The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-21
Outlooks.


" taken its position, the time Tor q haltlnS'
hesitating policy has terminated Ihe
policy it proposes is reasonable and
clear, and just and equal. Its aim Is TO
hrinr to an immediate end the wastefuness
and corruption of the State government.
and in time OF change and confusion, and
general plunder, to establish just reforms.
Unless honest officers can be secured in
every department OF civil administration
and that speedily, the State is irreparaDly
ruined.
The men who plead for mastery inactivity
display an amazing ignorance OF our situa-
ton. They have no conception OF that
boundlcss extravaganza which has already in
gulfed millions, which has at once disor-
ganized much Of the labor, and wasted
much of the capital needed for the rehabili-
tation of the State, and which, unless it be
checked by prompt, and even daring
policy, will soon absorb the resources OF
South Carolina, and leave to her citizens no
alternative but beggary or exile.
We have great veneration for political
philosophy, but not for that craftsmanship
which learns nothing from experience. We
honor the past; but not when the past de-
mands the sacrifice OF the present and the
future. We respect the characters of some
who advocate inaction; but we are doubtful
OF their wisdom when they urge that fire
ought not to be extinguished until the house
is burnt down, and that ones purse ought
not to be guarded until it has been quite
emptied by the hands OF robbers.
It may be that we shall fail in our effort
for economy and reform. The tens OF thous-
ands of lliterate voters who will deposit
their suffrages at the next election, may
withstand all the appliances we can put in
operation to save them from the worthless
demagogues who assume the rightto control
their votes. Offices may be filled by the in
competent, or created for the shameless.
Superfluous hangers-on may continue to
draw out the life Of the State like hungry
leeches New monopolists may buy the
public domain, and new vetoes may be
framed to make them buy again. and thus
the ring and its abettors may get richer and
richer, and the people may become poorer
and poorer. In this event. the responsibility
will not rest upon us. 1t will be comfort,
if we are defeated, to know that we have
made gallant fight, while others were pre-
dieting disaster and reposing upon their
arms
But beyond all just question, great deal
more than this can be done by a sagacious
poicy-a policy which contemplates the sue
cess Of the party as simple necessity, and
which, for this object, will sacrifice pride
and passion and personal ambition. In the
divided state of Radicalism, the Citizens
Reform Party may adopt the resorts Of
coalition, holding the balance OF power.
1t must throw its votes where they shall not
be lost; if not for the best candidate in this
or that instance, then for the least object
ionabe It must conciate the coored citi- |
zens not by mere professions. but by an
actual enlistment of the most reputable and
influential among them, by participation in
the emoluments and honors OF office. The
instinct OF race is powerful 1t must be ap-
pealed to-, and with special earncstncss in
those districts now controlled by political
Adventures. And it must see to il that the
polls are protected from invason--that in
dependent colored voters who refuse to be
dictated to by Radical caucuses and wire
pullers, may have access to the polls without
violence or intimidation on
their way; and that non-residents and
minors, and aliases, with a dozen names or
more, may no longer pack their boxes with
illegal votes. Policy and work will effect
The only danger we apprehend arises from
the Vaccinations of timorous friends, who
have accepted the declaration ofthe Press
Conference" but who 'tregard the formation
of s'the Citizens Party as q grand mistake
United counsels are the essential condition Of
success. We shall have enough to try our
mettle without having to encounter fire in
tlo