The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-09-08
From the Yorks,lle Enquirer.
The Weakness of Force.

The lesson taught by the North Car
.olina election is pre-cmineatly this ::
that any attempt TO force the people to
express an opinion at the polls, contra
-ry to. their convictions, always reacts to
the injury, of the aggressor. Gov.
Holden seems to have been aware that
popular resentment was against him, and
he foolishly thought he could force a
false verdict by intimidation. He there
fore, raised apd equipped a military
force, visited Washington and secured
!. ,,p4-...issiion. f-.na-lhe President to Gnau-
Carolina, and began the workef terrify
ing. Lie proclaimed two counties to be
in state of iusurrection, and arrested
many citizens of these counties, besides,
others throughout the State, on what
charity itself could dignity with
no higher ground than that Of suspi.
cion. When he was confronted in this
course by the courts of the State, the
constituted guardian of private rights
and liberties, he audaciously set aside
their decisions and virtually proclaim
ed himself the sole arbiter Of personal
rights in the State. But lie did not
gain his object. When the day of elec
tion came, thepeople of North Carolina;
with the bayonet at their throats, (it
may be, said without any figure of
speech, rose in their might and repu-
dated the, tyranny which he tried to
establish. 1t was found that, instead
of terrifying opponents into submission,
he had outraged the sense Of right of
his own friends and alienated them
from their previous support of his ad-
miuistration.
So will it ever be in country where
the people have the power to render
verdict on acts of their rulers. 1t will,
we firmly believe, be SO in this State,
where ignorance of what is going on is
the only obstacle, ifvoters can be made
to comprehend in time the schemes of
our present Governor aud his adherents.
The militia organization of South Caro-
lima is merely Governor Holdeu's idea
of force in very slightly modified form.
1t has already failed in its purpose of
terrifying the minority, and the failure
is recognized by its originators, who
have moreover had their eyes opened
by the disaster their p rty has sustain
ed in North Carolina. But as it would
never do to change front at this stage
of the campaign, the machinery must
be kept up. We may expect, there
fore, the "pride, pomp and circum-
stance Of glorious war;" but its object
hereafter will not be to frighten timid
Reformers, but to keep up the falling
spirits of the Radicals. Voters pur-
posely kept in. ignorance must be pre-
vented from hearing Reform speeches,
and for that reason military drills and
professions, which are always attract
i've to this class ofvotcrs, must be
carefully kept up. -,
On the contrary, the appeal Of the
Reform Party is to reason, not to force.
All they ask of the bitterest opponent
is a patient hearing or a fair discussion.
IF, after this, an opponent is uncon-
zinced, they will offer no hindrance to
IBIS voting the Radical ticket. And
though the head centres of the Scott
party are moving heaven and earth to
prevent their humble adherents from
herring the Reform speakers, their
tricks are becoming too transparent
even for the blindest of their followers.
4hese know that there must be some
thing formidable in what the Reform
speakers have to say, or the Radical
lea lers would DO; be so troubled at the
idea of their speaking to colored men.
This idea is undoubtedly correct. In
spite of efforts to prevent it our gallant
standard. bearers have succeeded iu get
ting a good many colored men among
their audiences. Wherever this was