The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-21
THE UNION REFORM CAUSE.
F.REWEIL ADDRESS O-F TEE Ell
ECUTIYE C0MMITTEE.
To the Members of the Union Reform
Patty.

To The Members of the Union Reform
The time has arrived when it becomes
proper 10 announce to you the termination o. the
!abors and responsibilities Of your Executive
Committee at an early day, and the dissolution
OF The party IS on organization under the conven'
tion Of June last.
Had the party been successful, or even so far
supported BY the colored people as to furnish any
reasonable ground OF hope that we might succeet
in the next general election 1t would have been
emlnently wise and proper to have held together,
to labor with renewed energy end faith for the re-
demption Of The State by the same means whereby
we had achieved such encouraging results. But
we cannot disguise the fact tsat though the ma
jorty against rs returned by the officers OF elec'
tons is probably fraudulent to the extent Of more
than 1000 votes, yet enough remains to demon
strate that all our efforts have failed to coaciate
the colored voters to any hcpefu! extent. Nay, 1t
is even evident that as people they are more EN-.
uttered against the white race than after the
Democratic campaign OF 1858, and very much
more so than at the beginning OF the late can
yass. Hence there would be no propriety in con-
tinuing efforts which have been so perverted as
rather to ALLEVIATE than to attract those whom we
would win to our standards. o. the contrary, it
is both wise and Just that room should be made
for other agencies to do the work that must be
done to save the perishing State. Those who take
ourp.ace In the arena will dnd the whites arrayed
in solid phalanx, steady and determined, ready,
willing and prepared 70 do e-d to dare all that
honor would sanction Or God approve. to rescue
their people from ruin and despair. They will
also find by the side OF these faithful and heroic
band Of colored men, who rising above the preju
dces Of their fellows, and apprecatng the claims
Of honesty and the necessity o! good government,
have bFayed dangers and prosecutions calculated
to try the stoutest heart, and vindicated their
rights as freemen by voting, even at the risk OF
life, for the men and measures OF their choice "a
band to be fostered and cherished under all the
stern vlcissitudes OF the future.
They will find, also that no barrier exists be.
tween the good people OF this State and any Or
ganization OF conservatism that can arise in the
next two years by reason OF the principles an
nouncea and established by the Union Reform
party. On the contrary, we have thereby been
brought into perfect harmony with that type OF
Democracy now triumphant In so many States,
and that enlightened and conservative Western
Republicanism which has so nobly and sgnally
won the great State Of Missouri under the broad
banner OF free trade universal suffrage, universal
amnesty and enfranchisement. This solidarity
OF ogr good citizens, and their harmony with the
better class Of political ideas now swaying the
great masses OF the American people, and destined,
we trust to restore their broken unity IN 1872 are
fruits OF the Union Reform movement well worth
the faithful labor which they cost.
These, however, are not the only fruits result
ing from The liberal policy and the selfsacrihcng
labors OF the party, 1t has exposed to universal
execratlon the corruptlons OF the State govern
ment and the persons controlling it, and forced
its officials and organs within the State, and Its
friends without, to demand reformation. 1t has
demons trated to every fair mind the determine.
ton of the white people Of this State to abide by
the accomplished results OF the war, and removes
all pretext for further persecution on the part Of
the General Government 1t has washed its hands
OF all the blood shat may hereafter now In con-
nict Of races, so apparently im.ninent in certain
localities, by a public and solemn concession Of
legality to the rights Of the coored race, acquired
by Informal and revolutionary processes, thus
laying upon the altar Of peace all it had to offer
consistent with honor, selr-respect and sef-pres-.
eryation. Finally, 1t has developed the true con-
dition of society in the State, and the real and
vital nature Of the contest In which we are en-
gagged, and has demonstrated, beyond doubt,
that Radicallsm In South Carolina rests upon the
antagonism OF the negro race to the Southern
whites. That we have been defeated by this an
tsgonism as aprinciple, will appear from review
of the canvass:
We entered; the contest by laying down plat
form on the rights Of race, identical and CO.
extensive with the legislation Of the Republican
Congress upon that subject. We invited men OF
all parties, upon shat basis, to unite in an effort to
reform the present incompetent, extravagant
s:prejudiced and corrupt administration Of the
Estate government, and to- establish instead
.sthereof Just and equal laws, order aud harmony,
economy In public expenditures, strict &C.
"countabilIty OF otlce-hoders, and the election TO
"onlce only Of men Of known honesty and In.
"tegrity."
We put forward as the State candidates prom
inent Republican, who had proved himself cap
able and just Judge, and Democrat and emi-
nently representative Carolinian, popular and
distinguished. The people, in their county noml-
nations generally observed the same spirit OF
compromise, and selected as :heir candidates
white and black, Democrat and Republican
giving full effect to the principles of the platform
Ce.taiuly II ever party was organized outside Of
political issues, this was. There was literally
nothing in it to repel any citizen Of any school OF
politics. except the few who, clinging to the issues
OF the past, were offended BY the liberal conces-
sons made to the colored people II, therefore,
we could establish our charge against the then
existing ad ninIstration oe the State government,
we had right to count upon the support Of all
honest men. Those charges were, in general
terms, lncompetency, extravaganza prejudice and
corruption, and there is not a county or precinct
In the State where they were not proven to be
true to the conviction Of the commonest under
standing, and to an extent wholly unparalleled
In the annals OF civilized governments. These
proofs were never refu.ed. Some errors IN par
tIcular specifications were occasionally pointed
out; Yut as whole they stood unconsroyerted as
they were ENTHUSIASTICALLY impressed
upon the recorded acts OF the government. Had
the battle been permitted to rest upon this issue,
yoa would to day have been rejoicing In the restor-
alton OF peace and good government to this strcS-
en- and desolated State. The wicked leaders Of the
nreh,djcetl and benphtca masses orcolored people,