The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-02

men who foisted on us the silver planl
| IN the last national platform. No fail
dealing can be expected OF those East
ern Democrats so called who in the
face Of that plodge sustained the
President in repeating the purchasing
clause OF the Sherman act. No fai,
dealing can be expected from the mer
who defeated Hardin in kentucky las;
fall, and have just prevented the elec
tion of Blackbu
The diffences are irreconcilable, the
conflict is irrespressible, and all true
Democrats must resolve to stand by
the principles of Jefferson and Jack.
son, or expect to SEQ the party utterly
destroyed and q new party take It's
place. Any compromise or straddle
will cause tho Populists and silver
men to sweep the South and the West
name and will become the third
party, should it be fortunate enough h
to carry single State. But those who
urge that We stick to the party, no
matter what may be its platform, will
rctort at once that if the silver Demo
Gratis bolt at Chicago, the same result
Will follow. l grant it so far as the
present organization ia concerned and
also 80 far as the name is concerned,
because there would inevitably bc q
new party formed embracing all the
elements OF the three parties which
stand for free silver and financial re
form. But the principles and tho plat
form OF such Il 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.
1t 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 Us ours.
Now let US look at our local condi-
tions in the light Of past events and
the present sprroundings--som
The Register seems entirely to ignore
In 1892 thoro we're not less than thirty
thousand Reformers in the State ana
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-
ceived and betrayed? The news comes
to mo from all parts OF the State that
they feel just what the Rev. Mr.. Reid
expressed in his letter, and they feel
it SO strongly that unless they have
assurances that participation in the
next National Convention will not bind
their conscicnces and votes if they do
not soc proper to endorse its action,
that they are now gravoly considering
the question of remaining aloof from
the party primary in May.
think: however, their numbers are
largely increased. and that they in
iact embrace great many Conserva-
tlves and o 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 tho State and those Of us who now
propose to leave the party at Chicago
should 1T be untrue to it's principles
and it's old faith.
Our one overpowering and overmas-
tering issue in State affairs has been
white supremacy, and this under the
conditions existing before the new con-
stitution was adopted made revolt
against the white majority nothing
less than a crirne. While those condi-
tlOns do not now exist, and while | am
always ready to abide the will 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 go to the Republicans or to ally
themselves with goldbugs of the Cleve-
land-Carllsle stripe, can do so. What
L am striving to prevent is the division
OF the silvcr Democrats and the de-
struction of the Reform movement,
Just what has occurred in every other
Southern State.
J. know there are somo men in the
State who will remain in the party as
now organized, and be for whoever
may be nominated on any kind of q
platform, but it is a poor compliment
to tAc people at large to consider them
80 blind and so welded to the name
Democracy that thcy will longer take
the shadow for the substance. | have
striven with might and main to pre-
vent the disintcgration Of the Reform
Democracy. There are few who will be
bold enough to deny that l kept the
Alliance ufrom committing the blum
der Of sloughing off and joining the
Populists in '92, which practically de-
stroyed it in other States I have
promised the people who have trusted
me and who have needed my counsels
that l would lead them out when the
time came. That time is now upon u.s.
either to purify and rcorganiZe the
party or leave it, and if my advice has
any weight with the people of the
State, they will align themselves in
solid phalanM for tho purpose | have
indicated, and by so doing force the
retirement Of the towards and sy-
cophants and treacherous leaders now
masquerading as Democrats. The
party can only be thus rejuvenated
and then press onward in its glorious
mission of emancipat,ng the people
and restoring their liberties under the
old banners, and always under the
time honorcd principles of Jefferson
and jackson. 1t Is simply question
Of reforming tho party and bringing
it back or leaving it. If we can re-
form it wo can hold on to the name
and tho principles. If we do not sue
ceed in doing this then we take the
principles and seek now allies and o.
new name.
Every confederation 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
tho light, boldly and bravoly. We all
want to stay in the party and hold on
to the namo If wo can do 80 to retain
our self-rcsDcCt. This will bn dctcr-