The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-08
Waiting for u Bolt.

When the Scott conventions have made
their nominations, the defeated candidates
for Office WILL no doubt, grumble and gTowl
with tremendous energy; but there are good
reasons for assuming that there will not be
an important t'bolt," and that any repentant
Scottites who may secede, after going into
the convention, will carry with them, when
they cross the threshold, little influence and
less positive power.
The Radical party of South Carolina, in
all it's huge dimensions, is directed and con-
trolled by mere handful Of cunning politi-
clans. These men are the Party. They
monopolze the power and the profit, and re-
quire their unfortunate supporters to live
upon the crumbs which fall from the ezeeu-
tive or legislative table. When we fairly get
to work, we can split off the live branches
from the rotting trunk; we can show the
colored people that the generosity, or chart
ty, of their favorite leaders begins, and ends,
at home. But until the forces of the Oppo-
sition are in the field, the colored voters will
be overawed and bullied in the usual way,
| for, however they may feel aggrieved, they
have not the experience or the indepen-
dence, demanded Of those politicians who
would upraise the standard ofrevolt. From
the masses of the colored voters then, We
need not expect any help until we show that
we have the skill and the courage necessary
to their guidance and protection. They are
timid people, and will not cut loose from
the Scott party until they have another
party to tie to. 1t is useless, therefore, to
postpone the nomination Of the Opposition
candidate for Governor, in the hope that we
may be able to join hands, after the Radical
Convention, with a body oHdissatistied
Scottites.
Nor do we see any reason for hoping that
any prominent Radical allied to the Ring,
will bolt from the convention and accept the
support ofthe Reform party. Any men who
may forsake the Scott clique, even at the
eleventh hour, will be welcomed into the
ranks of Reform. But for o leader, we re-
quire one who has been with US from the be-
ginning, not one whose tardy adhesion to
our cause is prompted by spleen or disap-
pointed ambition Think OF it! The peo-
ple organize movement for the redemption
and regeneration of the State; that move
ment has the sympathy and support of oil
honest men; that movement is an indignant
protest against extravaganza aud wrong.
How could we take as its leader, its chieftain,
its head, q poor time-server who is kicked
out of the Radical Convention, and whose
only distinction is that of an ignominious de-
feat This, it seems to US, is not che way of
organizing victory.
The prominent officials Of the Radical
party will not secedc.' whatever may be the
action of their convention. Many OF them
do not go before the people for election un-
til 1872 The rest think themselves sure of
reelection if they stick together. They have
no inducement to bolt, and least of all have
they any temptation to abandon the party of
ignorance and corruption for the party Of
honesty and sense. Now 4Ney are Tritons
among minnows. Why should they leave the
troubled waters for the placid streams OF
tranquility and peace?
Upon the first Of August the field of our
choice will be no wider than it is this day.
The people may then, as now, select q Re-
form champion whose only claim upon our
support is his mulluscous insipidity and his
personal need of that public purity, whose
gospel he is expected to preach. Or the
people may, as now, nominate vigorous,
hearty, thorough-going candidate, who will
enter the lists in earnest, and never sheathe
his glaive until the field be won. The differ
ence between the two courses--an imme-
date nomination and postponed nomina-
tion-is Time. a loss Of sic or eight pre-
cious aDeeks is ALL THAT WE DARE HOPE TO
GAIN BY PUTTING OFF THE NOMINATION. We
trust that the Convention will sedulously and
constantly bear this broad fact in mind.