The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-09-21
COLUMBIA. Sc.
Tuesday Morning, Sept. 2l, 1857
The Tree Policy--To Advance the Derno-
critic warfs. ~ iP4 III

Of conviction. We do not doubt the
animns of the Neses. Doubtless, in it's
own way, Il seeks 80 do the State Of its
bifth and It's affs6tion soms sfffteotivs scr
vice. Doubtlessa IT honestly desires to
relieve South Csrolipe from the political
incubug that 4tiae reconstruction scheme
OF Congress has imposed upon hen. This
is oil right, and seriously discussing q
grave matter affecting public interests,
we ssaaimsas give the 1NsSs fullfcredit for
its good Intentions : Lat as, however,
briefly, bnt conciseiy, consider the poll
cy proposed by the Ndcs. It claims the
honoraof provoking the discussion about
the .'third party" programme. Let us
inquire how much Of utility the scheme
promiSes When the Netrs 1rst broached
this line of,aotion,, we did not hesitate to
pronounce against itas being premature,
and we also, regarded itas pnwise and in
judicious, although we Acknowledged the
force and correctness of much that the
Nessstook occasion to utter in connection
with, its prcja! a7For instance, we think
itwisato ack naowledge negro suffrage as
an accomplished fact in the State. We
think. it wise toilet this acknowledgment
reach the mindso Of the colored sufragans.
Wedeem il good policy TO make the; most
oflour political situation. We deem it
good policy to grasp political elements
az we lind them, and to mould them to
the beatinterests Of the State. In these
respects we agreed with the Ne,os, and
so far aa these general principles are con-
cerned, the writer long ago announced
them as the guidesSto ibis political pro-
gramme, which seeks to be o programme
of action, and practical action. But. as
we;have said, we pronounced the propo-
sition to form.a third party in South Ca
rolina premature. And these were the
considerations that controlled us. We
do not mean to say that in the future
some such policy may not be regarded
wise. We do not mean to say that there
is no other name on earth save that of
Democrat whereby We can be saved. We
do,not mean to attach any special signifi-
canoe to mere party names. We do not
cling to old remedies, when new and bet
tel, ones are presented. But this We did
mean and do re-affirm, that at present in
South Carolina we see no halfway house
between Democrats and Republicans.
We see no chance at present of dividing
the Republican voters by the proposition
of the Ne,Ds. Intthe first place, the News
gave fair notice, and thus prepared the
Republican voters for the mine it essay
ed to spring. Discarding anything like
reticence, the Neus, as it were, proclaim
ed to the radical leaders, 81 am not Of
you, but for q purpose am willing to be
classed with you" 81 come," said the
Neps. in effect. ito divide and conquer. "
No wonder that the flank movement that
succeeded in Virginia and Tennessee was
destined to fail in South Carolina. If
the tactics of the Neus were good, it
failed most egregiously in its mode of
applying them. But we have stronger
objections to the move of the Nevs, and
we take higher ground. That move at
this time is intrinsically wrong. If it
were to make any headway at all, its eff
feet would be to unite the radical voters
and todividethe opposition in this State
Fortunately for us of the opposition, we
remain united. And as to the effect of
the ''third party" proposition upon the
radical leaders, who can fail to observe
that it has already served to unite and
arouse them. So much for the first card
Of the Neps. But it has second, which
it also considers winning card.
The Nea0s commends to the Democratic
press of the State the study of "nig-
gerology." Now, the Ne,rs omitted to
define this term; but IL it means any
thing at all, it must mean the art of
hood-winking-or, at least, of gently ma
nipulating the negro voter. And the
News adds. that it becomes us in this art
or science to take lesson from the car
pet-bagger. Now, this we have to say,
that it is in vain for us to compete with
our political opponents on this field.