The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-28
s. G.
Saturday Morning. May 2s. 1870.

Saturday Morning. May ~, 1870.
Behind tho Times---The Old vs. the Now
Regime.
Our ootemporary Of the Sumter Ne,cs,
who seems to hold that the Press Con-
ference made fatal error when it sug-
gested to the people of South Carolina
that it was time to accept accomplished
facts-such as the fact of the fifteenth
amendment-and to take, as it were,
new departure in the matter OF political
movement, says it has taken its stand ut
the pass OF its Thermopy]B, aud init
mates that right there it will die. Let US
beg our cotemporary not thus to die.
Does not the Ne,cs understand that many
of those old time sentiments are now
discarded, in this nge of fast men and
fast women, and fast horses and fast
things in general2 Take the case of
Ccrtius, who leaped in the yawning gulf
that refused to ''shut up" until it should
receive the most precious thing in Rome.
Why, it is now very generally admitted
that he did very foolish act. To think,
too, that ho should have carried with
him his best suit of armor and his finest
horse, and did not have his life insured
in the piedmont and Arlington" for
the benefit of his family? Why, the
general sentiment, in this common-sense
age, is, that Curtius was II foolish fellow,
and did he live now, and were he to do
kEa Ia Il 1t ~
that New York jury would decide that
at the moment just before squirting his
charger for the fatal leap, he was non COM
pos n,entis.
Take the case Of the man who thought
it was GLORIOUS to die in arms"-wh o
originated the idea that ''it is sweet and
honorable to die for ones country"
Why, this thing is now xploded-utterly
exploded. It is now very generally con-
ceded that it is far better to lire for ones
country, or rather, We should say, on
ones country. GLORIOUS to die in arms!'
Absurd thought. How more glorious to
ice politician in the South, or q mem
ber of railroad ring, or an Office holder.
Take the case of Cambronne, who is
credited on historic page with the grand
reply: "1Ae Oh Guard dies, but does nol
surrender" Victor Hugo says that Cam
bronze made no such reply-but re-
sponded in word less classical than
represented, but not less emphatic. And
30 We might go on and continue our
illustrations, to show that the sdead past
must bury its dead.' We hope, there
fore, that the Sumter Ne,rs will reverse
its judgment If the stranger has to
say, cat Laccdemon," that the Ne,rs did
die at its Thermopylm, or if it did dye,
dyed its hair only, we will answer for it,
its nou-immolation as entirely excusnblc.
Let ns put our house in order, not to
die, but to live.
s'OUR Position "---''The Columbia
Guardian can't comprehend the position
of those papers which dare dissent from
the doings of the Press Conference
"We will not acquiesce in oppressive,
illegal and unconstitutional legislation,
for the sake of political power, any
sooner than We would barter our princi-
pies for Office or the hope of reward.
''We trust, as far as the Democrat is
concerned, that 'the position is now un-
derstood. ."-Durlingion Democrat
Just so. That is our position, and has
been from the first IHe stand shoulder
to shoulder aciM the Democrat. in Tie pass
Of 1hermopylts. "-Sun,te7' Ne,cs.
PoL1T1cs IN GREECE AND PoL1T1cs IN
SOUTH CAnoLINA.-A correspondent of
the London Times tells neat story H.
Illustrating the true origin and meaning
of bripnndaon in Greecn The British