The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-04-20
COLUMBIAl!l.,,, A.. s., g.
Wednesday Morning, April 90. 1870.

A Scream From Charleston--Tho Nsvvs
Answered..
The Charleston Ne,os resents, with in
dignant defamation, our recent decla-
rations in on article on the colored vote
Of tho State. It does more. It sets up
men of straw and knocks them down
with furious blows and patriotic fer
vor. It does more. It sums up what
it calls 'our Whole policy" and in
this it misrepresents our views, our
sympathies, our aims. It does more.
It's virtuous anger wakes hotter aud hot
ter. Our "blunder" grows into a ''crime."
We hnve dared to doubt the conquering
features of its great political party. And
now the feeling of fond paternity moves
our enterprising cotemporary, and it
caps the climax of growing wrath by
threatening us with no part of the fruits
after ''the fight is made and the victory
is won." Let us coolly analyze this mat
ter. Let us divest the subject of the
useless drapery thrown around it, and
look at it through medium not clouded
by passion. The State of South Caro-
lima is now under the political control of
o certain party-of the radical party
composed mostly of the colored voters
of the State. The question before the
anti-radicalists of the State is. how to
overthrow this party at the polls, or how
| to reform the administration Of our pub
lie affairs. The anti-radicalists of the
State agree as to the paramount impor-
tance of this reform. On this point the
PHOENIX and the Ne,rs agree. There is,
however, diversity of opinion as to
how the object in view is to be accom-
plished. Certain journals of tho State
met in conference and agreed upon GER
tain general principles, and upon call
for convention. Those general princi-
pies of the recognition of the colored
mans status, we approve and stand by.
We approve of the COLL for convention,
and hope it will be largely attended. 1t
will be for that convention to decide
upon the merits of just such questions
of details as have led to the TRADE of
the Ne'os. That journal, if it desires
the union and united action of oil the
anti-radical elements, has no right to
forestall the action of that convention.
''The citizens party" is its party. and is
not yet the party of any body of the
people of the State. And the NeDs is
badly mistaken if it imagines that the
| nf fofa
without consultation, to accept its dicta
and rally around lis peculiar flag. Let
the convention of the anti-radicalists
of the State assemble-good, able and
earnest menfrom all sections of the
State. Let the situation be thoroughly
canvassed. Let the views of the Ne,os
and other journals be submitted to
review, and then if the programme
that the NeWs favors shall address it.
self toe the judgment of the conven-
ton, it will be time enough then for
all mon opposed to the State govern
ment, and the present regime, to be ex-
pected to unite rs one man. Harmony
is what we want on the part of the anti
| radicalists of the State. United action
is what is demanded. But this harmony
and this action are not attainable either
by the News or any other journals ex-
pecting subordination to its individual
programme. We demand the judgment
of the people upon the question at issue,
and we invest the opinions of the Neus
with no more regard than is due to one
of the journals of the State, whose in
fallibility has not yet been established.
But what is the "blunder" and the
''crime" ascribed to this journal? Finding
that some of our anti-radical friends were
building their hopes upon false grounds,
as we believe; finding that they we're
basing political programme upon the
leading idea that the colored voters of
the State could be diverted from the
radical party, VIC said in effect to our
friends; Are you not deceiving your
aaIvaaS Gan vo,, not ooo thot fo~ {1,o