The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-05-14
Wednesday, May IA, 1902.
There Should be No Change.

On Wednesday, the 21st of this
month, the State Democratic ConVen'
tion will meet in Columbia for the
purpose of adopting platform, re-
vising the rules governing the pri-
mary and making such other arrange
ments for conducting the same which
in it's Judgment may best subserve
the welfare of the Democratic party.
Much interest is centered around
the meeting of this convention as
great ~ things are expected from it
by the radical element Of the
party. Since Senator Tillmsn made
his speech at Manning and dictated
the conditions upon which candidates
will be permitted to enter the pri-
mary great activity has been awakened
in political circles and speculation as
to the outcome is rife. There are
warring elements in it. Conservatives
will meet their erstwhile enemies
the Reformers-on equal footing.
Radicalism will be arrayed against
conservatism and the battle promises
to be not, spicy and desperately
fought to the last ditch.
The Democratic party is con-
fronted with a crisis that requires
the display of the profoundest states
manship to harmonize the differences.
Thoughtful men recognize and ap-
preciate the gravity of the situation.
They realize that the struggle which
is now on is not fight between Till
man and McLaurin, but one for the
concession by the party leaders of the
right to give expression to individual
views and freedom in thought and
action 10 the discussion of the absorb
ing political issues now confronting
the American people which have been
brought prominently before the South
by reason of the change conditions
and which are vital ones for the de-
velopment Of the rich resources of
our section. This right of individu-
alism being made possible by the
triumph of the ''Reform Movement"
over antiquated ideas in 1890. They
are thoroughly convinced that this de-
mand for individual freedom springs
from patriotic principles which are in
keeping and harmonizss with the
time honored principles as we'll as
the tenets and standards of the Dem
oeratic psrty, and, therefore, will not
down until it is vouchsafed and Sc
cured to each individual member of
the party. Recognizing this fact the
conservative and broad minded ele-
ment in the convention is, we take it,
unwilling to jeopardize the interests
of Democracy and risk a disruption
by the adoption of harsh and arbi-
trary measures, especially so when
there is no logical excusef for doing so.
We are, therefore, encouraged wi h
the hope that the convention will re-
ject all radical propositions tending
to sbridge freedom Of thought and &C.
tion Of the individual elector in the
discussion of the great issues now
agitating the public mind, from the
fact that a msiority of the county
conventions recently held in the State
were either silent on the proposition
to adopt an iron clad oath to support
the Kansas City platform or instruct
ed their delegates to oppose any
change in the rules governing the
primary election; and, also, from
the further and stronger reason that
there is an element in the character
of liberty loving sons Of South Caro-
lima which makes it extremely obnox-
ious to them to support measures
which are utterly abhorrent to re-
spectacle per cent of the member
ship; repugnant to the fundamental
principles of Democracy, and op-
posed to the letter and spirit Of the
free institutions of our republican