The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
Great Democratic Principles.
lbIs and Lucid Exposition Of the
True Democracy by Senator
Henderson.

sion in this city. At the invitation Of
the citizens of Union number Of the
most prominent and ablest men in
public life in the state were present
and delivered addresses. Tomorrow
the speaking will be continued. SEN
stor Tillman being the leading
speaker of the day. Senator McLaurin
was invited TO speak tomorrow also
but he declined the invitation on ac-
cout of the illness of his daughter,
although he stated that he would have
been unable to be present under any
circumstances, having previous en-
gagement to speak elsewhere on that
day, which engagement he had been
compelled to cancel.
The speakers to-day were: Senator
D. S. Henderson, Aiken; Hon. j. j.
Hemphill, Congressmen Johnston and
Latimer, Col. Robert Aldrich and Mr..
John B. Cleveland, of Spartanburg.
Senator Henderson was the first
speaker of the day, his address being as
follows:
Fellow Citizens: It is esteemed a
high privilege to be invited to address
the people of this favored section of
South Carolina.
When your unexpected and unsoli-
cited invitation came, to come hlther
and address you on the grave national
issues pending before the American
people it was accepted as call to
duty.
I have felt that in the discussion Of
these issues at this meeting, in an OF
election year, which is only the preli-
minary Of many which may follow next
year, it were best not to address you
in an off hand, extemporaneous man
ner, which is best suited to personal
political debate, but to commit my re-
hections to manuscript in the hope that
I NAV be more accurate, succinct and
clear.
Issues are brought about by the
happening of events, which generate
ideas of interest and concern; and be-
ing discussed and acted upon by the
public become formulated into concrete
facts as the basis of public and private
action.
Nations are initiated or destroyed by
the result of such issues; and 1t IS the
duty of every liberty loving citizen, as
the best indicia to his right to citi-
zenship to take an active part IN such
events.
We should bring to the considera-
tion of such matters not rhetorical
pyrotechnics in speech and glittering
generalities from history, but common
sense and reason and apply the subject
at hand to our home needs and home
duties.
AS people, as nation, by the per-
mission of Providence we occupy the
greatest country of the earth. Born
amid the peans of liberty; liberty Of
conscience: liberty of speech, and lib
erty of religion, she has been baptized
in the waters Of adversely and is now
marching up the slopes Of apparent
prosperity and power.
It is the people who compose the
government. It is the people who
formulate the ideas that guide nation
al growth: and it is the people who
must decide the issues which the
formulation of such ideas bring about.
All nations Of the nature Of our
American republic must have rival
political parties. It started soon after
the breath of life was blown into the
body polite of this national republi-
can as the necessary concomltant OF
the fact that men run the government.
They have existed ever since under
various names, creeds and banners and
will continue to remain as long as the
republic lives, or until its enemies, If
they have their way, sink it into I'M
v,o~;ol;C+;o Oblivion
The written charts which bind US
together, namely, The Declaration OF
Independence - The Articles OF
Confederation and 1.-The Constitu-
tion of the United States Of Ameri-
ca,' were begotten in the revolt of
liberty gainst the Royal Imperialistic
colonization idea. The constitution
was grant Of power from the people:
what was not therein granted to the
government thereby formed was re-
served absolutely to the people.
Every line, every syllable of this
Magma Charta of the people was evolv-
ed from struggle of debate between
centralized government on the one
hand and government of the people on
the other.
Lie OuSG VI Ud6G1C "u1Cu s44iClS1eO$t
the liberty principles of the constiu-
tion had scarcely rolled away when
Hamilton and his followers espoused
the cause of a centralized government ::
and Jefferson and his followers the
cause of a Democracy pure and simple.
Ever since through various muta-
tions and changes, amid shifting
scenes and circumstances: amid battle
and treason and traitorism and tyranny
and prosperity and adversely, the
struggle has continued; and it SUBJ
sists today.
You called this meeting today be-
cause it was still going on.
The Hamiltonian, Federalistic or Re-
publican party bending all of its ener-
gies TO centralize all power in one
FederalJhead with the machinery for
the promotion of its combines and de-
tendencies TO perpetuate the power of
that head; and the Jefersonian or
Democratic party bending its energies
for the preservation of popular govern
ment and strict construction Of the
constitution handed down by the ia
theirs.