Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-06-05
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his Republican allies, or Mckinley.
Democratic followers in South Caro-.
lima, and his purpose was to 60 up
and down the State unopposcd and
unanswered to organize his new
political machine.
This was the situation up to the
Gaffncy meeting and was con-
frontcd with the question of what
was my duty under the circum-
stances. Rccollcct that | am a
member of the National Democratic
Committee as your Representative
| was on the committee on platforms
in both of the last national conven-
tions and helped frame the declara-
tons of principle and policy upon
which we went to battle, and was
chairman of the committee on plat
form in your last State Convention.
Remember, too, that both at Char
lotte, and at Grcenville, directly and
indirectly, had been assailed by
MIR. McLaurin, and you will under
stand why | was anxious to meet my
colleague at Gaffncy, and when
invited by a large number of citizens
of Cherokee county willingly
accepted. The result of that meet
ing is II Nv well known. Mr.. McLau-
rim was unexp' .dly brought face
to face with the question of resigna-
ton and appeal to the people whose
confidence he had abused and whose
trusts he had betrayed.
He tried to dodge the thrust by
charging that was attempting to
dictate and boss the people and
interfere in a race with which | had
no concern and was safely ensconced
in my seat for six years and had
nothing to lose, but could well afford
to lay down code of moral ethics
for another which l was unwilling
to follow myself. | saw the oppor-
tunity to precipitate the battle at
once rather than wait fifteen months.
and | offered to resign if he would,
and the result you know. | acted
from impulse, it is true, but | have
always acted upon impulse, and as
public man can affirm with the
sacredncss of an oath that all of nv
impulses have been to serve the best
interests of the people who have
honored me. had every oppor-
tunlty to weigh the consequences
and get out Of it without discrcdit.
but ! felt then and still feel that nv
duty was to force the fighting and rid
the party of all traitors.
TIE SITUATION
as | understand it is this: The pco.
pie who are interested in having two
Senators at Washington to do their
will and stand by their principles
VIII have an opportunity of being
honestly and honorably represented.
This has not been the case during
the last two years and as long as
Mcl.aurin remains in the Senate it
could not be the case.
AS to the burdens Of the contest.
The citizens Of given county will
lose but two days to bring about this
much desired rcsult-one day to
attend the campaign meetings and
the other to go to the primary, while
will have the fatigue and expense
OF State canvass, which | could
have easily avoided. The contest
between the Democracy and the
man who seeks to betray it will be
fought without any local complica-
tions whatever. Voters will not be
influenced in this contest by the
desire to elect local favoritcs, and
thus swapping will be prevented.
ilC ISSucS VIII Dc clear cut. Inc
organization Of the "Commcrcial
Democracy" another name for Nc
k'nlcy Democracy, will have to be
consummatcd in much shorter
time and under much less favorable
conditions. Our party has the
opportunity to rcbukc and punish
trcachcry at once as n warning to
those who may be wavcring. Many
good men will be prevented from
becoming Republicans in fact, though
not in name, by having the issues
explained before they have aligned
themselves under the new banner.
The Democratic uniform will be
struck off OF those who have proven
unworthy to wear it, and they will
be made to understand tho differ
cncc between honorable and dishon-
nrnhIn IIsnhnrfrnu (G,,io ~