The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-08
party and our State Government from
the clutches Of those who now control

them.
lam very we'll aware that 10 so doing
should be violently assailed for deser-
tiou Of party. But while l admit tho
necessity Of parties in free Government
I do not admit that my first allegiance
is due to any party. 1t should be the
prime duty of any government, or any
party to promote the general welfare Of
tho people. And whenever party or
Government becomes too corrupt, or
from other causes fails to do this, it is
high time that good citizens should
unite to substitute something better
The"Radical" party in South Caroiiua
has clearly shown that with it's prcscut
orga, ization and leaders it docs not gov.
ern Tor the good of the people aud the
general prosperity OF the State. Then
it should be abandoned, or very radi-
cally changed.
am glad to observe that the press Of
the State seems generally to have come
up to the good Republican principles OF
equality in the eyes Of the law" for
all classes, honesty aud capacity in Office,
SO. These are principles to which good
Republicans will certainly not object
Ifthey are bona fae 90 the part of our
former antagonists, Gun see no good rea
son why good republicans should not
unite with them in order to rescue the
Government from the hands of those at
present rul;ng.the State for its ruin
1t will not be an abandonment
of tho principles of cur party, but
only union with our former foes
who accept our principles and join US
to rescue the State from corrupt aud in
capable hands.
But very great care should be taken
in movement Of this kind not to be
humbugged. In s%,ne of the States such
movements have been mere sham. In
Virginia it may be considered great
success. But in Tennessee it seems to
have resulted in throwing the Govern
ment into the hands of the "irreconcila
BILE" Democracy. The same would
doubtless have been the result in Miss.
issippi and Texas, had it succccded.-
Rather than have such result 10 South
Carolina, it would be better to suffer
still longer the evils of the present Cor.
crnment. Our experience of the old
Democracy has not been such as toemake
us trust too implicitly to simple profess
sions Before cousenting to support the
,itizens' Party, we should know some.
thing Of the men WHO are to be put for
ward by that party, as their standard
bearers. AS the condition OF our sup
port, we should require to have men who
can be trusted to maintain the princi
cles the party processes not the DEM
ocratic leaders coming forward in new
garments for the sake Of getting the
power into their own hands. We have
in the Republican party in South Caro-.
lima honest, intelligent, capable aud
patriotic men, both white and colorcd,
both Northern and Southern born. We
have in our Legislature few who have
stood out boldly and tcarlessly in dc
fence Of the interests AID honor of the
State and against the tide Of corruption
by which they were surrounded. We
have even in our State Government two
or three such MN, 6nely educa ed, able
and honest, who would ornament any
Government. These men have had to
suffer with the worst members OF their
party for the defence Of principles which
our former opponents now seem perfect.
ly ready to admit They have been
thoroughly tried and found true on all
occasions. IF the "Citizens' Party"
wish US to believe it is acting in good
faith, such men must not be neglected,
but have prominent part in the new
movement. Let US have no odious dis
tinctions on account Of place OF birth or
color Of the skin. We want Northern
men, Northern capital and Northets en-
crgy to come into the country to assist
in developing its resources. It's the
interest of all who desire quiet and the
prosperity Of the State, that the two
races should live together tremendously;
and it is as manifestly the interest of
the coIored as OF the white people, that
the State should have an economical
government, aud honest capable men to
q minister it. If they can be convinced
that their rights will bc respected by
the "Citizcns' Party" all who have ac
qnired little intelligence. or who are
already or hope to become property
owners, would undoubtedly support such
a movement But if they see men of
known Intelligence and integrity OF
character rejected by this new party,
merely because they had advocated the
same principles when it was unpopular
to do so, they will very naturally sus-
pect that the whole movement is intend
cd to get the power out Of their
hands, and they will consequently reject
it.
IF then tho can't. Radica" press and
tho "Citzens' Party" are sincere in
their professions they should not fail to
consult honest and capable Republicans
about the organization of this new par
ty, and the candidates who are to be put
forward tor prominent and responsible
positions. ln the nominations to the
Legislature the colored people should
be we'll represented whenever men Of
their number can be found with a rea>
sonablo amount of intelligence aud hon.
esty.
In this way the confidence of The best