The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-20
THE DUTY OF THE AMERICA N
PATRIOT IN THIS PERIOD OF
THE COUNIRY'S CAREER.

We publish in another column, an ar
acle from the Winnsboro News, on the
subject of the new party that it advo-
oates. AT the same time, we write this
editorial to refute the propositions adj
vanced by our ootemporary; and thus We
shall give to our readers, at once, "the
bane and the antidote." The Ne,rs Say O..
with apparent earnestness OF feeling:
"God save US from such practical anti
radioalism as the Columbia PHGNIx CON-
mends in the Democratic platform of
Indiana" In our judgment, the Ne,os
might, with far greater propriety, call
upon Heaven to save it from its own
fatal error of policy and still more seri-
Gus sacrifice of political principle. 1t is
serious thing to undertake to give di-
rection to popular sentiment and popular
action. It is momentous undertaking
to inaugurate a policy for q common
wealth. Has the Ne,cs seriously reflected
upon the policy that it recommended Has
the Nears considered where that policy
begins, and where it ends? 1t may give
tho Ne,os food for thought when We af-
firm, that in the judgment of many
thinking men, its policy has no outlet,
but begins in gloom and ends in disaster.
The very ground upon which the News
starts out, is, in our opinion. utterly er-
roneoua and untenable. 1t makes, in
the very beginning of its argument, an
assumption which we deny, and thus, it's
premises being incorrect, it follows that
its conclusions are equally 80. The
Ners takes it for granted that the prin-
ciple Of State rights is gone and gone
forever. We take issue with the Neps.
There is "lost cause" but this is not
it. We admit that it may go down be-
meath the surging waters of centraliza-
tion. We admit that it reels and totters
beneath the blows that it is receiving.
The country has decided against the
right of secession" but there are State
rights and there is State sovereignty
short OF secession. and there are great
States, North and South and West, that
still cling to this vital doctrine, and there
is, too, great party that still puts this
forth as its cardinal creed. No. not yet,
have we despaired Of the republic-cri-
tical ns its case may now be. Not yet,
have We given up tho cause of constitu-
tional government and of free and CO.
equal States. 1t may suit some men and
some journals to take the current, as it
passes by in its mad career and with its
turbid waters, and call it their irresisti-
bic fate SO to do. But not 30 with others
Of more hopeful and faithful souls. They
intend to struggle with 'the storms Of
fate" They intend to "takc arms against
sea OF troubles, aud by opposing end
them" And we will remind our friend
Of the Ne'os and all Others of ''lttle
fnith, that scattered all over this broad
country-from the lakes to the gulf, and
from the ocean to the ocean-are good
aud true men, mostly OF the Democratic
party, who, with the cooperation OF pa.
triotic recruits from other parties, intend
to make persistent effort to overthrow
the dominant party and to bring the
country back to it's normal condition.
Nor to do this. do we need such party
as that suggested by the Hecs. On the
contrary, we need party based upon q
principle of government diametricullv
opposite to that advocated by the Ners.
We hold that the strongest, the truest,
the best principle of the Democratic
party, is it's fidelity to State rights and
State dignity and State control of do.
mestic affairs. And no new party can
commend itself to our support, that does
not bnse it's policy upon this essential
idea.
The whole policy of the Ns,cs is based
upon the assumption that the popular
sentiment of the country has irrevocably
endorsed radicalism, and that. thorafore.
consolidation aui other concomitanta Of
radioaiism must be fully accepted. Upon
this hangs the policy of the Ners. This
we deny. That some of the act. Of rad
icalism have passed beyond the domain
OF debate and become "fxed facts" we
frankly admit. But to confound the
spirit and tho work Of party leaders with
the fixed sentiment Of the country, ia
great mistake. And this is tho mistake
that we attribute to our cotemporary.
Wo differ from the Mers very decidedly
on this point. 1t does not sec in radi.
calism 30 much to condemn as we do.
1t has over and again denounced it's fol.
lies and its blunders, but it has also
sought to exouse and palliate it's offences.