The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-08-13
Some Valuable Suggestions to the
Democracy.
Anderson, 8. C.. Anp11

Oear lnteliigencer 1 have iust gotten
o'"& 'ne senatorial meeting at Anderson
ias' week, and since como 20 think orr
q"e''y ana alone. don't know which
party Is the bigger fool-the people who
attend the meesings or the candidate,
VINO are forced by the primary ru,e. q,
stand up like go many schoo, hovs ~.
make their little set speechas ona 49,
a'er another. In the first place, in the
time allotted each speaker, Z is impoas,.
oie TO discuss intelligently any one issue
absorbing the public Interest; 80 that
conscious OF this condition, there ia NO
eHort on the part Of any of the candidates
TO branch out into the discussion ,f.nv
weightier subject than personalities and
oi'nnksgate. Such an arrangement Ia
fruitful Of and is the delight OF the anall
politician, as 1t enables him to fly in tha
race or the crowd In just as gaudy colors
1or short length Of time as the maIeatic
eagles In the race. The idea OF six men
each consuming twenty-five minutes TO
eh''gnten the people on the great and
nomentous :issuee OF the day in nation.
al politics Ia the most ludicrous farce and
ridiculous pioco vi Dy.play ever perne-
trated upon an Intelligent people. Ifthe
oisRusted expressions OF hundreds of
people who witnessed the spectacular ex-
hlbltions OF the six candidates for the
United states Senate at Anderson laat
ioesuay are fruitful of anything good,
II VIII mean either a reform in the mat
Ter OF campaigning in the primary or the
doom OF th" primary system itself.
The tntalliuaDCa of SOutt, Ho.on..-
VIII soon revolt at this effort to discredit
IL IN the eyes OF the country. They are
sized OF being reported to the world ss
being madly enthusiastic over one GER
tain candidate whose only claim to en-
tnusiastic support resta upon some catchy
aneodote or some Ill concealed malicious
aspersion upon his opponents record.
sensible people are tired Of being an.
pealed to by demagogues. as II prejudice
and ignorance were the all-controllipg
sentiment Of their lives.
| 1t makea one dizzy to ATTEMPT oom.
parison between the old campaigning
when Calhoun was at his zenith and the
present when the small politician is in
bis glorv. Can any one, with ever go
fertile tor more properly 30 deranged an
Imagination, picture our Calhoun facing
an Intelligent audience Of men and wo-
men, accusing his competitor Of accept
Ing free passes and Of being bought by
corporate interests: or having his family
put on the government pay roll9 or
having law Office In another State, or Of
comparing his honored competitor TO q
talking goat which was stung by bee
In q slender spot" as he jumped the fence
and remarked "by demn"? Can any
one conceive Of the immortal Calhoun
making use OF a shookingly vulgar, wit.
less, and pointless joke to catch the favor
OF the vulgar populace ?. It is devoutly
to be wished that the country will return
to its former ideals and relegcte to the
shades OF oblivion the small politicians
whose only appeal to public recognition
is based on low, base and demagogic
plane. ht.only 20 emanate from u wafc
heeier begging votes In the slums.
But how can such q radical change he
effected? The people do not advocate
tue present plan. They are thoroughly
disgusted with Il and want change.
They desire discussion Of issues, not
men nor of seeds nor Of goats. They
want men, not blatherskites, giants not
pigmies, intellects not mouths, and when
they are given the opportunity to select
men by these standards in O primary
properly regulated and In which each
candidate shall have ample time to OK
pennd the Issues or the day and not be
forced 70 consume his allotted time In
answering the vaporings OF some blatant
speed the day. then we may be repre-
aented in our law. making bodies by men
osoharscter and ability by whom We, az
a people. will be- willing to be judged by
the outside world and OF whom We shall
not be ashamed.
Lit be argued that 1t will be impossi.
Die TO secure fair attendance OF the peo-
pie upon the meetings where candidates
for minor offices are to speak, that is, In
itself, an admission that the people do
not want to hear them. Such being the
case, why force them to hear what thew
don't want to hear? MY observation
teaches me that there is always a spirit of
impatience on the part Of the people in
their devout desire for the "little guns''
70 get through 80 they can hear the "bIg
guns" II 1t be absolutely necessary to
have campaign meetings for the "llttle
guns have them separate and apart, and
II tho people wsnt to hear them they can
do 30, otherwise let them stay at home.
Certain 1t is that 1t ia not compulsory.
If they want to hear the candidates for
the more important Offices and want to
form an honest opinion as to the relative
merits OF each candidate, let them have
an opportunity OF hearing each one at
length The small politician can not
stand the calcium light Of close scrutiny,
and just as soon es The light is turned on
and he gives back no evidences of his
| worth, he must and will drop back into
that "innocuons desuetude" from which
he sprung.
In County and State campaigns, let the