The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-09
An Uni,npeaeh.b,e Witness.

The people Of the State who oppose cor
ruptiop, and desire that only capable and
honest men be elected to public office, find
an ally as unlocked for as the severely vir-
tuous Bowens and Whittemores Of the Gen.
eral Assembly. The Columbia Union, 3
bitterly Radical sheet, broadly declares its
intention to leave tho sinking ship, and to
direct itself to the publication OF South
Carolina Radicallsu. This decision does
honor TO the shrewdness Of the Union, for
it is evident that no party can long hold to-
gether which approves Of oondones or cor
'ruption such as that Of which the State Gov
ernment ID confessedly guilty. We cannot,
however, forget that, on previous occasions,
Radical journals which have talked big, and
refused to be Influenced by any clique, have
become as gentle as doves long before
election day. They have feared that their
party would &c to pieces If all incapable
and unworthy officials were driven from
authority. And there was reason for the
fear. The active white members OF "the
"party" may, according to Governor Scott,
be numbered on the fingers Of a mans hand /;
and it is impossible for Republicanism to
gain any strength while it allows itself to
be made the tool Of gang Of public rob-
bers. For ourselves, We caa say, with all
frankness, that what We seek is the removal
Of all dishonest and ignorant servants OF
the public. We do not make war upon the
black man any more than upon tie whites.
We do not make war upon any official be-
cause he is a Republican. Our fight is
against Fraud and Robbery wherever and
whenever We find it. And in this work the
Uaion,, II it be in earnest can do yeoman
service.
We reprint the greater part OF our con-
temporary's articles upon "The Republican
'Party-Its Duty" italicixing the passages
to which we desire to call especial attention:
'sThe Republican party is responsible for the
acts of Individual members of the party, In sc
fur as 1t endorses their acts In pub ic way.
a Wdu clcCt0U " oLoOOt WIZ oAlCl WoAo NC
trays the high confidence and trust reposed in
him by his party, Is no longer regarded as a
representative Of said party, unless he shall
have again been endorsed after his rascality
has become apparent.
'No one can deny that rdscality Of the most
uenal kind has been practiced In thus State,
under the protecting shield of the Republican
party. Some of the men elected to public
positions OF honor and trust have most shame
lessy abused both the honor and the trust.
The duty of the party is plain and unequivo.
cal. We must not shield the guilty. nor
must we wink at iEcempetency or inability,
simply because men are Republicans. Tht
party must be purified at all hazards, and al
uhatsver cost, euea if its necessary TO throU
over6oard eue.y mar nolo rsckoned as leader
in the party. No political party can live tor
any length Of time which persists In carrying
such loads as We have been compelled to carrS
in this State. There are men who call them.
selves Republicans, vho are q disgrace to ans
party under heauer, and not few Of these
men assume to dictate the policy Of the party
and prescribe who shall and who shall not be
elected to Office. If q man takes issue with
them on the course pursued by the party, and
dares to criticise the acts Of public officials
forthwith he Is called Democrat or Re.
former This has been the case with US il