The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-07-31
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY.
It does not require much sd

EGt DSf.U'It,s'C Jo4Vy IL VAAC
SouIn. Is lraders have allowed
tti~~c@ran.,,& md ambitious men
il. o{hr. "e.slas IN the North and
Northwest to engraft upon its
old time doctrines new theories,
which make it hybrid in charac,
ter and adjustable to conditions
existing elsewhere than in the
South. In the last two Presi-
Dental elections the party thus
handicapped has suffered disas-
trous defeat, Mr.. Bryan and his
political associates have consti-
tuted it into an organization
whose principles are calculated
to excite class prejudices, and to
ALLEVIATE broad minded and pro
gressive democrats in the South.
To more fully conceal the real
objects of the Populistic elements
in the party, the policy OF max
ing no vital political issues with
any other party has been adopt
ed, so as to make it simply a
party Of opposition and obstruc-
tion, hoping in this way to de-
ceive the people and elect a
President.
The Intelligent business men
of the South have not fallen into
line under the banner Of this
Populistic democracy, and after
two defeats have openly revolted
and proclaimed their purpose to
rehabilitate the party. This is
considered treason by the Bryan
ist leaders, and in their efforts
to silence this dissatisfaction in
the ranks they denounce all who
do not agree with them as rena-
gades and Republicans. In the
their blind zeal they taun5ingly
denominate the Democracy of
the business men as "Commer-
cial Democracy, and declare it
is utterly at variance with the
principles of true Democracy.
They attempt to stife argument,
and trust to frantic appeals to
the prejudices Of the people to
preserve the present organiza-
tion.
There is then a factional con-
testin the Democratic party Of the
South, the one faction striving
to preserve the Democratic party
as at present organized with
Populism and Socialism its main
doctrines, the other seeking to
eliminate from it these political
heresies and rehabilitate it upon
the broad and progressive busi-
ness principles of the Democratic
party of the South which made it
victorious in the past. Upon the
outcome of this factional contest
in the party the future growth
and prosperity of the South
mainly depends. The progress
i've wing of the Southern De-
mocracy favors policies which
will enure to the upbuilding of
the South in her material and
industrial interests, and such as
are in harmony with existing in
dustrial conditions: They favor
expansion, ship subsidies proper
ly guarded and all other public
measures, which will be beneficial
to the whole country and which
will especially confer upon the
South incalculable benefits. It is
true these measures are advocated
by the Republican party. the ques-
ton is, Shall Southern Democ-
racy be bereft of all its principles
and doctrines, and degenerate
into political mob of opponents
and obstructionists? The fact
is, during the last ten years the
Democratic party in running off
after strange political gods has
permitted the Republican party
to appropriate all of it's progres-
sive policies and carry them out
in their administration Of public
affairs. And as long as Democ-
racy is used as a means Of ele
waiting certain men to Office, and
of subscribing the ends of certain
interests, it will continue to be
a party without policies, and can
never hope again to administer
the government.
What we need in the South is
an unmixed progressive Democ-
racy,-a party Of ideas and poll
cies,-an organization controlled
by the people and not by a few
leaders, and a Democracy which
is founded upon broad practical
business as well as political
principles. When the party is
put upon this plane it will again
command the confidence Of the
entire Southern people, and en-
Joy chance Of victory in a
Presidential election. The North
ern Democrats have latterly
controlled the platform and
destiny of the National Demo,
cratic party. The Southern wing
Of it has been nothing but a
voting appendage. Most OF the
votes in the Electoral College
come from the South, and its
people should have a controlling
voice in shaping its course and
policies. When this is done, and
the party IS rehabilitated upon
broad and progressive lines, il