The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-11
NO SURRENDER!
The Dem ocracy Will Flight 1t Out IL 1t
Takes Ten Years.

The Democracy Will Flight 1t Out IL 1t
Takes Ten Years.
The result of today's election will
| not be known until the ballot boxes
have been closed tonight. We have
a quiet confidence that Mr.. Bryan will
be chosen our next President, and
that the voices of a majority of the
States and of the people will be found
to have now given the policy ne repre-
sents their Endorsement. But this IS,
of course, uncertain. The power OF
gold IS great and has been unscrupul-
ously used. 1t has been sufficient to
turn many Democrats to Republican
| ism. It has induced the national ad.
ministration to use its influence and
its patronage against the party to
which it owes two terms of power.
Mckinley may be elected.
There is no uncertainty, however,
about one fact. If Mr.. Bryan should
60 down before the Republican army,
swelled by mercenaries and aided by
Democratic deserters, the principles
he represents, the cause he has so ably
and so bravely upheld, will not fail
with him. They may suffer temper
ary defeat, but if not triumphant now,
will be fought for in four years time;
| if not successful in four years, will be
met in battle array in eight years:
The agitation will 60 on until stopped
by victory.
The doctrines embraced in the Dem
ocratic platform have been untruthful-
ly represented as novel and revolution
ary. They present issues that have
been before the people and contended
for at the ballotboX for years. Will
| it be claimed that the sovereignty of
the State is a new and radical idea
and a departure from Democratic prin-
ciples2 The most distinguished Demo
Gratis that ever lived have been its
champions. and whileit no more justi-
fed secession than opposition 10 a
form of government justifies the as
sAssination of ruler, it is the bedrock
of that constitutional limitation and
separation of the powers OF the several
branches of the government on which
the Union is founded and which makes
it inseparable and indesructable.
Was George Washington revolu-
tionary when he said. mot only the
Constitution and laws must strictly
govern, but the employment of the
regular troops be avoided. if it is posi-:
BILE to effect order without their aida"
Is opposition to government by in
junction such an onslaught on the
supreme courts infallibility that the
country should stand aghast at it9
Were Charles Sumner and Roscoe
Conkling tainted with the poison of
anarchy when they challenged the
supremacy of the court over the legis-
lative power2 Was Abraham Lincoln
chargeable with desire to cast down
the judicial structure when he declared
that "if the policy of the government
upon the vital questions affecting the
whole people is to be irrevocably fixed
by the decisions. of the supreme court
the instant they are made, as in Or
dinary litigation" the people will
have practically resigned their govern
ment into the han Is of that eminent
tribunals"
Besides, is not the absurdity of the
electioneering claim of sacred cha
racter for supreme court made ap'
parent by the object lessons of "pack.
ing" the judges for special objects, of
changed decisions and Of the adverse
judgment on an income tax, upheld
by the court for years, secured only
by the weather. cock shifting of a
single judge.
The free coinage of silver. Is that
an issue that will "down2" Has not
the use of silver been an agitation be-
fore the people for years2 When sill
yer was in coinage were not the bank
ing interests, arralgned by Thomas
Jefferson as "more dangerous to our
liberties than standing armies" rest
less in their conspiracies against it un-
til they drove it out2 As soon as sill
yer was beaten, did not the business
and labor interests of the country agi-
tate, till measures for its relief were
adopted9 Did the banks and Wall
street, and the powers behind them,
cease to agitate in their turn until
such measures were swept away2
Is the income tax a new propositions
1t has been the law before, sustained
by the infallible supreme court, and
ably championed by John Sherman.
Of course, it has always met the enmi-
ty of possessors of large incomes,
which, under the unequal system of
taxation, pay no tribute whatever for
government protection. Is it likely
that this plank in the Democratic plat
form will be abandoned if Mckinley
should by chance be elected?
No; whatever may be tom0rrow's
result as far as candidates are con.
cerned, the cause Of which Bryan is
the brilliant champion, the principles
of the true Democracy, cannot be
killed. Their agitation will not cease.
Why should it2 The cause is the cause
of the west, the principles are the prin-
iciples of The western States, and the
majority wins.
The west is increasing in population
while in some States of the east the
numbers are decreasing. The census
of 1900 may show a change in the
balance of power. In the west are the
lands over which will swarm the new
generation. In the west is tie wealth
that has made us what we are as
nation, and will make us what we
shall be. In the west is the strength,
the energy the honesty that guarantee
the perpetuity of free government.
From the west will come the final and
assured triumph of the principles
[championed by BRYAN, the temporary