The times., 1901-05-16
MR.. YLAURIN'S POSITION.
StraiEht-ouf Statement by the
south Carolina senator.
(From The Independent.)

(From the independently
Southern Democracy has been mongrel-
lied by the infusion into il Of Populism.
Socialism, Ttllmanisn, sectionalism. and
all OF the other isms of the day. The
great cardinal doctrines of the party
have been lost sight of in the scramble
for Democratic success, and the prostt-
tuition OF 1t into a movement for the
election Of one man. w. j. Bryan. as
President. Its recent leaders have sprung
from among those in the South who have
been elevated to office by sectional and
infiammatory appeals 80 the prejudices
and cupidity of the unsuspecting people.
They are not the exponents of true De-
m0eraey, and have bsyutled the people
from the true faith. With them party
success is the paramount consideration
They oppose and ridicue the broad nom
political American questions now before
the people which affect the honor. the
prosperity, and the destiny of the nation.
| They are unable to. or VIII not, disasso-
ciate sectionalism and partisanship from
| true patriotism. Their aim has been 10
commit the party to no vital national
| policies but to keep it in the position of
| opposition and obstruction to any policies
| favored by the Republican party. Tn
| der such leadership the party has suf-
fered disastrous defeats. and there Is a
| growing conviction that II VIII continue
| to do so unless 1t is rehabilitated
| No great national party can ever rea-
| sonaoly hope for success without definite
| policies. Nor can any party composed OF
| incOngruOus and diverse elements and
| heterogeneous political doctrines ever sue
| ceed. Its hybrid character is obnoxious.
| and is a constant menace to the bar
| mony necessary for the triumph of any
| political organization. It's success Is not
| a guarantee of a salutary and efficient
administration of public affairs. Diverse
classes and interests are apt to clash
| when they are installed in power to-
gether. Dissensions seem to be inherent
| in the Democratic organization. and this
/ tendency would be developed in this rule
| of a mongrel administration.
| These considerations have made
| great many people IN the South appre-
| hensive of direful results, and caused
| them to doubt the wisdom or expediency
| of the success of the Democratic party.
1 During the last few years this appre-
hension and doubt has ripened into
| fixed belief among the business element
| in the South. The section has under
/ gone a wonderful Industrial revolution.
| Millions of capital have been invested in
| manufacturing and other enterprises.
| The agriculturists, the laborers, and all
| other classes. have felt the beneficent in
| fiuences OF the new economic conditions
| This general prosperity has excited au
| enquiry into the causes of 1t. Investiga-
| tion convinces the people that it is not
| a spontaneous wave, but that II has Deeu
/ produced by the changed conditions re-
| sulting from our political and material
| progress. 1t is beginning to dawn upon
| them that the great American questions
which have grown out of the national
| events of the last three years have eX-
| erted a potential influence. They begin
to see in them the fruits of the upbuid-
| ing or our whole cOuntry-OT making us
one OF the great Powers OF the earth-Of
opening remuneratiye foreign markets to
US as the leading exporting nation, and
of extending the influence and blessings
| of our republican Institutions. Their
| hearts are beginning to swell with pride
| at the expansion of our territory. our
| trade and commerce, and our national
| glory. They see national and material
| progress in all this. and are no longer
| content to hold on to dead issues and
| party traditions. They are ready to IA
vor policies which will be in accord with
| our economic conditions, and will build
| up the South and whole country. While
| Democrats in State matters they at heart
| are in favor of Republican national meas
| ures- All this will inevitably produce
| new conditions of Democracy In the
| South. The people are becoming tired of
| the vagaries of Bryan Democracy. They
| see IN them no promise OF party success,
/ and much that Is inimical to the best in
| terests Of the South. They are restive
| under the Bryan Democratic Oligarchy.
| but have submitted to 1t from necessity.
| The negro question has kept them in line.
| When white domination is secured. as it
| is now, they are ready to make the Demo
| cratic party progressive by adapting it's
| principles and policies to the new eco
! nomie conditions. They are not willing
| to destroy the party or TO renounce any
/ of its cardinal doctrines. and thus buiid
/ up a Republican party in the South What
! they want is TO vitalize Southern De-
| mocracy by infusing into ii great Amer
/ lean ideas which are non-partiSan and
| broader than party platforms. They
would Ike il to be a party of practical,
| non-sectiOnal, and Democratic policies.
| They feel that when this is done all that
! can be accomplished by going into the
| Republican party can ne secured within
! the lines of the Democratic party They
| believe revision Of the political creed of
the Democratic party and the advocacy
by it of live issues in a progressive and
aggressive way will restore it to public
J. l. McLAURIN.