The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-06-09
The Issues.

democrats. We are nothing more nor
less. The issues before us as demo
Gratis are first, National. Primarily, as
democrats W. fight our old foe, the re-
publican party. The issue there is up
on protection and O low tariff-an ex-
travagant and an economical national
administration. This issue Is O GEN.
tury old. This Seems now however to
be OF minor consideration-the money
question rising up like a great noun
tain and overshadowing everything
else. Parties may be re~organized and
we must wait until the middle OF July
for the action OF the Democratic
ton before parties and the country can
form any notion as to "where they ere
at" We may have our minds made
up-but the machinery may not be in
working order to put our views into
operation. To illustrate-if the Demo-
Gratis split at Chicago, and the Repub-
licans at st. Louis, a silver party may
at once be formed Of the old parties
and likewise a gold single standard
party Of the friends of gold in these
Peh III hSCSosdElly. 6luS ITdChS
the old issues upon which the country
has waged battle for O hundred years.
So we wait.
Then we vote at the primaries in
August upon State issues. AS yet
none are formulated. The Reform
faction has it all It's own way at pres
emit upon no Issues but men. AS to
State matters that faction, through
the ring masters will agree upon
candidates without a platform or a
policy and put up the slate, which is
likely to go down as a pineapple bon-bon
on q hot June afternoon. CAN'T and
Whitman may Justify kick with the
plain result OF broken shins. So, as to
State matters we need not bother as
much as to brush away an annoying
househy. All will be arranged for
us. This is the prospect as 1t now APP
pears. II. you a get in the band
wagon you may share in the plums.
In county matters there can be no
issue likewise except as to men. There
is nothing now apparent to be deter
mined in the choice of representatives
for the General Assembly or in the
choice of county officers except fitness.
If the choice of United States Senator
is made at the primaries &ken there is
now no issue except personal fitness
upon which to choose our mcmbers of
the General Assembly,
AS to filling the county offices, GER
tainly there can be no questions,
but those of competency, character and
courtesy.
Then we oughtt TO have a very genial,
pleasant, harmonious settlement of all
our home affairs. There should be In
State and county affairs implicit hon
esty among ourselves and no slate MAX
ing.
The office Of Solicitor is purely non
political. We want in this office q law
yer of ability and OF such character as
to insure his incorruptability, of firm
ness, judgment and of even temper
If he Is not above partizanship he must
necessarily be a rascal, as a Judge or
Solicitor.
A Congressman is always chosen on
political lines. He must have a half
dozen first class qualifications. He
must be a sound democrat; able
in council; alert and electric in debate;
of ready wit; of GOODNESS under aggra-
waiting assault; of i~ncorruptible hon
esty.
Thusi it will be seen in South Caro-
lima we have very narrow political is
sues to settle-nothing to divide US
nothing to quarrel about. The white
people of the State should be together.
Ii they divide on the financial issue
let 1t be with all kindness and good
temper. But the question Of "divide"
Is hardly worth considering. A blue
hens chicken, will die in the pit-a
true blue democrat will hardly swal-
low a sugar coated republican pill or
gilded with gold.
~~#
The State Executive Committee met
In Columbia on the 5th instant and ar
ranged for the coming campaign
Some new rules were made for the
/ government of the primaries. The pri-
mary election Is fixed for the 25th of
August. (the last Tuesday,. Governor
and United States Senator and all
other officers are to be voted for on
the same day. The polls open at 8 A.
M. and close at 4 p. M. and are at
once counted. There will be two
boxes, n for Senator and Governor,
and n for all other officers, including
congressman and Solicitors. Candi.
dates for the General Assembly and
county Offices have until ten days be-
fore the primary to file their pledges
and these to be filed with the county
Chairman. Candidates for State Offices,
and these we take to include Congress-
men and Solicitors, must file their
pledges with the State Chairman on or
before the 22d Of June. The campaign
opens June I'D at Manning. 1t pro-
ceeds fast and furious until July 3 in
elusive and skips the immortal 4th and
the big It'll at Chicago, opening again
atSumter the 18th of July. We have our
day on the 9th Of August. The place
will be fixed by the County Executive