The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-05-31
.M'LAURIN SPEAKS
70 a Large Crowd in the Civ Of
orsenv,l g.
DEFENDS HIS POSITION,

|
Democracy, and Mot Re.
pubiicanisn as Many
Claim II Is.
The following is the speech Of Sopa
tor John j. MoLaurin, which he made
at Groenyillo last Wednesday:
| Follow citizens: Tho political Ro
formation of 1890 bad for it's main OBJ
ject tho independence Of thought and
ao!lon on tho part Of tho peopld in 20.
liUcaI affairs. 1t was this that made
5no a "Rsformcr." a white primary,
who're tho white people of tho State
could sott!o their differences among
themselves. la part it has accom-
pliphcd its objaot in spite of tho eff orts
to dwarf it into one man movement,
Its loador has not been content for it to
bo complete, and has attempted moro
than onoo to dictate who should and
who should not be elected to off 90. All
revolutions of this kind go farther than
it's originators design, no power can
control them.
Mon who suppose that tho "movo-
mont" Of 1890 was a moro effsrvesoonoa
to give offioo to favored fow arc gro,t-
~ miataken. Somo Of tho best and
'ktruest have novor held cfiioe, and The
iaaSSinlo is coming whom thoso who betrayed
and proatitutod this groat movement
into "ono man power" and moro
scramble for the ''loaves aud the fishos"
will bo hold to an account. ] atand TO-
day just where | stood in 1890, with
the added experience of ten y!ars of
study md contact with public mon and
affairs. / thank God that ono thing
has been accomplished. Tho people
havo been disenthralled aud enlightened
and will never bo satisfied with tho ao.
oomplishmont Of anything loss than the
full purpose of the m0vemont-freo
thought, free speooh, fair ballot and
rulo of tue people. This must and shall
DO the final outcome. No attempt TO
break down tho reforms nearly accom-
plished can succeed. Tho natural and
inevitable consequ snoes of that rovolu.
ton must follow. Nothing can ptay
them. 'i
THE ALLIANCE"
Follow oitizons: It affords mo great
pleasure to address you today. thank
you for the honor aud tho opportunity.
recognize the fact that I am you; pub.
lilo servant, and am accountable to the
people who eleotod me for my steward
ship. This responsibility of public
office is the great conservative and pre-.
sorvativa foroe in our republican form
OF government. 1t is the provinoo and
% anotiler thougtlU-UUruo-, ', ,'sloesl No
important public questions and form
judgment as to their effect on the vol
fare of the people. To do this, ho must
at times act independently and lead
public sentiment rathor than blindly
follow what is repItod to be tho maj ,ri.
ty. 1t is his duty to study national
problems and vote according to his
best lights and honeat convictions, leav-
ing the final decision as to tho. wisdom
Of his course to the peop}o. AS for
myself, I acknowledge p~mastcr csavo
tho sovereign pooploy speaking at the
ballot box. and I r,tdse to oboy the dio
tates Of any pcl:sloal Boss, either in OF
outaide 4fo1uth Carolina. This is my
lc.-<dption Of tho rights, duties and
irposition Of Senator My course
since my election has boon projected
along the line of discretion and aoooun-
liability. In voting on great national
issues | have considered the best inter
csts Of the South and tho country rathor
than tho IMPRACTICAL results to flow from
rigid adherenoo to party lines. 1t is
passing strange that somo. Of the men
elected to Congress in 1892 should
| eriticizs mo for doing whit they
solemnly pledged themselves to do
Don't you reno nber that IN Alliance
Delegation WAS elected in 1892 pledged
not to bo bound by a d ,mocrati, osu-
Gus, but to voto for measures calculated
to benefit tho nation at large, irrespac-
tive Of party2 l feol like REQ alling tho
words, "Oh, Lord God Of Hosts, Lest
wo forget, LeBt we forget"
PRINCIPLES HIGHER THAN PARTY.
Political parties under our form OF
government arc necessity. They
grow out Of tho political relations
established by the govornmont itsolf.
There have beon sinoe the birth Of the
nation and always will be two great
political parties, if thero wcro no real
Issues thoy would divide and fight over
the nero spoils Of office. Those differ.
onoes originated in tho diverao views
entertained when our Constitution was
adopted as to what constituted tho pro.
per functions Of the government.
! Party platforms havo always been
supposed to be the expononts Of those
| views. A bloody Civil war settled the
question of Stato's rights, and for Q
quartor of q contury the waving Of the
blood shirt" on the one sido and the
s'niggor in tho wood -pilo" on tho othol
constituted tho dividing limos. I Say
that every man, on a purely seetiona
question, like white supremacy, il {
traitor and q renegade who does no
stand by his own nootion and his owr
people. / say that any man, on do
mestio problome, probloms Of intorna
ooncorn, should, as far a. possible
bow to tho bohests Of his party. If h,
cannot agreo with his party on ques
tions Of this kind, no should, if posi-
Bile, find party with which ho is il
ACCORD. l assert, follow. oitizons, tha
it is almost orimo for any party tt
make great, broad, non-politioal Amori
can measures, involving tho politica
and commercial development Of tn
nation, tho tcrt Of party fcalty. Ia
suos essential to the maintenance
tho honor and prestige Of tho nstiol
are too vital to DO rolegated to tho plan