Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1905-04-19
OPINIONS OF TWO LEADERS
Parker and Bryan Explain Different Views of
Jeffersonian Democracy

COMMANDED, and the number OF Cover
nors and State legislatures under our
control is surprisingly small.
we may. however,, recall that this is
not the first time that the party has
been in what seemed to be hopeless
minority. III wes so from 1850 to 1867
when great wrong which has been
iar-reaching in its effects upon morals
END justice. left IT, in a minority for
another eight years Tut when it's con
dltion was least encouraging. it was
still the same consistent advocate of
patriotic and mani: policies as when
it was in the full Ilentitude of Dowe,
during the first siXE years of the last
century. Rallying about its natural
leaders-as courageous and patriotic
as any known to ourpolitical history
1T was then, as alwals. it's virtue to he
n national party. These leaders ken,
themselves in touch with every oue;-
ton OF current interet in every ham
let Of the Union. Ndthing American
was alien to them
POWER OF THE PARTY As 4
MINORITY.
During the Civil War more than 400
GOO Democrats stood d each side of
the firing lines OF the two great ar
mics which faced each qther. all believ-
ing themselves right. I'm the morrow
of Appomattox, they, 4 e victors and
the vanquishcd. had sci;tered to their
respective homes. all hint upon pro-
noting peace. all unde standing each
other in theiI tri?l3, all facing the
same great problems. H,the foulest of
all days in oar nationalllife-thc.e OF
so-callcd reconstruction-thes soldiers
largely recruited from oher peaceful
patriotic men in the Nortl were founJ
voting together.
During this period there came to the
front in our national cour, lis the grea;
historic figures OF Thurma' Hendricks,
Bayard. Seymour. HancoI;, Mcclellan
and Tilden. In the face [ prejudices
and opposition. which might we'll have
daunted the bravest. thes, men were
able to combat and to ovrcome that
sectional policy which at me time al
most dominated the who, country.
When, in spite of aggreS ons. fairly
divided between the misuse of military
power. and deliberate. stuL ed corrup-
tion Of the suffrage. thes' men had
been successful. they were reinforced
by Lamar. George. Hamr.on. Hill.
Vance. Morgan. Vest and ;lany other
strong and patriotic men from the
South.
Added to these leaders. vlo. in the
field OF national politics, so ,bly unit
cd to combat human pass at its
worst estate. were hundreds .,f thous-
andS of sturdy men in the n ,th, who,
as Governors. members OF : ate Leg
islatures. committeeman every
grade, and private citizens, carried the
struggle Of free government Gtwn into
the smallest political divisions of the
country. Everything was wm except
the presidency. in spite OF whsh Dem
ocracy was able from 1868 tc 1885 10
keep at bay the enemies OF god will.
NO ROOM FOR SECTIONAIsM.
So. too there is altogether to much
talk about All Eastern, o Wedern, n
Southern, or some other Democracy.
when the essence of the part, is its
national character and the entire alb
sence of sectional features. IT, con-
troll of the party machine in oe city
or another, in this or that Stte, or
even in the country. is not latter
either important or interesting the
great body of Democrats.
THE KIND OF ORGANIZATdN
NEEDED.
| would not for a moment cGo,ey
an impression that organization s,ot
important. 1t is even more-it is iyll,
If we are to give effect to the prini'le
and policies which buttress our nTo,y
faith. But. however necessary an, W
tai. it may be useless-a mere eipty
bauble--if it is viewed as the end ith-
or than the means. We arc confro ted
by forces which, when not purely er-
sCnal. are almost wholly mechan al.
They are represented by party. WILL
managed. indeed, in that two-thtds
of the Union to which it restricts it's
activities. II has everything that nt-
,Cnage can suggest or imply. In e
turn for favors received it sells to he
highest bidder or freely gives he