Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-24

ties in compliance with the masters
command. II. ]. MILLS.
CALLS CONVENTION A FARCE.
No Regard For Democratic Principles,
And Bon TiIIman Still King.
Mr.. Charles H. Henry, editor Of the
Spartanburg Journal, who attended the
State convention as member Of the
Spartanburg delegation, has written
his paper:
The State Democratic convention
was farce so far as Democracy went.
There were no principles espoused and
no candidate for president who Is in
any way committed to clearly defined
principles was supported or mention
ed. The platform adopted was merely
statement Of the commonest pr1nci-
pies of good citizenship and the ortho-
dox southern view on the race ques-
ton. Except for the latter feature 1t
might just as consistently have been
adopted by Republican convention.
The keynote Of the convention was
anything and anybody to win; any
present good times and well nigh uni
versal prosperity, including high prices
for cotton and other farm products for
South Carolina farmers were described
by fervid orators as presenting q great
crisis" and an issue more momentous
than has been presented at any presi-
1ential election for quarterSof cen.
tury. Notwithstanding this crisis"
and "momentous issue" the convention
a pko 60 IL, {fo r,lo N phaf
1t consisted In or offer any practical
remedy.
1--WE want to win," was the plaintive
cry Of every speaker. Parker was
named as the candidate likely to poll
the most votes, but every time his
nomination was advocated the speaker
was careful to add that II anybody
could be found who could get more
votes than Parker such was the man
to nominate, presumably without re-
gard to political principles or purposes.
No curiosity was expressed as to
Judge Parkers views on public ques-
tions.
Senator Tillman dominat' 1 the con-
vention absolutely and com lletely. AT
his suggestion 1t would have instructed
the delegation to the national conven-
ton to support Grover Cleveland, VIII
liam ]. Bryan, Eugene v. Debs or
John Most. On his nomination 1t would
have elected John g. Capers state
chairman and E. II. Deas member or
the Democratic national committee.
He permitted the convention to disport
itself within certain limits and some
ambitious statesmen went home tmag-
lining that they had been its leaders.
He would not, however, permit the
convention to instruct the delegates
for Judge Parker or even to endorse
him and when called on for g. state
ment Of his own intentions would say
nothing more favorable than that Par.
ker was "unobjectionable" to him at
present, but might become so In q day.
The other delegates in response to
ridiculous and undigniaed resolution
passed by narrow majority or nlne-
teen votes stated that with the pres
ent lights before them" they were in
clined to support Parker. Not single
delegate was heard to say that he was
for Parker first, last and all the time:
He was supported purely on the ground
of availability and anybody else would
suit as well, provided he could win:
The convention was composed Tor
the most part Of town and court house
politicians and the absence Of farmers
was strongly in evidence and demon
strated the fact that good price Tor
cotton has killed their interest in ma
tional politics. So long as they can
get 12 to Is cents for the fleecy staple
and fair and profitable prices for other
farm products they decline to become
excited or alarmed over the impending
disasters Of Rooseveltism, as pictured
by the Democratic orators and neWspa-
pers in the absence Of any other issue.
The farmers are busy cultlvating tneir
crops while the local politicians as.
semble at Columbia and evolve brand
| of Democracy that would not be
changed In one jot or little by those
eminent Democrats, John D. Rockefel.
| Ter, August Belmont or ]. Pierpont
Morgan.
And these same local Rnd court
house politicians, who fawned at the
| feet of the mighty Tillman ana re-
| sponded to his slightest suggestlon
and acted only with his permission ana
lacouiescence, and loaded him with
honors and distinctions, are the same
men who ten years ago and four years
ago and even two years ago couId not
saw enough Of abuse concerning him
and could not sufficiently impugn his
motives and malign his purposes. Inc
power of the man is really wonderful.
While his portrait looked down from
the north wall Of the hall OF the mousse
of representatives he sat quiet ana un,
ODtruSlVe, n1dQe 10 SpSSSu, oLo ~ AASN~
the $50 representatives Of the Demo
cracy of South Carolina in the hollow
of his hand, and proved that there are
no longer among our people either per.
eonal animosities or divided interest
on political issues.
The convention was well behaved
and eminently respectable body OF men,
representing the single idea OF oppo-
sition to the Republican party on the
race question. This was the only issue
on which the convention took any
stand at all and, Of course, on TINS
every man who values our southern
civilization and the integrity OF tne
Caucasian race knows it Is eternally
and everlastingly right. 1t Is sad gay
for American politics, however, II this
is the only issue left for the Demo-
cratic party. but there was nothing IN
the proceedings of this convention to
indicate that any other question was
worth considering by the Democrats OF
South Carolina.
TT A writer on India says: "The
snakes that are most worthy OF dread
as inmates of Indian gardens are the
terrible daboias, 'Viperia russellt'
They are truly superb reptiles, lot,