The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-29
Persecution for opinion's Sake.

Tho assertion is broadly made that Mr..
Stoddard was discharged from work aboard
OF the bark Wyman because he was n Radical
and the longshorcmen are told, with the vio-
lcnce which charactcrizes the typical tlcma-
gUgue, that, in remaining on strike until
Mr.. Stoddard is reinstated, they are fight
ing against prescription, and vindicating
the right Of every man to have an opinion
and n soul of his own. With the reasons
which caused the dismissal of Mr. Sioddard
we have at present nothing to do. We a,l-
vocate now, and have always advocated, the
fullest freedom Of thought, speech and act
And HC carry ont that principle to the end.
We apply it to rich as TO poor, to en-
ploycr rs to workingman, 10 Dives in the
banquct-hail as, to Lazarus Mt our gates
We do not proclaim that the Radical shall
clio as hc may please, and that the Democrat
Shall only do as the Radical plcases. AS
long rs they do not disturb the pnblic peace
or encroach upon the rights Of others, VIC
demand, for all conditions of men, full and
free liberty OF word and deed And it is be-
NoNSS w hl'piJ thio W al CllsSGS
and parties, and not to one class or party,
that We assert the right OF the shipping
agents in this city to employ whom they
.will-white man or negro, Democrat or Re-
publican. This is why we condemn the CON
duct of the longshorcmen who are entleayor-
ing to compel the employment OF one par
ticular man or set OF men.
In no place where Radicalism is supreme
can there be true liberty. The Radical
party carry out, TO the fullest extent, the
doctrine: To, the rictors, the spoils. They
care nothing for the character of the govern
ment or the ability of candidates. All that
they insist on is that working Republicans
only shall hold every public office. We need
not point to the policy Of the President and
Cabinet to prove this statement There is
something nearer home than the proscriE-
ing OF Democrats in the North and West and
| order for the removal from Office in Texas of
| all the opponents of bitter-end Radicalism.
Take this State IS an example On every
side there are honest capable and expert
cnccd men who have been bundled neck and
crop out of Office, and their places filled by
boobies or knayes. And why? Because the
ofiice-holdcrs were not Radicals. This has
been the policy in every county and city and
hamlet in South Carolina. Only few
weeks ago the Radical Union League de-
manded of Mayor Pillsbury the removal OF
all the Conservative policemen in the city
police force. The Mayor bowed down and
| obcyed. Twenty or more steady and trust
worthy policemen were discharged, for no
other reason than that they were not Radi-
Gals. This, indeed, is prescription. This is
South Carolina Radicalism. More than this,
! we are told that Mr.. Stoddard himself dis
charged, last fall, one man, if not more, be-
cause he would not vote the Radical ticket
and now these people strut and buster and
call themselves the champions of free
opinion.
Whatever of prescription there may he
among the respectable people of Charleston
has been hammered into them by Radical
principle and practice. White men and
colored men have been employed without
distinction, and 30 have Democrats and Re-
publicans. If, in any one case, there has
been change Of conduct it is due to that
Radic.i prescription which in this State has
driven from place well nigh all that is respect
able, and has filled the highest and lowest
Offices with men whose only qualification il
the fcrvor OF their political faith, and their
undyinS hostility TO oil that is true and
pure.