The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-08-12
Friday, August 12, 1870.
TIE XIX CENTURY AND THE UNION
REFORM PARTY.

In late number OF tho Xxx Ctn-
4ury, tho E.l;tcr Dir. ". ". Hicks, at
tacl1s the principles aud policy of the
Reform movement, as bciug part and
parcel Of Eepub!icanism itself, and
leading necessarily to the triumph Of
that'->uty; and in subsequent con
1rovcrsy with the Charleston Carrier
repeats his charges and allegations.
Tho Magazine article appeared to US
sinSalarIy vague and pointl1ss, and
might very naturally lead t!4e Couiier
to the conclusion that as the Doctor
was opposed to Union Reform, he was
Il supporter OF the Scott party. Thi5
however, he indignantly diSclaimS.
But in spite Of protcstation and dis
cl&;mcr, wc naturally conclude that
where two parties alone gre a"ra.*"l
against each other, ho who attempt,
to overthrow tic ono, il making com
mon cause, ao'cas ro'tns, with tho 9th.
CT. II tho party which now controls
the State government is to be over
thrown in the coming election: il
must be by that U:icn Reform move
mcnt Of which Mcssrs. Carpenter and
Butler arc tho true cNroucnts, a::.;
the active and earnest s;a0dard-hcn:-
c:s. Whatever obstacles DIR. Kick
throws in tho way of their succyss
caar2; to the lcncit Of thcir alvcr>a-
!i;es, and leads to tho triumph Q
Scott, 10 he Il Scott man or other
V i5c.
By way Of preliminary remark, is
there not something Of arrogance, to
say the least Of it, in this "po'ii;r:,
parSon" who has floatcd into our
,ai@st as Il v,a:c upon tho tide Of revo-
lutionary agitation, orra;gning The
principles OF the Union Reform move
mont us being opposed TO "patriot-
ism, honesty and intogrity"-a >:rany-
or impcacl:ipg the motives and princi-
pies Of tho best ar:1 most patriotic Of
does he !zrow Ct politics at al, much
less Of STATE politics, that he shcUld
arrogatc to himself tho scat OF d
".haster in Israci2' The vcgue and
p,;":lcss charges OF !he a-;icIo itself
well illustrates the truth OF the ]IoTa-
tion maXisa, enc sa'or ui.,a crcril"1a'
and proves that y good preacher
will likely DO spoiled i;r the a;tor:pt
t. become poor politician.
Now, what is Doctor Hicks ohicc-
tion 10 tho platform o.; principles Of
tho Union Reform party? Tia. il i,
il f,c: Che p'M;;orm Of the Republican
parry itsclf-tiat Go use lis own
worls) ''ho (:ScotV brings in;o daily
action the very princ;flcs upon wLich
you (}'s"rme:s) pinlcsc 10 ride into
power" Let ua sec. What arc the
cardinal principles OF Union Reform
an ignoring OF national i7sucs-a q
recognition Of the Fifteenth Almond
mcnt and other "accomriiahcd facts
economy in the administration and,
the election Of honest and capable
men to office.
Economy. honesty, and competency
in Office! These arc the very ralIying
cry of Reform. Arc they 10 be rcpu-
dated because forsooth Republican,
ism would assume them too as party
watchwofds, and inscribo them upon
its banner. Mol he iu no moro a
Democrat Or less Republican for
holding them. They lie at the fcun-
da;ion Of all good Government, and
form the watchwords if they do not
give the ar;mating spirit Of all par
ties.
Bot docs mo recognition Of tho
Fifteenth Amendment. and other FAC
complishcd facts ma lsc us the less
Democrats and the more Republicans
So far from this being tho case, We
Eco that the leading Democratic journ-
as North and Wcst-the New York
N"rId, and the Courier-Jov,nul, for
7nstance-are urging tho concession
of negro suffrage, as tho only mode
OF uniting with tho Democratic party
every where, n powerful political
element which is anxious to restore
the Government TO its former ccono-
my, purity and simplicity. They
urge that it will be fatal b!under if
Democrats shut their eyes TO the cle-
1nents of disintcgration which now
threaten the existence Of tho Rcppb-
NcaIl party, and by an obstinate
and fruitless opposition to the Fif
tecnth Amendment, make an issue
upon which RepubIicanism can rally
its broken forces, and rouse again it's
dispirited followers.
The great mistake of a defeated
party astthes Cou,ie,.JJo5uu,r,na, well re.
marks, is by a blind devotion to ab.
stract theories to commit itself to .
hopeless war apon accomplished: facts.
Ihis.is whas Tho enemy ii coIstant.
III charging upon the Democratice, par. q
: qty,and usingagainst it as a most Of. {:
to@tiVe weapon Let them but obtain