The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-24
s. G.
Friday Morning. June "a. 1870.
The Reform rIovement and its Platform.
Thus far our exchanges very generally

The Reform Movement and Its Platform
Thus far our exchanges very generally
in the State, endorse the action of the
late Reform. Convention. The movement
is opposed by the two extremes in the
State. The radical partisan and Office
holder, of course, opposes it, because it
seeks to take from the hands that have
abused and misused it, the power of the
State. The extreme Southern man is in
disposed to accept the movement, be-
cause ho deems it inconsistent with his
sentiments and his principles. For this
class, we have no harsh criticism, nor do
we question their motives. There is
much to admire in the man who adheres
bravely and tenaoiously to line of
thought and of action that he believes
to be right. Still arc we of the opinion
that this class of men have missed the
mark of political action. Questions in
life and in politics not unfrequently
change. So long as the reconstruction
measures were upon their passage
pending, as it we're, in the high Court of
the land, we opposed them. So long Us
the question of negro suffrage was before
the country, we held that it ought to be
qualified and subject to State action.
But these Acts and this unqualified ne
gro suffrage have become accomplished
facts" and now the question changes.
The point is now, "What shall 'we' do
with it?" We think the answer plain.
Our obvious duty is to make tho most of
the situation 10 which we find ourselves
that is the most, consistent with our
honor and our self-respcct, No other
course would be wise. This is tho duty
of our people, as we conceive it. This
journal is Democratic, but yet it ap-
proves, in good faith, of the Reform
movement
The fact of the matter is, MS respects
negro suffrage, we deliberately favor ac-
cepting it, as the wisest solution Of the
question.
Our Democracy rises higher and spreads
far wider than to be confined to opposi-
tion to the negro man and his political
status. In this respect we agree with the
Augusta Constitutionalist, when it says:
''It is true that the Federal Govern
ment was made by white men for white
men; but nothing was done in its for
nation looking specially to the exclu-
sion of negroes, if any one of the States,
for itself, saw fit to admit them to citi-
zenship or other political rights. Tho
Democratic organization, therefore,
should be planted upon principles much
higher, grander and noblcr than bare op-
position to The Negro Party, so-called. BY
such course they would do great in
justice to themselves and an injury to
their cause. They would sink the subli-
nifty of the eternal truths of their time
honored faith into the miserable instincts
of british antagonism of race. The
Democratic party is the party OF the
Constitution. That name will suffice" I"
If, therefore, any Democrat is disposed
to question the platform in its feature Of
eliminating the issue Of negro suffrage
from the canvass, he is behind the times.
We believe that by the next Presidential
canvass. the National Democracy will be
disposed to do what we observe Ohio
did-viz: let this issue 60. For US to
resist this wavo of universal suffrage is
useless, we believe Better at once ac-
cept it, and purify and direct the waters
as best we may.
We take it that we are not unlike the
Mississippi planter who finds his low
lands overwhelmed by the waters OF the
great river The question with him is
not whether he shall have tho flood or
not, but the question is what 'shall he
do with it?" How best shall he restrain
this deluge, and what fertilizing princi-
pie can he extract from the waters. This,
at least, is the question that we deem it
our duty to consider.