The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-07-31
GG1IEJAGBI.A COL q l4s.E.I,E1A s. s. G.
'SoUTH CAROLINA. The great want in
South Carolina. among the white Demo.

South carolina, among the white Demo.
y cracy, is organization. Our personal ex.
perience warrants the statement that a
more thoroughly apathetic, bewildered
and unwieldy population does not exist
on the green earth. It is true they are
!. in the minority; but SO much the more
should they be compact, well-drilled and
unanimous in order to make their influ-
ence felt In the country, this charge of
supineness has been hitherto specially
observable; but from the details of the
recent riot in Charleston, we should say
: that the towns are quite as badly demo-
ralized. At this particular time, the
need OF organization is supremely urgent.
Already the native and imported wings
OF radicalism have begun to separate and
quarrel. This breach is bound to widen,
and, as it widens, solid Democratic
party can become the balance of power
and rule the State. But constituted as
the party is at present, without leaders,
without enthusiasm, without sagacity,
without preparation, and without mo-
mentum, matters can only progress from
bad to worse, and leave the State the
prey Of two sets of robbers, in place of
the band Of brigands now in authority.
Iis high time that Carolinians, in town
and country, should see to this. 1t is
high time that something was done with
the scattered elements of strength now
lying dormant OF useless in every section
OF the State. # this be not done, South
Carolina may as we'll make up her mind
to endure much further tribulation, no
matter how much carpet.baggers and
scalawags wrangle and divide. If one
hell shee seee trouble taken to raise cotton
crop were vouchsafed to save and pro-
teot the State, the most melancholy man
would ere long have occasion to grow
jubilant at the change of affairs"
The above reflections upon the white
Democracy OF South Carolina are taken
from the, Augusta Constiiationalist, and in
common justice to the Democratic party
!. of our State, We feel constrained to cor.
rect the constitutionalist upon these re-
marks refeoting upon our political status.
In no Southern State has the organiza-
ton Of the Democracy been more COM
pact and perfect than in South Carolina.
During the last struggle in the general
elections. South Carolina was completely
and carefully canvassed by the leaders
and agents of. the Democratic party, and
with result which was unexpected even
to the most sanguine. Sixteen of the
thirty-one Counties of the State went
Democratic, and we hazard the assertion
that, ut this moment, there are by the
greatest proportion fewer white radicals
in South Carolina than in any other of
the Southern States. There has been
and still exists the most perfect unity in
our white Democracy; they have moved
in thorough and unbroken phalanx,
and we assert that our contemporary has
been badly informed when he states to
the contrary. The white Democracy
here are quiet and undemonstrative, be-
cause there is no practical issue immedi-
ately at stake, and to be contested; but
our neighbor may rest satisfied, that the
schism in the radical ranks is watched
with careful and wary eye. The per-
sonal experience of the Constituionalist,
which warrants the assertion that the
population of our State is supine, un-
wieldy, and bewildered, is, we venture
to say, utterly antagonistic to that of the
press representative and general informa-
ton in South Carolina, and it tells we'll
for the minority-which he admits-that
at the State elections the Democrats car
ried sixteen out of thirty-one Counties.
We beg leave to assure the Constitutional
ist that the Democratic party has both
enthusiasm, as was evinced by the unity
and energy which marked the recent can
vass; momentum, as was indicated by the
result; that it is amply supplied with
leaders, as verified by the plan of action
which characterized the late campaign,
upon whose sagacity, eloquence and judg-
ment, the Democracy rightly put their
trust.
The Constituaionalist may feel relieved
in its forebodings, and may depend
upon our assertion, That every provision
has been made to preserve the unity of
the Democratic party, to collect it's
scattered elements" and to fight to the
last gasp for supremacy over the scala
wag and carpet-bagger. when the proper
time arrives. We assume the position