The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-09
WHO ARE The POPULISTS?

the aCllOD Oh OIS Oi Adut1tuS
local Democratic clubs. expires,
sed the wish that it would like
for the Democracy to be free
from the blighting touch of Pop
plism and Repubiicanism." This
might sound we'll to the unln-
formed, but rather inconsistent
to those who read and keep up
with political events.
Has our Charleston contem-
porary Joined the tom tom strik-
ers, and is making noises to
make the people forget: Who
are the Populists it would like
for the Democracy to be free
from? For the past sixteen years
that newspaper has contended
that William Jennings Bryan,
B. r. Tillman and the other
recognized leaders of Democracy
are Populists, and, only the pol
itical theories Of Grover Cleve-
land are Democratic. If we are
correct in this, would the News
and Courier free from the Dem,
ocratic party the followers OF
Bryan and Tillman, and only re
tain in the party the followers
of Cleveland? If so, then all who
supported the free silver and
government ownership doc.
trines, and the various other
platforms that Bryan and TIL.
man helped to make and which
were endorsed by the National
Democratic party would be ex-
communicated: and only those
who cling to Grover Cleveland's
gold ideas should be entitled to
membership. According to the
News and Courier's view the
Democracy of South Carolina
would be limited to the bankers
and brokers on Broad street in
Charleston. where Senator Till
man has cortended, that, if there
is any "Republicanism" in South
Carolina, lit is among the bank
ers and brokers of Broad Street. ,:
Free the Democracy from
s:Populism,' would be as impos-
sible as to free Tillman from
Democracy. 1t is a recognized
fact that the politicians teach
the ocracy Of this
State means Bryan and Tillman,
they are its leaders. and those
who will not accept their Demo
cratic teachings must seek refuge
in some other party.
If the News and Courier really
means to free the Democracy
from the biighting touch of
Populism and Republicanism, -
1t should have the frankness to
come square out and advocate
the accommodation from the
Democratic party, all Of the fol.
lowers of Bryan and Tillman:
for according to its editorial
q declarations in the past,
they are Populis S t S. The
News and Courier will not
do this, because, Tillman is
needed in Charleston's business,
and that is perhaps the reason
why it will not advocate being
freed from his "blighting touch, -
but whether Tillman be a Pop
ulist or a Democrat the News
and Courier will continue sup
porting him just so ,ong as he
remains on top Of the political
fence, but when the under rails
begin to crumble, and he should
be let down, that newspaper will
be among the first to rejoice,
and claim the credit for his
downfall. If our Charleston con-
temporary be such a stickler for
Democratic principles, it must
have adopted a new policy, be-
cause, in ou1 judgment its poll
tical principles have been so lib
eral that they have amounted to
elasticity However, if now it
proposes to stand fat-fcoted on
the principle of its own recently
interpreted Democracy, it should
have the backbone to say that
none who are the followers of
the present Democratic leaders,
Bryan, Tillman, Latimer and
our Representatives in Congress
who are the exponents of the
doctrines laid down in our Dem
ocratic platforms. shall partlci-
pate in the primaries, because
they are Populists: neither shall
those vote in the primaries who
supported men for Office that
favor granting ship or railroad
subsidies. for these are claimed
to be Republican principles.
Ii the teachings Of Senator
Tlllman are correct, what does
the News and Courier propose
to 90 about Grover Cleveland:
The Senator has time and again
declared Cleveland to be a Rep
publican, and we think this
charge was endorsed by a South
Carolina Democratic convention.
Now, with the News and Courier
declaring Bryan and his follow
ers Populists, and Bryan and
Tlllman declaring Cleveland and
his followers Republicans, how,
and by what means can it s'free
the Democracy from the blight
ing touch Of Populism and Re-
NJ, 4 40 =, ~. u: L -.