzed
our progress to an extent unprece-
dented in the history of this govern
ment. If the Democratic admins
tration has not proven it's incapacity
to legislate to the best advantage of
this nation, then certainly an amount
of proof is required not usual in the
decision of such questions.
The real underlying principles of
the two parties, the great basal struc-
ture on which the two parties have
acted will very clearly show why the
Republicans have given prosperity
and why the Democrats have given
adversely.
In all of it's existence the Repub-
lican party has had and has carried
out one great central basic principle,
viz: that the American industries,
the American laborer and the Ameri-
can citizen must and shall be pro-
tected. 1t says tariff on all i'm:
ported goods must be placed sufficient
to protect the American operatives,
mechanics and artisans against the
half starved, half paid, poor, miser
able laborers of Europe and Asia.
Our citizens can't afford such living
and the Republican party says that
it's first and greatest duty is to othrow
a protection, a safeguard around
them and shield them from the
humility of such an outrage. The
progressive and respectable laborer
of our State can't compete on equal
ground for an honorable living for
himself and his family with such a
class of men.
The Democratic party during all
it's life refuses all protection and is
unwilling for a tariff for anything
but revenue for the expenses Of the
government and when that is gotten
then the laborer and our industries
must care for themselves and live if
they can, but die if they cannot live
beside such bumiliating competition.
It is willing for a tariff; to save itself
from paying the taxes to the United
States government and to protect its
own pocket, but is willing when it
is protected to show the selfish spirit
and refuse protection to our opera
tives, mechanics and laborers. The
Democratic party has succeeded SO
far by telling how it cheapens and
how it lowers every article, but the
laborer of every rank begin now to
see that it is cheapness at his ex-
pense.
All these questions have in this
country been driven out by the
color line heretofore, but the time has
arrived when their mature, consider
ate deliberation is necessity and
can be deferred no longer. South
Carolina is now becoming a manu-
featuring State as we'll as producing,
and in Lexington county alone now
are many hundreds of people inter
ested as operatives in this doctrine
of protection. Every cotton planter
is directly affected by it. The fool,
ishness of the Democratic legislation
on raw wool and wooden goods creates
greater demand for woolen goods,
and CT cour ;e lessons the market for
oods gmade of cotton. The reduction
n raw wool is direct blow at every
man who can raise sheep. The cheap
ening Of woolen goods causes woolen
goods to be worn to greater de-
gree and is strike both at the cot
ton planter and cotton manufacturer.
The Republicans want to encour-
age home wool growing and desires
that industry protected. 1t desires
to protect the cotton grower and the
cotton manufacturer and the opera
tives who make the goods. 1t de.
sires that every departmental OF indus
try shall receive a sufficient protec-
ton to secure profit to the indus
try and comforta! lie living to the
laborers.
The financial question now has been
seized by the Demo, ratio party as the
burning issue" and the all import:
ant question for this election. 1t had
both houses of the Congress and the
Executive and not one note on this
did it rise except an effort to try to
c,ln S55,OOO,O0O of silver seignorage
now in the vaults of the treasury.
Since the chance has gone to do al y
thing the question of free coinage Of
silver becomes especially the nects=
sary evil. What good can result in
an increase of the currency if he
industries of the nation are not ST fl
GENTLY protected7 TIE men vh, ,
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