The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-06

u AlnHIQ,f fHeWDerrY ". ID.
~ James Grant, Union, F.l5f sa eF
Julins Poppee Anderson G. 81.
Hon. a. IA. stephens ON the Situation.
= Mr.. Stephens held a conversation a
few days since at the White Sulphur
Springs, with a!correspondent of the
New York Herald. We give his most
striking remarks: ~ ta s2tIAN.a,i
Y, s.How doyou regard the present
condition of the country, Mr.. Ste
I phens?m I commenced. .,..l-.
ls.As exceedingly deplorable. The
; lastVestiges Of constitutional freedom
are rapidly Disappearing, and we are
fastiyeEging into Capitalization and
despotisrn, Unless some wonderful
change takes place unless the people
of the North exercise that wisdom
for which. Americans have been so
remarkable in the past, though they
seem to have lost it latterly-the
s world shall. ere long witness the estab-
lishment of an empire on the ruins
I OF this once great republic. The
measures inaugurated by the domi-
nant party, are the surest indications
! Of coming despotism. Without a
I political revolution occurs mean time,
the Government will be merged into
. a despotism Ian empire. IF Grant
is elected next November, I never
I expect, to see another Presidential
election..n .Ig9
e"Wha5 isiiyour opinion of Grant,
personality" ssi..
THAT is entirely moderated by
the country and the press. L know
/. him very well. He is q remarkable
man, and one that few appreciate; of
decided military genius, indomitable
energy and determined will; Just the
man for o coup d'eta, such as the pre-
sent Emperor Louis Napoleon per-
formed when he placed himself on
thethrone of France" rG.
.$sfDo youy know the other candi-
dates; and what would result from
the election of Seymour and Blair?"
BlairaI know; Colfax I know;
Seymour don't know. They are ali
very clever, good fellows. Blair and
Z Colfax i served in Congress with;
and, personally, I have no objection
to any of them. Blair is man of
ability, integrity and character; so is
Seymour, as far as I know; and
Colfax may be placed in the same
category, But it is not the men: it
is not Grant and Colfax; it is not
Seymour and Blair, that are to be
regarded in the. next election. It is
the principles they represent that
are at issue. The fight is not
against Grant and Colfax. but against
the iniquity of the dominant party
that has brought the country to the
yerye of ruin, and threatens finally
to destroy it.
eaHow would the Southern people
act with regard, to universal suffrage,
In the event of the success of Seymour
and Blair2,, M p
"They would abide by judicial
decisions; and there is little doubt
that all this party legislation to secure
power would be oVerthrown. Con-
yentlons would be called, and the
people would regulate suffrage as
best they thought proper. I believe
a.system OF qualified suffrage on an
educational basis would be generally
adopted in the South in such an
event. s;i5, Z. .s., t.7a1 -
rDo You anticipate any trouble
during the Presidential election be-
tween the races in the newly-recon-
,structed States2" 4, 81 =, = 8
,s.'sNo; except when it is provoked
by the unprincipled whites who have
associated themselves with the me-
groes to get Office. The whites will
remain, as they have been. peaceable