Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-27
STANDS FIRM.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

NcullOu LOW. hO SoA oS6AS eNSA
was for the extension of slavery in the
Territories, and the party split asun-
der, nominating two sets of candidates.
Now the issue is whether money or
the people shall rule. AS I see it, it
is bound to split again when it meets
in convention. "Even though" to
quote the language falsely attributed
to Mr.. Latimer, "the goldbugs are dis
posed to deal fairly with the silver
men and to put up a ticket to repre-
sent both factions" This is an impos-
sibililty. No fair dealing can be ex-
pected from the men who foisted on
US the silver plank in the last national
platform. No fair dealing can be ex-
pected of those Eastern Democrats, 80
called, who in the face of that pledge
sustained the president in repeating
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
act. No fair dealing can be expected
from the men who defeated Hardin in
Kentucky last fall, and have just pre-
vented the election of Blackburn.
The differences are irreconcilable,
the conflict is irrepressible, and all
true Democrats must resolve to stand
by the principles of Jefferson and
Jackson, or expect to see the party
utterly destroyed and a new party
take its place. ANY compromise or
straddle will cause the Populists and
silver men to sweep the South and the
West, and the Democratic party will
be only name and will become the
third party, should it be fortunate
enough to carry single State. But
those who urge that we stick to the
party, no matter what may be its
platform, will retort at once that if the
silver Democrats bolt at Chicago, the
same result will follow. grant it so
far as the present organization is con-
cerned and also 80 faras the name is
concerned, because there would inevi'
tably be new party formed embrac'
ing all the elements of the three
parties which stand for free silver and
financial reform. But the principles
and the platform of such 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 he bound to carry
the country in 1900. 1t will be the
genuine Democratic party. 1t must
not be forgotten too that the Republi'
can party is split and torn over this
issue as well as ours.
Now let us look at our local condi'
ton in the light of past events and
present surroundings-somethingT The
Register seems entirely to ignore. In
1892 there were not less than 10000
Reformers in the State and possibly
more who were strongly tempted to
vote for Weaver and were loath to
participate in the National Democrat
ic convention by sending delegates tc
it. Where do these men stand today
after having been deceived and be-
trayed ? The news comes to me from
all parts ofthe State that they feel just
what the Rev. Mr.. Reid expressed in
his letter, and they feel it so strong
ly that unless they have assurances
that participation in the next national
convention will not bind their con
sciences and votes if they do not see
proper to endorse its action, that they
are now gravely considering the ques
ton of remaining aloof from the party
primary in May.
I think, however, their numbers are
largely increased, and that they in fact
embrace a great many Conservatives
and large majority of the Reformers
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 il
be untrue to its principles and its old
faith.
Our own overpowering and over.
mastering issue in the State affairs has
been white supremacy, and this under
the conditions existing before the new
constitution was adopted made revolt
against the white majority nothing less
than a crime. While those conditions
do not now exist, and while l am al
ways ready to abide the will Of the
majority of the white people of the
State, there is nothing which demands
such loyalty in national affairs as is
urged by The Register. The party Or
ganization in the State will remain in
tact and those white men who choose
to 60 to the Republicans or to ally
themselves with goldbugs of the Cleve-
land Carlisle stripe, can do so. What
1 am striving to prevent is the division
of the silver Democrats and the de-
struction of the Reform movement,
Just what has occurred in every other
Southern State.
know there are some men IN the
State who will remain in the party as
now organized, and be for whoever
may be nominated on any kind of a
platform, but it is a poor compliment
to the people at large to consider them
so blind and so welded to the name
Democracy that they will longer take
the shadow for the substance. l have
striven with might and main to pre-
vent the disintegration of the Reform
Democracy. There are few who will
be bold enough to deny that l kept
the Alliance from committing the blum
der of sloughing off and joining the
Populists in '92, which practically de-
stroyed it in other States. have
promised the people who have trusted
me and who have beeded my counsels
that would lead them out when the
time came. That time is now upon US,
either to purify and reorganize the
party or leave it, and if my advice has