The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-08-03
who has endured tho agony of her
subjugation.
J. B. KERsHAw.
Camdon, S. G., Juno 29, 1870.
Tho Reform Movement and
its Platform.

Tho Reform Movement and
its Platform.
Thus far our exchanges very
generally in tho State, endorse
The action Of tho late Reform Con.
vcntion. Tho movement is op-
posed by tho two extremes in the
State. The radical partisan and
Office holder, Of course, opposes it,
| because it seeks to taltc from the
hands that have abused and mis-
used it, tho power Of the State.
The extreme Southern man is ill.,
disposed to accept tho movement,
because he deems it inconsistent
with his sentiments and his prin-
ciplcs. For this class, wo havo
no harsh criticism, nor do we
/ question their motives. There is
much to admire in tho man who
adhcres bravcly and tcnaciously
to line of thought and Of action
that he believes to be right. Still
arc wo Of the opinion that this
! class Of men have missed tho mark
of political action. Questions in
life and in politics not unircqucnt-
ly change. So long as tho recon
struction measures were upon their
passage-pending, rs IT were, in
tho high Court Of tho land, VIC
opposed them. So long as the
question Of negro suffrage was be-
ioro tho country, VIC held that it
ought to be qualified and subject
to State action. But these Acts
and this unqualified negro suffrage
have become accomplished facts"
and now tho question changes.
The point is now, "What shall we
do with it ?" We think the an
swcr plain. Our obvious duty is
to make tho most Of tho situation
in which VIC find oursclvcs-that
is the most, consistent with our
honor and our sclcrcspcct. No
other course would be wise. This
is the duty Of our people, as VIC
conceive it. This journal is Dem
ocratic, but yet it approves, IN
good faith, OF the Reform movo-
ment.
Tho fact Of the matter is, as re-
spccts negro suffrage, wo dcIibc-
ratoly favor accepting it, as the
wiscst solution Of tho question.
Our Democracy rises higher and
spreads far wider than to DO con-
fined to opposition to tho negro
man and his political status. In
this respect we agrco with the
Augusta Constitutionalist, when it
says:
"It is truo that tho Federal
Government was made by white
men for white men; but nothing
was done in its formation looking
specially to the exclusion Of nc
grocs, if any one Of the States, for
itsclf, saw fit to admit them to
citizenship or OF her political
rights. The Democratic oryani-
zation, therefore, should be planted
upon principles much higher,
grander and noblcr than bare op-
position to the Negro PMty so-catcd.
BY such a course they would do
great injustice to themselves and
an injury to their cause. They
would sink the sublimity Of the
eternal truths Of their timc-hon-
ored faith into tho miserable in
stincts Of british antagonism Of
race. Tho Democratic party is
tho party Of The Constitution.
That name will suffice"
If therefore, any Democrat is
disposed to question the platform
in its feature Of eliminating the
issue Of negro suffrage from the
canvass, he is behind the times.
We believe that by the next Prcsi-
dental canvass, the National Dem
ocracy will be disposed to do what
wo observe Ohio did-viz: let this
issue 60. For us to resist this
wave Of universal suffrage is use
less, wc believe. Better at onco
accept it, and purify and direct
tho waters as best we may.
We take it that we are not un-
like the Mississippi planter who
finds his lowlands overwhelmed
by the waters Of tho great river.
The question with him is rot
whether he shall have the food or
not, but the question is what "shall
he do with it p How best shall
he restrain this deluge, and what
tortilizing principle can he extract
from tho waters. This, at least,
is tho question that wo deem it
our duty to consider.
Columbia Ph@nt.r.
TIE "ArFAIR" AT FonDAcn.-
The following details Of tho affair