The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-30
The fist thrust

| pOlhteu yOut CouiiAi'1eSN az "
the public press and other public aud
private communications, that there is
very decided desire on the part OF
the Democratic party to contest the
election on the abstract question OF
unlimited coinage of silver at the un-
alterable ratio of l6 to | as com
pared with gold and to ignore or to
make .awkwardly subordinate any
other national issue and every other
State issue 1t is apparently the
purpose of the party at this time to
make the acceptance of All extreme
political sentiment the sole test OF a
candidates Democracy. 1t does not
seem to be~enough that men are will,
ing to support the regular candidate
of the regular Democratic party, but
they are required to subscribc to
every letter and phrase of the plat
form. The Republican managers
invite the support of Democrat
without formally exacting of him
approval of high protective tariff
and the principle of controlling
southern elections by army bayonets.
"It is impossible for me, with the
views l hole. to make contest on
the coinage Issue. l believe in the
good old Democratic doctrine of the
Joint, free and equal use of gold and
silver. This doctrine is as far re-
moved from the single use of gold,
which enables spectators to juggle
with its value, as it is from that
other principle which seeks to estab.
lsh an impossible ratio for its slster
metal Therefore, entertaining the
views do, and now thoroughly I'M
pressed with the belief that the party
will consent to make the contest only
for the primary upon the silver issue,
l feel that as an honorable man,
should make way for some one who
can carry the banner with that de-
vice. l am grateful to the honorable,
the State committee. for the very
Aattering vote ly which it prov ided
for the appointment of your commit
tee of notification and which so gen.
erously left to my decision the ques.
ton of my remaining the standard
bearer of the party feel that the
decided vote on that occasion was
due more to the eloquence Of a
prominent member of the party than
to the settled conviction of the indi-
vidual members of the committee as
to the propriety of my candidacy
under the present circumstances.
There seems no place in the Demo
crratic party to day for conservatism.
Men ale divided into two classes,
each entertaining extreme views and
each exceedingly intolerant of the
other. The history Of legislation ls
that conservatism in the end prevails
believe that the Democratic party,
when it approaches the responsibility
Of legislation, will be true to itself
and to the people.
''The strength of the Democratic
party is its weakness. 1t is the
party of the people 1t stands with
sympathetic arms welcoming the op-
pressed. the weak, the distressed,
and promising them comfort and re
lief I: is natural that michievous
and destroying elements should clothe
themselves in the garments OF honest
distress and seek to shelter them
selves within those arms and to COR
duct from that refuge their predatory
raids What the Democratic party
needs is wise, fearless and powerful
organization which will respond to
every beat of the popular heart, but
which will regulate the entrance Of
the wicked and perversc This or
ganization will not come from outside
but from inside the party have no
sympathy with those who desert the
party now in it's hour of need Every
Democrat who believes that the party
is or can be made an instrument OF
good should stay within its ranks and
by counsel and example endeavor to
build it up and make it strong
81 inherited with q patriotic love
of country profound and loyal af-
fection for the Democratic party.
When men revile it, l want the more
to hold it fast. The men WHO wan
der at will from one party to another,
who have no political break dc not
understand this sentiment Ny
party can demand Of me no bonora-
bic sacrifice l will not make 1t can
ask of me no duty I will not perform.
Ny best usefulness now will be hum
bly, to remain within its ranks and
give such powers as | possess to
Strengthening it's pillars and estab-
fishing it's bulwarks.