Year: 1878

Is the Democratic party wiling
to see the State 60 back under
control of the Republican party =?
If not, then it must bestir itself.
! Two years ago the Democracy by
raising the standard of Reform en-
listed in its ranks many who to-
day are asking themselves wheth-
er their course was wise or not.
The Republican party confessed
its wrongs ard promised at every
campaign to correct them, but
never did, until at last, tired Of
promises which seemed never to
be realized, thousands of good
honest Republicans united upon
what they deemed the only alter
native, reform outside Of the par
ty, swelled the ranks Of the De-
mocracy, thereby rendering GER
tain the defeat Of the Republican
party. The question which now
presents itself is, has reform out
side Of the party proved more
realistic than reform inside the
party ranks? Has the Demo-
cratic party carried out it's prom
ised reform wholly or only in
part, or at all I? Il must be patent
to the most casual observer that
there has been q most alarmiD z
ilnita tien on the part Of the Dem
oeratic party of the practices Of
its opponents. The Democratic
party indeed seems to out-Herod
Herod. So far from admitting
their errors andpromising am ends,
they steadtastly refuse even to
discuss their most important acts
and seem actually to announce
and adopt that shameless plank in
the Republican platform, viz the
party superior to every conside-
ration. It only remains now for
some prominent Democratic leader
to announce that duty would re-
quire voting for the devif if he
should be nominated by the party,
TO place the Democratic party Oh
the same platform as that which
supported Republicanism to it's
grave. The me-honored custom
of the Democracy has been the dis
cussion of the measures of the par
ty, in order that it's leaders and rep
resentatives might know whether
mistakes had been committed or
whether they had met the appro.
baton Of their constituency. In
the old days of purity and virtue,
when principles made the party
and not party the principles, this
custom was held sacred why not
now? Why does the party shrink
now from discussion Why do
the leaders and representatives Of
the party ignore the custom, deny
it, and seek to cast opprobium up
on it? Why is the Democratic
press or that portion of it which
prides itself upon being the fugle-
man Of the party ominously ST.
lent? All! We fear, that goose
has laid more than one golden
egg. The Democratic party is
pure in it's body, but it has some
dreadtulIy afflicted limbs, and the
disease will spread and attack the
trunk unless remedies are speedily
applied, and here Jet the party
stand upon no false sentiments or
ceremony; ; apply the remedies at
once, aye resort to them speedily,
shudder not at amputation if ne
cessary; save the trunk, keep it
spotless, for in it only is hope and
safety.


We see Orangeburg setting a
noble example. One Of her Dem
.ocratic clubs has passed the phos-
phate resolution of the Charleston
mass meeting and recommended
to other clubs 10 follow suit. This
is right. Every Democratic club
in the State should do likewise,
and thus teach would-be leaders
and representatives that they may
lead the party if they. wish 10 but
the party intends to, and will,
select and designate it's own route.
In the Republican party the lead
ers virtually were the party, the
balance follow like donkeys after
bundle of fodder; but this is not
so with the Democracy, and God
be praised it is not. The Demo
cratic party must assert its man.
hood and it's purity. If it con-
tinues to follow the insiduous ad-
vice Of those whose only morals,
principles and creed is self interest