The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-16
COLUMBIA, S. c., August Is, 1870.
~. a.

q communication expressing my OPT
Mons of the present political situation
in South Caroline. The publication of
it would be gratifying to me, if you have
space in your columns. 1 am, very re-
spectfally yours, ETC.,
JAMES L. DER.
MIR. EDITOR: In response to inquiries
addressed to me by friends in letters,
and otherwise, I shall proceed very brief
ly to state my opinions on the political
issues presented to the people in the
canvass now progressing in this State:
l. shall vote for Scott and Ransier,
Republican nominees for Governor md
Lieutenant-G Governor.
2. [ cannot vote for the nominees of
the Union Reform party because, in my
judgment, the purpose which they pro
pose to accomplish is ontircly impracti
cable, and the nominations made by
their convention, will not only accom-
plish no good results, but the conse-
quenccs Of tho nomination and canvass
must be pcrnicious. The avowcd pur-
pose Of the convention was to effect re-
forms in the administration Of the State
Government. In somo of its depart
ments retrenchmcnt and reform is doubt
less greatly nccded-somc of it's Offices
are filled by incompetent and corrupt
men-who should he driven from tic
places they occupy. Moro economy in
the appropriations and disbursement of
public money should be practiced.
How arc these objects to be attained?
The only reforms i'll tho State Govern
ment, that can be successfully accom-
plshcd, ut least for many years to como,
must be by and through the Republican
party, and its organizations. They have
control of all tho departments Of the
State Government, and have majority
of more than thirty thousand voters, to
preserve ami perpctuatc that control SO
long rs an opposing party, disayowing
Republicanism, is organized in the State
to defeat and displacc them, SO long will
party machinery and appeals to party APP
pliances preserve its unity and suprcma-
cy. If we want M illustration of the
strength and constancy of party organi-
zation i'll securing gsclf-pcrpetuation look
to the State Of Vermont, ior thirty years
prior to tho war. when it annually rolled
up its 80, ,OUO or more majority for tho
Wing party, despite all tho efforts of ting
Democracy, aided most Of tho time by
Federal influence and patronage. When
you attempt to reform n party by de-
stroyiDg it-which is the present mode
of reform adopted first law of na-
ture, sclf-prcscrvation, appeals to each
member OF that party to resist the new
movement, and avert its destruction; ;
balcful influence; the most active and
oftentimes the most unscrupulous pnrti-
sans eXaggerate tho Importance Of main
to n T,rt " rrn apJ licoi,>Ii,o
the great mass Of the honest portion Of
the party are thus diverted from a care
full examination into the fitness of those
seeking to represent them, and from
abuses aud corruptions existing in the
party.
AL antagoEistic party may be organ
lied with great effect, when there is IL re-
mote prospect of success in driving the
party III power, or its leaders who arc
guilty OF misrulc, from their supremacy;
bat Is there such prospect in the pre-
sent canvass? Tho colorcd vote is, and
has been from 1867, nearly u unit for the
Rcpubiican party, and have they acted
unwistiy or unpatriotiCaiy in their ar
dent devotion 30 the Republican party
Suppose our conditions, the white race,
were reversed that we and our auccSt urs
had been slaves for 200 ycars--that n
party had made war to give us freedom
that it had succeeded that the same
party had pcrled its own supremacy by
guaranteeing to us our civil rights, and
above all, the ballot-thc cilcctuul weapon
OF preserving those rights-had been Sc
cured to Us by solemn constitutional on
actment.by tho sume party, and we were,
in the face Of all this, appealed to by
those who had opposed all these great
boons, to join with them in ovcrthrowing
the party of our dclivcrancc and rcdemp.
ton, woald any white man for !: moment
tolerate with patience any such propo-
stion? Would it not be most ungrntcful
for tic colorcd man TO ronounce such a
party, when its very existence is now
t. 2:.tcncd? Some Of his leaders, white
and colorcd, may be incompetent, cor
rupt, treachcrous; but he would exhibit
strange obliviousncss if be would con
sent to join az antagonistic organization
to destroy his own party, even before he
llau attempted to reform it,
The rcla.i"c population Of white and
cu!orco are as three to four, and The vote
may be .s,umr, to be tic same. Tnc
cp!oyai majority j., more than 5000.
Assuming tina. the pry;,: I.,uss of tLn o.,