The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-15
THE COMING POLITICAL STRUGGLE
VIEWS OF THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
Abandon the Contest or Abandon DEM
cracy.
From the Chester Reporter.l

From the Chester Reporter.l
TIE CHARLESTON NEWS, after having ex-
hausted its ingenuity in constructing Demo
cratic platforms, suddenly lays them all aside
as rubbish, and runs up the colors of the Citi-
zens' Party. The Phoenix, pursuing the even
tenor of its way, is for sticking to the old name
and organization, but thinks 1t best to draw
it mildSto have some kind of progress
sive, conservative Democracy. The Laurens-
vile Herald is for bold square, sta9d-1p
colors The views of these three able
contemporaries fairly represent the diff
ferent shades of. opinion expressed by
the opposition press of the State. Now we
don't agree fully with any of them. SO far as
the proposition of TIE NEWS is to drop the
Democratic name we heartily concur AND
the reason this is desirable Is obvious enough
to us. The white people of the State are already
nearly unit in their opposition to the present
administration of the State Government. The
only source from which any accession to the
ranks of the opposition can. be looked for IL
from the body of colored voters. The first po-
itical idea that the negro drew In when ne
ceased to be q slave, was that the Democrats
were bent on restoring him to slavery. me
negroes honestly believed this Hatred of the
very name of Democrat sank too deep into
their bones ever to be eradicated They are
not reasoning creatures; you may tell them as
much as You please about that rose that smell
ed the same no matter what YOU called 1t, but
Us long as you call it Democrat they won't
smell it ut all. They can't be made Democrats.
They have perfect loathing for Democratic
niggers." as they call them. And we might
inst as well, therefore, abandon the contest al
together as to 60 into 1t with the hope OF
achieving success by drawing the negroes over
to the party called Democratic.
The objection urged against this course Is,
that we are allied with the national Democrat
ic party, and that We ought not to desert tnat
organization. 1t would have been blessing
for both the national Democratic party ana
ourselves, If we had held aloof from 1t In 1868.
If the defeat of Seymour and Blair can be al
tributed to any one cause more than another,
1t Is to the part prominent Carolinians played
in the campaign. And unless We learn more
wisdom by 1872, no doubt the national party
will be more than rejoiced to have us play on
string OF our own. But what we will do, or be
in favor of doing in 1872, Is neither here nor
there at this time There is no question OF ma
tlonal Importance that our action this year can
effect. Cur duty new Is to forget that there ls
auy place but South Carolina, and with an eye
single to her good, to devote all there is Of us
to her publication and prosperity.
When and Where to Work
from the Newberry Ierald.l
Heretofore there have been reasons for op-
sition TO 1he measures of reconstruction, and
for attempts to defeat them; but having failed
in this. it is now the duty Of all good citizens
to unite their efforts to make the best govern
mcnt possible out Of the form of the one which
has been established over us.
The Radical party to-day Is rotten to the core
with vilcncss, fraud and corruption. The nc
uroes who have heretofore been guided by IT,,
arc fast becoming disgnstcd with Its tyranny
and indignant at its hypocrisy. So much go so
that they would willingly and unrcservediy lie
to another party, were they sure OF the latters
honesty and sincerity.
Again we say, let lis work among the black
peopie, and try, by every fair means, to get
their support for the party OF right principles.
And then let us have convention, and make
generally known upon what platform OF prll-
1ciplcs the members are to be chosen next tall,
and how the campaign Is ~ Oe condtictea'
The Citizens Party.
From the orangeburg Ncws.l
Let the body of men who band themselves
| together for the redemption CT their State,
meet upon platform that knows no disunc-
tlon of class, caste or color, which recognizes
white man and black man as equally CITIZEN
| Let us nuke one more rally, one more effort,
and let us make it upon basis, and by means
| that are practical, sensible, ind tnat have a
chance Of success -,
We trust that the press OF the State Will
| meet, and that they will agree upon course
| to be presented and advocated by them to the
people. which will unite all the honest cataeas
of South Carolina, white and black, In an effort
to secure the government into the hands OIL
| the honest and the worthy: unite them upon
this sensible admission Of what Is the reality OF
our situation, and which Is the only effort that
can be successful.
What's In n Name!
From the Kingstree Sar.l
THE CHARLESTON NEWS insists that the peO-
ple who are opposed to the present NAL
administration OF the government by the Radi-
cal party shall adopt Us the name OF the party
opposcd to that organization, name 10 De
called the uCitizens' Party" There Il q great
deal In a name, and sometimes correct prlnc!-
pies are rendered unpopular with the ignorant
| by the odium which designing men would cast
| upon the name under which those principles
are inculcated This the Radicals have effected
with the negroes in regard to the name OF
Democracy. Where there are two opposing
elements In government name is essential
to distinguish one party or creed from the
other: and where men are desirous of bccom.
iRr united for any purpose, organization anu
system Is indispensably necessary TO give
| strength. encouragement and confidence 10
the undertaking. In choosing a name, there
| fore, 1t should be one expressive OF the sentl-
ments of those who are 10 be guided and con-
| tr0lleu NY IL.
The Citizens Party.
From the Barnwell JOurhaLl
There scenes to be very happy nnanlmity
among the State press In regard to the prlnci-
plcs and aims of the new party TO bc organized
tor The political redemption OF our State. 1t Is
to be composed Of all the opponents of Radical
ism, and ii our people enter into the campaign
with vigor and concert of action there can be
no doubt of success. The people are ready, for
change. Heavy and burdensome taxation,
and the extravagant expenditure of the peo-
pies money are producing universal dissatisiac-
| ton. The party goes before the people with
| a popular name, and If we arc not mistaken IN
the principles that will bc laid down IN the
| platform. whenever the convention assemblies,
we believe il will command the support and
! hearty corporation OF all who desire to sec Q
chance in the administration OF our public al
fairs. CoIored voters may attach themselves
to this party IN full assurance Of protection In
| oil their legitimate rights, and may expect a
sincere aid complete lmi!i!mcnt Of every
promise made to them. Our white citizens are
not called upon to abandon their old and
cherished principles by connecting themselves
| with this party, but merely TO accept the new
| platform US basis of present action. This can
he done without compromising our old opili-
ions. especially as the principles Of the new
platform will not be antagonisic TO those We
| have held in the past. The time has come for
us to work in earnest. The coloreu vote must
be conciliated 10y placing matters In their true
light before our hitherto misguided colored
| friends. and when we are prepared for pubic
or,roni1otinn lnt q convention be called, which