The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-28
COLUMBIA, S. G..
Wednesday Morning, Sopte'r %. 1870.
.,Tho Democratic nugbear."

It contends that there has been no inva.
sion of the real rights OF the States.
What does the Times say to Mr.. Thad.
Stevens repeated declaration that Con.
gress is sovereign. The Times may de-
ny the charges made by the Democracy.
But the record of its party contradicts
its affirmatiops, and it is true that the
theory and practice are alike centralising.
and the Federal Government, in spite Of
the denial of the Times, under the il f1u-
ence of Republican policy, has been alb
sorbing power that belongs TO tho States.
-~ %
..PlAin Truths for the N-groc1."
The New York Times, Republican
journal, says:
''The colored people have been hold
ing convention ut Poughkcepsie 10
take into consideration the political and
educational interests of their race in
three Congressional Districts of this
State. The President made very SEN
what the best white friends Of the color
cd people havo pointed out frequently
since their emancipaticr, that although
their participation in politics is very
we'll as q sign Of their equality, and as q
means of preserving it, reliance on poll
tics for their socinl elevation is m i'm
monse mistake. Ho asked very peril
nently, "Have they not been hewers of
wood and drawers of water long enough?
Have they not blacked their master 8
boots and stood behind Ills CHAR until
their hearts were sick acI sore?" To
these questions, we suppose, there can
be but one answer; but it is useless, rs
he also pointed out, for'the colored peo-
pie to expect to escape from their degra-
dation by simply voting. Now that
everybody votes. no man is respected
for voting, any more than for wearing
pantaloons, although inability to vote
when others did vote would, undoubtetl-
ly, be mark of inferiority. In order to
rise in the social scale, the colored rnce
must show itself capable of the acquire
ments md achievements through which
other races have achieved distinction.
1t must furnish n fair quota of able and
successful men of business, of learned
and astute lawyers, Of well-trained scho-
lars, of eloquent preachers, OF pains
taking, aud clearhcaded. and thorough
men of science. 1t must, too, do q rea-
sonabe amount for the arts of music and
painting. at least-we arc disposed in
consideration of the multiplicity of white
poets to grant it q considerable respite
in the matter of poetry.
Lastly, it must furnish respectable
quota of honorable and polished men Of
culture, and women of the same sort. 1t
is no doubt pretty hard for n race situa-
ted as it has been, and still is, to do all
this; but it must be done, in order to at
tain to anything approaching to social
equality. Position il this world is only
accorded to desert Of some kind, and all
the speechifying that could be put into
fifty years Of conventions would not
change the rule. OF course, no race is
expected to furnish q great number Of
first-class meu i'll any department, but it
has to furnish some, and of their pcr-
formances the race gets the benefit in re-
spect and reputation"
THE attempts of the colored people to
work their way up have not thus far
been very fortunate. They have by no
means put their best men into the front
rank. They have sent ono or two men
to the bar here nt the North, who have
been miserable failures in every way;
and though some Of their leaders at the
South have been good men, their politi-
clans have, on the whole. done them no
credit Their cadets, too, at West
Point have certainly not been selected
in such a way as to assert the principle
Of equality with much honor, and one or
two mistakes, such as the election of
Whittemore, have dishenrtcned q good
many of their friends. But they have
distinguished students now both ut
Yale aud Harvard, and there are plenty
of other signs that, with good sense and
hard work, there is nothing to hinder
them from winning. if not place in the
very front rank, still very respectable
place"
THE UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM
OREGON j. X. Kelley, who hns
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