The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-05-27
s'Silver Or Bust. !"

The convention convened, adopted
a platform, elected delegates te
Chicago, endorsed Tillman for presi
dent, squelcbed Irby and took re
cess to September /.
The convention met in Columbia
Wednesday and was called to order
by Senator Irby. Mr.. I. 81. McC Gala.
of Abbev'lle, was elected temporary
chairman, and the permanent organi,
zation was presided over by Mr.. A,
H. Patterson, of Barnwell, with
Messrs. NJ. S. Scruggs, of Greenville
and S. W. Vance, of Laurens, as
secretaries.
Upon motion of Senator Tillman, @
committee of one member from each
county, selected by the various dele
cations, was appointed on platform.
Senator Tillman was elected as chair
man of the committee. G. M. Efrd
represented Lexington on this COM
mittee.
Another committee, consisting of
one member from each county, was
appointed to examine and pass on
amendments to the constitution of
the party. ]. W. Dreher was ap-
pointed on this committee.
After the appointment Of the COM
mittees, Senator Irby introduced the
following, which was referred:
By Senator Irby: Whereas, neither
white supremacy in South Carolina,
nor constitutional government in the
United States can be maintained
without the preservation Of the su-
premacy of the Democratic party, and
whereas the supremacy of the Dem
ocratic party cannot be maintained
without holding the will of the ma
jority as absolutely inviolable, there
fore, be it
Resolved by the Democratic party
of South Carolina in convention as
sembled, That it is the duty of each
and every member of the party, ma
tional as we'll as State and county, to
acquiesce in the will OF the majority,
when expressed by constitutional
methods, to abide by and support it's
action.
Quite a number of other resolu-
tions were offered, but with the ex-
ception of one introduced by John
W. Lyles, of Fairfield, and calling
upon Senator Tillman to become
for the presidency and 60
forth and battle for the people, they
were not especially important.
The morning session was con-
sumed in various routine matters,
and at 8 o'clock Senator Tillman
read the report of the committee on
platform as follows:
l. The Democratic party of South
Carolina reaf6rms its allegiance to
the principles snunsiased by ~Jeher-
son, Monroe and Jackson and followed
by their successors in office, and
pledges itself to stand by those
as the creed of our politi-
cal faith.
2. We denounce the administration
of President Cleveland as undemo-
cratic and tyrann;cal and as a de
parture from those principles which
are cherished by all liberty loving
Americans. The veto power has
been used to subsidize the press, to
debauch congress and to overawe
and control citizens in the free ex-
ercise of their constitutional rights
as voters. A plutocratic despotism
is thus sought to be established on
the ruins Of the republic. We
the construction placed on
the financial plank of the last Demo
cratic national convention by Presi-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Car
Isle as contrary to the plain mean
ing of English words and as being
an act of bad faith deserving of sew
crest censure. The issue of bonds in
times of peace with which to buy
gold to redeem coin obligations pay
able in silver or gold at the option
Of the government and the use of
the proceeds to defray the ordinary
of the government are both
and usurpations of author
ity deserving impeachment.
3. We believe the power and usur-
pations of the Federal courts as now
to be dangerous to the re-
public. The American people have
lost confidence in life tenure of
officers in any department Of govern
ment, and We here repeat the warn
ing of Jefferson against the tendency
and effect of the constitution of the