The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-01-20
The True Issue.

The True Issue.
The true issue between the two politi.
cal parties in this State is not, we have
reasons to believe, intelligently understood
by many who embrace the dogmas of the
party in power. Those who are opposed
to the manner in which the dominant
party conduct the political affairs of the
State, be they unionists, democrats, con-
seryatives, or anything else that suits
the purpose of Distinguishing them from
the radicals, are always stigr1atized by
the radical party as persons who are ep-
posing reconstruction, the State Govern
ment, the United States authority, ETC.
In fact they would have it believed that
were it not for the military power of the
general government, that another war
would be Immediately inaugurated by
those who do not bow in sycoplancy to
the unjust measures of their cruel e.1ac-
tions. This false position is assumed by
the radicals to sustain themselves in the
course which they are pursuing toward
the white people of the State. 1t would
not answer their purpose to come square
ly up to the main and perhaps only issue,
and admit that the question of reconstruc-
tion, so far at least as South Carolina is
concerned, is fixed that however much it
is abhorred by the white people of this
State, it has been accomplished, and they
have practically acquiesced in it; because
if they did, they would have no grounds
or excuse for inficting the ills which they
do upon the people. They must make it
appear that all their efforts and aims are
to effect and carry out the plan of recon-
struction, and that all the opposition they
meet with is directed to the defeat of that
object. This is what the radical party
would have the country understand is the
cause OF any and all confusion and bitter
ness between themselves and those who
will not act in concert with them. But
this position is false. 1t is not the issue
at the present time. The people who ep-
pose the corruptlon, the ignorance, the
robbery and venality as now practiced by
the radical party, are as loyal, and more
so, TO the laws and authority Of the gov
ernment than those who prate SO much
about their fealty, love and fidelity to
their country. If the proper data were
collected of the violations of law and order
in this State, it would reveal the fact that
sttie radical party is the revolutionary one,
and are the instigators Of nearly all the
crime and violations of law, notwith-
standing they profess to be peace makers
of the country, and hold themselves out
as paragons of all that is orderly and
peaceable. The truth is, the citizens of
this State have long ceased any opposition
to the government, and have accepted
practically the situation in which they
have been placed by the results of the
war, and however odious to their feelings,
and repugnant to their conceptions of
right, they are nevertheless yielding a
ready obedience to the demands which
the government and laws of the country
impose upon them. They do not oppose
the government. They do not oppose
the execution of the laws; but they do
endeavor to oppose and expose the igno
rance, per6dity and corruption of the par
ty now in power, because it is as clear as
the mondays sun that they are incompe-
tent to carry on a government successfully
and acceptably to the people generally.
If the radical party will cease their ty.
ranny and oppression, if they will mako
good and wholesome laws, if they will
stop the profigacy' and waste of the peo.
ple's money, if they will put good, honest
competent men in responsible positions,
if they will uphold virtue and denounce
vice, if they will displace ignorance and
reward intelligence, if they will exert
their power and influence for the good of
the whole people, they will not meet
with any opposition from the intelligent
white people of the State. If they will
cease doing as they have already been
doing, and amend their conduct as we
have indicated above, they will cease to
be obnoxious to the people. We care
very little by what name they go if they
will make that name honorable by their
influence and works.-Kingstree Star.