Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-12-08
The south and Democracy.

B
1t seems to us that the time has
come for the South to assert and to-
assume its proper place in the Demo
cratic copncils---that place being by
right one of domination. For moro
than thirty years the South has mo-
destly and contentedly sat below the
salt. 1t has played the part Of the
poor relative at the banquet. Fur.
nishing three-fourths of the strength,
the bone and sinew, the courage and
intelligence Of the party, the South
has meekly accepted the position of
mere subordinate, debating moth
ing, suggesting nothing, satisfied to
obey the orders of minority and to
do almost all the fighting in a CAM
paign which brings it no rewards. We:
say to our Southern friends that this
arrangement has lasted much too
long.
The South, to-day, oquips the
Democratic Party with most Of it's
brains and its conservatism. There
are exceptions, of course, but our
proposition holds good as rule, and
the facts remains that the South does
not tako its proper place in the con-
duct and management of the Demo-
cratic Party. 1t still submits with
out protest to the disqualification
imposed upon it by the civil war. 1t
still consents, after thirty-three years
OF time and after the splendid demon
stration of patriotism made last sum
Ter, to be held in an inferior posi-
tion, to be kept out of sight as a
thing to be ashamed of, and to be
used only as the rank and file of an
army which it really dominates by
virtue Of numbers, intellect, and
valor. No greater anomaly can be
imagined then that which is pre-
sented by tho South's acquiescence
in the arrogant and ridiculous hypo-
thesis set up within tho Democratic
councils by the North and East. It
has reached point at which even
Northern and Eastern Democrats
regard it with wonder and con-
tempt.
If the Democratic Party is to sue
ceed in any future national contest,
it must do 30 through the expedient
OF the South's assuming leadership.
The elections this year have shown
that tho Democracy can win more
easily by adhering strictly to its
principles and by sedulous avoid
ance Of time-saving and speoious
alliances with Populism. This
abominable policy was adopted in
1883, when the Eastern Democrats,
acting for Mr.. Cleveland, induced
the party to abandon its organization
in States where Populists held the
balance of power-such States as
Nebraska, for example--and deliver
its votes to a ticket and platform
which honest Democrats could not
Wow save with discomfort and shame.
Mr.. Cleveland was the Eastern and
Northern fetch and dishonor could
be advocated, in his name. But the
policy of cowardice and infamy has
brought no strength to the Democ-
racy, and this year the proposition
has been proved in every State
Wherein that policy was at one
time tolerated. We all know, now,
that the Democrats are stronger
when they stand fast by their tradi.
tions and their record, and thore
goes with this the conviction that
Democratic leadership must, for the
future, be left to those who furnish
the party's strength and common
sense and self-respect.
In the South we find the fighting
material, the conservatism, and the
craftsmanship of the Democracy.
To The South we should look for it's
dictators and it's leaders. The unna-
tural arrangement has outlived its
time. Let us have the dispensation
of reason and propriety Ivy ashingz
ton Post, November 27. j.. MT