Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-01
"A CRISIS IN THE PARTY"
Columbia State Thinks Situation Has
Grown Serious.


While Senator Tillman has faculty
of expressing himself in such a way
that II Is sometimes difficult to tell
from what he says where he Is at, the
record of his vote shows that he Is de-
cidediy inclined to protection, especially
where protection promises to be OF
benefit to local industries. When the
Dingley bill was under consideration,
he secured the levy Of duty on mon
azite, because 1t was being produced IN
South Carolina, and he also tried to get
some protection for tea on account OF
the Summerville farm. He Is still for
the duty on tea, and his vote for
duty on lumber, regardless OF the DEM
ocratic platform, shows that his poll
tics is rather more practical than SEN
timental.-Yorkville Enquirer.
That Is q remarkable attitude for q
Democratic paper, or for a paper tnat
believes itself to be Democratic. Is
il not time to Zine up so the people
of South Carolina and the south may
decide lust where they are at In poll
tics? II q United States senator elected
as a Democrat and pledged to the par
ty, may ignore the platform and ignore,
not a policy" but paramount prin.
ciple of the party since the days OF
Jefferson, and be thereupon regarded
by Democratic papers as more practi-
cal than sentimental" then, truly, the
party is without principles-is adrift,
rudderless.
Unless the party is to go to pieces,
the newspapers and the public men
who are real Democrats must realize
the presence Of a crisis, and be leaders.
There is need Of uniflcation, OF reor-
ganization. There Is need Of treating
the essential principles Of the party as
essential principles, and not as tran
sient policies to be put on or thrown
off as a coat. Are we Democrats or
not? II Democrats, may we be bought
as the Republicans have bought q
Louisiana senator?
This is no time for newspapers or
men in the south who assume to voice
the sentiment Of the people, to speak
lightly or thoughtlessly. We confess to
surprise that the sensible Enquirer
should refer to the Democratic position
upon tariff as "sentimentap and re-
gard the vote for a tariff on lumber
and tea as practical" BY such con-
sideration Of a very grave situation Is
The Enquirer assisting In forming
wholesome sentiment? 1t is certainly
not giving strength to the most i'm
portant principle of Democracy.
The idea that the opposition of the
Democratic party to protection is SEN
timental," and that the Republican
position is practical Is wholly errone-
Gus. The reverse Is true. From the
standpoint Of the people, Is 1t practical
to tax eighty millions ten cents pound
on tea consumed in order to give one
man or ten thousand men a bonus,
above open market prices, Of ten cents
a pound on what he or. they produced?
Is 1t sentimental" to oppose injustice
to the consumer? Mr.. McEnery may
be practical" in getting protection for
Louisiana sugar. Doubtless the sugar
trust and several hundred cane grow
ers in Louisiana and several thousand
beet growers in the west, think 1t
practical, but If the protection were
not given them and seventy nine mil
lion people who have no interest In
cane or beets could get five more
pounds Of sugar for every dollar In
vested, that saving would not appeal
to them as sentimental. 1t would be
very practical.
The anti-protection, tariff -for-reve-
nue. only principle or policy, is the most
practical, because it is the most just.
1t keeps more of the dollars of the peo-
pie in the pockets Of the people. Pro-
lection for this thing in South Caro-
lima, that thing in Georgia, the other
thing in Virginia, Is to the gain of q
few hundred or a few thousand inter-
ested producers, but we must not, II
We are honest Democrats, on their ac-
count forget the multitude Of consum-
ers.
If the party Is ever again to have a
fighting chance, Democracy must stand
for something before the American
people. 1t cannot pose as "the party
Of the people" If it's representatives In
congress rob the people to give plums
to a few constituents. Some Of the
party leaders are traitors; some Of the
newspapers are wabbling pitiably, but
these only increase the obligation of
the faithful to be staunch and vigilant.
Do not men with principle" stand
for principles through trials and loss
Is there no obligation on the part Of
a party leader to stand by a principle,
even when it's violation promises some
temporary gains for his friends? Does
the honest man pick pockets because
it Is practical" to get the money, and
sentimental to refuse to take that
which some other fellow would take II
given his opportunity?
We can not commit robbery, and
then go before the public and preach
honesty. We can not grab protective
benefits, and then expect the American
people to believe when we say that II
given power we will establish q tariff
for-revenue- only system. We cannot
be twO-faced and command respect or
respect ourSelves-Columbia State.