The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-29
The Political Situation.


The New York correspondent of
the Charleston Courier says:
There are some mysterious move
ments IN progress, and as yet only
partially developed, of change in
the policy of q part of the Demo-
cratic party. Coming on the heels of
Senator Stewards conversion to radi-
calism, and the article in Raymond's s
paper, the Times, in favor of qualified
negro suffrage, it suggests that the
politicians are finding out that the
so-called conservative position is not
tenable. The proposed change Of
front on the part of the Democrats is
foreshadowed in the New York Lead
er, the organ Of the Tammany or War
Democracy. In leading article, it
remarks that the question is being
seriously discussed among certain
prominent Democrats, whether it
would not be polite to commit the
party in favor OF suffrage for all ne
groes who can read and write. The
position taken by the Leader is ex-
planned thus:
"That as the Democratic party has
regarded negroes as inferior to the
whites IN every requisite of manhood,
we now give this race a chance to
either reverse or sustain this verdict
oy aiding to confer upon them every
possible right. If the Democratic
dogma be correct, the negroes will
soon demonstrate their incapacity.
and all the philanthropic agitation
which now takes the place of iegiti-
mate politics and sound statesman
ship will die out of itself or be killed
by the incontrovcrtible logic of facts.
On the other hand, if experience
should prove that the negroes are in
tellgent and capable Of participating
In the affairs of the nation, of course
the Democratic party is bound by its
patriotism and its principles to frank
ly acknowledge its error and admit
the political equality of the blacks"
Ii this, then, is to be the policy of
the Northern Democracy, the events
OF the past teach nothing. L have
supposed that if anything has been
concluslvely demonstrated by party
history, 1t has been the fatal conse-
quences of compromising with prin
clple and temporizing with the enemy.
1t was only when the Democratic
party abandoned consistency and at
tempted to compromise with Aboli-
tlonlsm, by adopting Douglas squat
ter sovereignty dogma, that it lost its
strength and prestige, Now, in spite
OF this warning, it is proposed to
give way again to the aggressive
spirit OF fanaticism, and abandon the
old Democratic doctrine that this is q
white mans Government. And the
only argument advanced in favor of
this faint-hearted policy is that its
adoption will take the wind out of
the radical sails; as Il, fc~sooth, the
monster did not fatten upon inst such
food as this If the Abolitionists
secured the triumph of their cause in
1860 through the cowardice of the
Democracy, are they likely to be dis
mayed in 1866 if their opponents
again fall back before them? l can
safely make the prediction that if
Democratic politicians do bctray the
principles of the party in the way
herein proposed, they will split it
into fragments, for large portion of
it will not be led further into radical
ism, even if the triumph of the or
ganlzation can be achieved bv such 8
course
The political campaign in Connec-
tlcut is vigorously pushed by both
parties, the Democrats fatterinc
themselves that there is chance Of
their success. James =. Enelish. the
candidate for Governor, is a wealthy
man, and is spending money Ia potent
agent In New England elections] with
out stint. The Democrats have Sc
cured an ally in Eli Thayer, formerly
the Free-soil member of Congress-
from the Worcester Mass. Distric
who is making speeches for their
cause in Connecticut. The election
takes place early in April, and will
indicate what PROGRESS Democracy has
made since the resident quarreled
with the radical wing of his party.
AFRICANS IN SENATE GALLERY
An effort is to be made in the Senate
to classify the auditors who visit the
galleries. Reserved seats for the
Members of Congress and their wives
and families are demanded bv some
OF the better-halves of Senators.
whose olfactories are offended by the
African aroma. Besides, even when
the colored population are kept sepa-