The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-14
COLUMBIA S. C,
I sunday Morning, August IA, 1870.

Bourbonic VS.. Progressive Democracy.
9 s. The sumter Ne,os replies to our oriti-
cism upon its political attitude and its
virtual playing into the hands of the
radical regime, by opposing the reform
movement. AS we have little taste for
discussion and less time for unnecessary
writing, We shall reply once for oil.
The Sumter Ne,os seems to entertain this
opinion, viz: that Democracy consists,
and consists only, in opposing negro
suffrage. It does not seem to compre-
hend that it means much more than
this-that 1t is based upon more compre-
hensive ground, and embraces many
other ideas. It is true that Democracy
believes in Caucasian power, and pride,
and prestige, and magnifes the senti-
ment of race. But all this is not iucon-
sistent with a common-sense view of
facts connected with negro suffrage.
Just as certain as that the sun rises, is
the fact that negro suffrage exists; and
if it does exist, il is simply sensible for
US to make the most of it in good faith,
and to seek to control it in the interests
of good government. The Ne,rs is
simply Democratic Bourbon, and rep
resents that class-now very small, we
believe. In our judgment, tho Demo
@cratic party, in national point of view,
is the party that we must look to for the
reform that is needed in our national
affairs, and for the impress that should
be put upon the Government. But we
hold that the South Carolina Democracy
and the National Democracy should no
longer be run in tho groove of anti
negroism. Let the negro question be
deemed settled, and let US move on to
other issues. These are the sentiments
of the most influential Democratic jour
nails in the country, md these arc the
sentiments that the popular voice will
approve. because based on common
sense. we suggest, therefore, to the
Ne.cS. TINT because one embraces the re-
form movement, it does not follow that
he has cut loose from the real, the &C
tive, the progressive Democracy of the
land. He bas, however, cut loose from
"Bourbonic Democracy, and from this
we think it well to cut loose as promptly
as possible. AS for us, we are moving
on--opposed as ever to radicalism-but
resolutely bent upon the public good
We commend to the Nc,Us what Demo
cratic journal-the Chattanooga Times
says on this subject. Referring to the
opposition to negro suffrage, the Times
says:
''The Democracy are engaged in a
more important and more popular en-
terprise. They are trying to rid the
country OF the vast financial burdens
that repress its energies, crush its in
dnstry, and retard substantial prosperity.
They are endeavoring to get rid of q
tax list, longer and more portentious
than the Levitican laws. They are
trying to rescue the country from the
curse of an army Of tax-gatherers, that
eat out its substance and steal what
crumbs are left. They are trying to
rescue it from the incubus of political
shln-plaster monopoly, compared to
which the old United States bank was
Innocence and harmlessness. They are
trying to undo the radical villainy of q
PtS'oooA'o o"AA1A3 oAuCLtu lOC Gue DCQeuG
of few monopolists. by compelling the
whole body of the people to pay them
tribute. They are trying to remove
reckless dishonesty and Incompetence
from the administration, and to re-
establish constitutional, economical and
honest government They are trying to
restore liberty, peace and prosperity to
every quarter of America, and right and
justice to every inhabitant thereof.
"1n these endeavors, the Democracy
can appeal to the sympathies of all men
who prefer freedom before despotism,
and right before wrong, with feeling of
confidence that the appeal will not be
made in vain. Upon this line, their
march is onward to certain victory. 1t
is march in which there is no time to
be lost in the fighting of battles that are
over. Those who cannot keep step in
the ranks of the grand army that marches
to the call of the future, will certainly
find themselves oandoned with the
fossil relics scattered in the rear.
'Such arc the sentiments of tho lead