Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-04-24
COTTON AND COMMERCE.

In this issue will be found tho speech
uelivored by Senator John L. McLaurn
before tho Southern Manufacturers Club
Mt Charlotte, N. c., last week. Speeches
wore also made by Minister WI, of
China, and President l.. A. Smyth, of
the Pelzer Mills. Minister WI spoke of
China, its people, their need of cotton
goods and tho vast possibilities of tho
commercial relations between China and
tho United States in tho future. Presi-
dent Smyth's address was in tho main
along tho line of Senator McLaurin's.
He concurs freely with tho Senator's
view of political conditions in tho South
to-day, and endorses tho course pursued
by Senator McLaurin in tho United
States Senate.
at the outset Senator McLaurin makes
it plain that he is Democrat, and he
expects to remain in tho Democratic
fold. And why not2 Is it not possible
for Democrat to advocate what he
sees and believes to be for tho highest
and best interests of his countryp Can
not progress and prosperity find place
in Democratic policics2 1t has been to
the reproach of tho Democratic party in
tho last two national campaigns that it's
leaders occupied tho plane of Calamity
howlcrs," and hcnco in every doubtful
State, largo and small, where tho issues
wore discussed Democracy lost. And
tho samo will continue to be it's fate
until Populsm is eliminated from its
creed, and the party becomes Democratic
in fact as well as in name. At presen,
tho livery of heaven has been stolen tt
serve the devil i'll, and until this spuri
Gus garb is laid aside, the Republican
party has tho Democratic party in hole
from which it never can be cxtricatcd
Senator McLaurin has tho wisdom tt
see and know this, and he has the cour
age to give uttcrancc to his honest con
victions. His plan, in short, is to purge
the Augean stables, redeem his part,
and place his foot once moro on the bed
rock of sound Democracy, the sam,
Democracy that led Jefferson to pnr
chase Louisiana, and Calhoun to advo
cate the Mexican war with the fruits o
its victory. There would have been a.
much reason to talk of ruling Jefferson
or Calhoun out of the Democratic part,
in their day, as there is for such tall
about McLaurin at this day
In reviewing Senator McLaurin'.
speech at Charlotte the Charleston Pos
very aptly remarks:
$50 we find that Senator McI.aurih il
not presenting new phases of politica
thought, but is recalling old ones. al
he says, the South has been struyplin,
for generation with an internal prob
lem that has employed all her energies
to the exclusion of other regards. w,
have wrcstled desperately with the dan
gcEof negro domination and have hat
no choice of ground for the combat
Now that the evil has been conquered
we look about to find we have shiftc,
far from the place where the fight began
Shall we, if this is not il healthy location
stay here merely because stress ha.
brought us to the point? No intcligcn
man will say yes. Let us then considc
whether we are satisfied with our condi
tlons, discuss the case i'm open forum
and determine for ourselves, like frc,
men, what is to do for our welfare LIE
there be no more fetch worship. Th,
South need not longer be the playthin.
OF partsanry.
Senator McI.aurin is surely not origi
nal in these ideas. lie does not max,
any claim to originality. lie is, however
rather well to the front among publ,
men in giving them expreSsiOn Per
haps he will not find individual advant
age in this pioneer work. But certainl,
the South will profit from his effort
whatever its motive may be, or whatcvc
results it brings to its author"