The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-18
The Situation Of tho Countrywide
New Start Of the Republie.


American nation has passed, and we
now take new start in history. When
we consider what this country has
accomplished in less than century
we are amazed; but what we have
accomplished is as nothing compared
70 what We shall achieve during the
next one hundred years. For the Last
four years the strength Of this Govern
,ment, which had already been tested
by several small rebellions and foreign
war, has been still more severely tried
by vast insurrection, and it has
shown itself fully equal to any demand
which can be made upon it. We
have now got rid of the dogma of
State Rights; we have got rid of the
odious institution Of slavery; we have
got rid Of the latent hostility between
the two sections of the country, aud
we have got rid of the rule of stereo-
typed politicians. Consequently we
are now in splendid condition to
take new start and redeem all the
errors of the past.
We shall start under the very best
auspices. Our flag, which foreign
nations and domestic traitors sought to
tear in half is now bonored and re-
spected all over the world. All OF the
seeded States are now iu the Union,
firmly and safely, with the single ex-
ception Of the peninsula of Florida,
which was of very little account before
or during the war, aud which now
only awaits the appointment of pro,
visional governor. President Johnson
has so we'll managed the work Of re-
construction, or rather of restoration,
that the whole country has united in
his support, as it united to support
Washington and Lincoln. The poll.
ticians are therefore at disadvantage.
They cannot defend President John.
son, since nobody attacks him; and
they are equally unable to attack him,
since everybody is ready to volunteer
in his defence. TO keep them in this
position, like serpents with their faugs
drawn, is the purpose of all true
patriots; and SO long as President
johnson continues in the admirable
line of policy which he has marked
out for himself, there will be no neces-
sity for the existence Of more than one
party in the Republic. An opposition
cannot exist without something to
oppose; and hitherto no one has found
anything to oppose under the admins
tration Of President johnson. Even
the radicals, who are cronic fault
finders, have ceased their grumbling,
seeing that nobody considered it
worthy of serious attention, and that
it was not at all likely to lead to any
practical results. This sudden cessa-
ton Of the radical fanfaronade is one
of the best proofs of the unanimity Of
the country.
The work before us during the next
decade is by no means easy, and yet it
is by no means beyond our powers. In
the first place. we must re organize
and re.invigorate the South. That
region. which has been blasted and
desolated by the war, must be made to
blossom like the rose. This can only
be done by the aid of Northern capi.
tai and the hearty and cordial efforts
Of the Southerners themselves. Init.
mately acquainted as we are with the
people Of both sections, we have moi
the slightest doubt that this work will
be speedily accomplished in the hand.
soonest possible style. In the second
place, there is the question of negro
suffrage, which underlies the future
prosperity Of the South. If the South
erners are wise thew will at once oran