The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-12
REFORM-THE DUTY OFrsSI.HE
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REFORM-THE DUTY OFsssSTHE
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The bane Of the country is the politi-
cal organization that goes by ithe. name
Of radicalism. This is also the ,bape of
the State. We do not affirm chat oil that
is connected with it,, is bad; but we do
contend that there is little Of good and
much of evil that it embraces within its
sphere. If it began with freeing the
negro man, it is likely to end il. not ar
rested, in the loss of freedom TO both
whites and blacks. It's career has, been
destructive both, of individual and State
rights. 1t makes cipher of States and
it makes States of ciphers. Instead Of
seeking to raise the freedman to the level
Of the Caucasian, it tends to bring both
to common lower plane. IT, levels
downward. Upon the character OF, our
Government, it has exerted baleful in-i
flnence; it has disregarded the clear pro-
visions of the Constitution; it has cen.
tralizcd the Government; it has murdered
States and outraged decency. It has
elevated bad men into. prominence and
power, and i'll a large section, of the
country. it has put intelligence and vir-
tue and honesty at discount and set q
premium upon fraud and rascality and
ignorance. AS consequences of all this,
the country suffers At Washington, it
reconstructs Georgia, and sets up and
upscts States. In South Carolina it
proposes to extend the limits Of cities,
in order to secure party cascendancy.
Everywhere, it is the party of corrup-
ton, of oxtravagsnce and misTEle. at
its hands. the cause of good gcvsfnmens
suffers. Hence. we have spggeSsed
FORM, rs the order OF the yearE the duty
for us in South Carolina. Under radical
ansri"nc, wo novor oan hove cheap and
wise government in South Carolina. Re-
form is neoded--needed for all alike
rich and poor-white and black. And
in order to secure this, as our ootenipo-
rary of the Charleston Courier observes.
concert is the one thing needful. /"
Rather, concert is one Of the things
needed. The union OF good citizens on
liberal ground, is called for. Nor as q
as means to the end in view, must we
overlook the wand of ind ustrial develop
ment. Power, in this age. comes Of
money. Mind is appreciated in proper
ton as 1t can make money Brains and
heart arc always in order-but to these
powers, must be added means When
South Carolina can realize her old mot.
to--An'mis opi6usque parati-she will be
already halfway on the road to her re-
demption. To do the work of political
reform, good men must organize: but
they must also WORK. Father Ryan
urges-"Adherence to right, denuncia.
tlon OF wrong, unanimity, patience and
nnceasing prayer for deliverance from
the evils which encompass our unhappy
land" Wc--a layman-venture to add
one agency to those enumerated by the
priest. TO adherence to right" to
"denunciation of wrong" to "unanimi-
ty' patience and unceasing prayer" must
be woRK-that work which is useful
that work which is productive-thst
work which brings those sinews which
are the sinews of peace as we'll as of way.
1dolatry has received its death h-blow in
Madagascar. The Queen and aristocracy
have destroyed the images which they
hitherto worshipped. The national idol
was burned, by authority of the Prime
Minister; and the people, seeing their
deities of wood ana mcar Rnuihilated.
asked what they wsrs to worship in the
future. Christian teachers have heen
sent among them, and the. island is
regarded as converted. Like King Olaf
of" old, Madagascar's Queen gave the
command for her land to be Christian
land, and her mandate, the most glori-
ons one ever issued by an African sove-
reign, will be obeyed fE
Senator Sumner piyas IL as hia op;n;on