The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-04-15
Who Is The Wrecker.

Some Of the newspapers supporting the
President on the tolls question are abusing
Democrats who do not agree with him, and
are accusing them Of a lack Of sense.
These papers insist that Democrats who
do not follow the President in violating
the Democratic platform are trying to
wreck the party.
Who started this trouble, anyway
Who proposes violation of the Demo-
cratic platform2 . T., ..'. ..'.'
"The Democrats will lose great many
congressional districts next fall II the
Democratic leaders in Congress do not
soon have some sense knocked into their
aads, says one of the Presidents news
+ er supporters.
Is the Democratic defeat in New Jersey
to be charged against the Democratic
leaders in Congress2
If New Jersey disaster Is due to the
tariff, the Democratic leaders In Congress
can show that they passed tariff bill
strictly milne with the Presidents de-
sires.
II the New Jersey disaster is due to the
tolls fight, the Democratic leaders cannot
be blamed. They did what they could
to keep the Democratic party from max
ing an awful blunder.
It is now asserted that the Democratic
party will be disrupted If Democratic lead
ers in Congress do not yield to the de-
MAIDS OF Great Britain. ~ "
Better thousand times that the Demo-
cratic party should be disrupted than that
the United States should tarnish its honor
and tamely surrender its right to control
the Panama Canal. 49,. -
If the Democratic party could save IT.
self only by violating its soleman pledge
to the people and submitting to the de-
mand of Great Britain that the United
States must tax Its own ships passing
through its own canal, the party would
not be worth saving. Its honor and it's
usefulness to the country would be gone.
The first duty of a man and party Is
to home and country.
Great Britain is looking out for itself,
control OF the American government,
must look out for the United States, or be
prepared to face the American people.
It was not the Democratic party that be-
gan this quarrel. TWAS not the Demo-
cratic leaders In Congress who proposed
this breach Of party faith aud national
disloyalty. ...
The proposal comes from the nominal
leader of the Democratic party, who ig-
nores the platform upon which he was
elected. The suggestion Of surrender to
Great Britain was first made as point Of
punctilio bya Republican. No Democrat
was obliged to adopt this subtle sugges-
tion. All Democrats Of political exper-
ience fought shy Of it. The party itself
refused to adopt the idea, but on the con-
trary came out fatty for American rights.
Now that the nominal Democratic lead
er has been led into advocating the sur
render, all Democrats who refuse to follow
him into fatal trap are denounced as
wreckers Of the party!
According to the argument Of the over
jealous follows Of the President, any DEM
ocrat who insists upon being loyal to the
Democratic platform is lacking In sense.
What a mesh of embarrassment and
humiliation has been woven for the Dem
ocratic party by this Ill advised and un-
necessary demand for surrender to Great
Britain!
The only way in which the Democratic
party can save itself is by resolutely
standing by its pledge to the American
people. The New Jersery election Is a
stinging reminder from the people that
the Democratic party must stick to its
pledge or be overwhelmed. Not even MIR.
Wilson can induce the people to outlaw
Democrats who are faithful to the party
pledge. No sophistry can make disloyalty
p patriotic; no casuistry can make the peo-
pie believe that their first duty Is to
please Great Britain.
Does anyone think that the Democratic
party in national convention would ap-
prove this new plan to surrender to Great
Britain? If any one wishes to know what
Democrats think Of the plan, let him read
the election returns Of New Jersey, Ala
bama and Massachusetts.
The Democrats in Congress who stick
to their party pledges are safe. Those
who are misled into violating them are
ontributing to the downfall Of Themselves
and their party Post.