The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-01-14
. Must Toe the Mark.

ss MuSC IOe the HlarK.
The result Of the late election was
commission to the Democratic par
ty from the people to give them re-
lief from the burdens of the tariff
bill recently enacted by the Repub-.
lican party. The Democratic party
must measure up to it's opportunity
and give the people the relief de-
man6ed or it will be rele3ated TO
the rear permanently as minority
party, and the people will, commits
sion some other party to carry out
their demands. Relief they. are go
ing tc have, and If the Democratic
party fails to carry out the great
commission entrusted to it by the
people it will be disastrously de-
feated in the next election. The peo-
pie cannot be fooled any longer.
Il. The Washington Star, says "there
is a good deal of undisguised pro-
lection sentiment among Southern
Democrat IS. They talk it at home,
and openly vote it in Congress. The
debate on the Payne bill while on its
passage was very Illuminating on
that point. Does The State recall
It? If not, 1t should turn to Its
file of The Congressional Record for
that period. It affords what Mr..
Greeley characterized as mighty in
teresting reading Have the South
ern men changed their minds? There
is no authentic report that the leop-
ards have changed their spots
IN reply to the Star The State
says it "recalls vividly the attitude
of certain Democrats during the de-
bate on the Payne-Aldrich bill, and
remembers the votes cast by about
forty of the unfaithful. Some of
them sold the main girder under
their party for a mess of greens, -
without even getting bacon with it.
But we recall, too, that several of
those who bowed obsequiously and
expectantly. before Joe Cannon's
throne have since suffered chastise-
ment. We believe the signs of pop
ular Indignation at the Republican
failure to reform the tariff will not
be lost upon Democrats coming into
power.
"The States does not imagine the
politicians in Congress calling them
selves Democrats and hungering for
special privileges under the tariff for
their constituents are straightway
going to become real Democrats and
honestly work for the benefit Of the
consumers instead of the few pro-
ducers, but it does believe the ca
tastrophy of party suicide will ap-
pear so Certain and imminent to the
party leaders if the party is unfaith-
ful to pledges and unworthy the faith
of them who have given it power,
that those in their ranks with the
sutler, spirit will be forced to act as
Democrats or else branded before the
country as disloyal.
"In the days following the over
defeat OF the Democratic
party in November, 1908, when many
Southern; Democrats predicted the
death Of the party and were discuss
ing new allignments, The Times ane
Democrat, along with The State ane
other real Democratic newspapers
had and expressed absolute faith Ia
the recuperation and victory Of De-
mocracy. The party had made a good
fight, 1t was right and deserved sue
cess. It had a right to come back"
And as The State says, when the 9TH,
er party failed Democracy was given
victory by votes of Republican tariff
reformers.: If it now fails to meet
its responsibilities on the tariff it will
be blasted. Nothing could restore it
to confidence. 81
We share in The States belief
chat all the leaders understand that
this next test is crisis, and that
such understanding will stiffen too
elastic backbones and force an aline-
ment on party principles, gives us
faith that Democratic legislation on
tie tariff will be Democratic. We
believe the, necessity Of exercising
party. discipline to the extent of au-
thoritatively declaring there is no
such thing as protection Demo-
crat, will he recognized" Those So
called Democrats whose interests
make them favor protection, should
go where they belong, in the Repub-
lican party. The time has come when
there should be no more mixing Of
the goats with the sheep. There has
been too much of that in the past
for the party's good.
Ready to Compare.