The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-28
BLANDING,s DsMo >RAcY,
Col. J. D. Blanding Gives His Rea-
sons For Not Supporting
Bryan.

Yoa are right in ssyiag in your late edi-
tosiai, that the PalDer and Buckoer electors
know full we'll that they cannot be elected
and you add that "they are all good men,
aud were good democrats" ha. you ''regret
10 see them make 80 serious mistake /"
OF cou,s. you do not mean that the mis-
take arises from the fact that there 70 no
chance for any "spoils," shoagh this is the
pist Of what is commonly called ''practfca'
politics." nor can l believe shat you mean
that il is serious mistake for good demo-
~Crat to run for an Office for the sole purpose
of protesting against what be conscieatiously
believes TO be an abandonment. or sacrifice OF
the fundamental principles Of the party
Your next .entence fo:bids this as your
idea, as you say s.We do not copdemo man
for leading forforn hope for the sake Of
principle. and therefore we cannot condemn
these qeutlemen." This is what must be
called honest politics. The mistake would
seem to be contained 10 your last sentence.
TO Wit: .syou cannot conceive how any DEM
ocrat. especially Southern democrat, can
consent to use his in6nance or cast his
ynte in a cause that will contribute toward
the election of Republican President and
Congress-" | will adopt this sentence with
the change Of one word, aud rsad "Populist'
for ssReoublican.' But what makes it, If
possible. more inconceivable ia that Bryan is
standiog on platform manifold more antaR-
onissic to true democracy than he was before
he was put uron it he has vowed probably
Gsty times that if elected he will carry out
the Chicago platform 10 spirit and letter, 10 its
entirety. ..O:d Uncle George" says that BrS-
an is An honest, conscientious man, firm in
his convictions with tie courage 10 ms.nt-,n
than. believe both Of them, and, therefor,
csnnot consc.ea, ,iously vote for him have
voted tie democratic tickets, State aud Fede-
raj; since ls42, except when absent in times
of wars, aud cannot vote for Republican.
nor acy one who. stands upon platform
partly republican, in its worst feature, largely
populis,ic, somewhat anarchstic and dim!nu-
tive,; democratic Such in my opinion is
the comoosltioi of the Chicago platform; II
was knitted together to be big dag net
That this is true is proved by the appeals
made by your campaign orators and even
BRYAN himself to those three foreign elements
and without the support of all three, your
leaders admit that even the head of the ticket
cannot be elected What u comp und ! If
ron will allow little facetiousness, II re-
minds one Of the ''riog, streaked anc strip
ed'' party Of the early seventies, IN lis varle-
gated colors of PRINCIPLES, if not OF skins.
You NAV throw off Ton Watson, now In
csutempt, but if carried into power by the
popuiistic vote you will not he able to shufti'
them of They will, with the aid Of Teller
ism. Aitgeldisu' aud FillmauisD, hold the
irrevocable balance OF power and dictate
their own terms and policies aud .ou will
have to yield. Nor should you, you could.
throw off The load, for you have fused, aud,
in good faith, are bound to maintain the
fusion Tom Watson is acting 10 better
faith your Nstiooal Executive Committee.
Tais may to most electors sound childish, %
geod faith is not generally considered part
of practical politics. To my view, this is
the darkest, most threatening cloud now ris-
ing over our political horizon. 1t can be
disrelled, not now, but before it overclouds
aad breaks 10 fearful force over the Repub ic.
The only way TO dis pei it, will be for s'i true
Democrats, rejecting heresies Of every kind, TO
stand upon the principles enuuciated by JEFF
ferson aud maintained ey the patty till frit-
tered away at Chicago. did not intend to
write 80 much nor 10 fact, any thing for pub
liesfiou; bu, let me add that both Of the pa
pers which you so ably edit have
always been fair manly, and just to
those who differ from you po!it-
.cally, never dealing in inpueudo, vitu-
pera,ion or abuse. Not 80, however, The
State. Gobz4;es wis aod sarcasm while
always keen and cutting is enjoyable even by
him who is cut; hat he deals ia argument is
admitted, though frequently neither sound,
logical nor consistent, But he does not stop
here Sometimes he viii6es and imputes
wrong motives even. to those whom be calls
frieads. This may be good politics but is, to
say the least, bad manners: notably bis edi-
torial 10 the issue Of the 20,h, "To gold men
= who think of voting for Palmer and
Bnckner." If lie will calmly re.resd it, be
will see that 1t is insulting TO the ''gentle-
men, he addressed. do NOT believe he 80
9ia,euded, and kuow that ifon review be 80
sees it, be is gentlemen who will say so, and
dissvow any such intent. D BLAND1NG.
Sumter, Oct. 23rd, 1895
o.