The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-17
DEMOCRATIC ISSUES IN 1879.
Will the Party Array Itself Against Ne
gro Suffrage.
From the New York worla.l

remarkable letter and speech Of Judge
Linton Stephens, brother Of Alexander d.
Stephens, of Georgia, have suddenly revived
in the Democratic press, North and South,
discussion of the reconstruction questions,
which, for the four years succeeding the sur
render Of General Lees army, were the en-
crossing political topic. We are willing tc
have these questions revived, and think 1t
fortunate that the discussion has been sprung
early in 1871 instead OF being postponed to
and finally disposed OF by the preponderant
public sentiment of the Democratic party In
such way that they cannot be disturbing
element in. the next Presidential canvass.
We fully understand the Democratic senti.
ment Of the North on ,ha reconstruction cues
tions; but our information Is not so trust
worthy respecting the views OF the Southern
Democrats Weare accordingly watching with
some solicitude the manifestation OF public
opiniun In that great and interesting section OF
our common country. The extracts whcn were
printed few days since from the Atlanta True
Georgian, asserted that Judge Stephens is
merely an exponent OF his own views, ana not
n representative OF Southern Democratic opiu-
ion. The True Georgian stated that -four
6fths of the Southern Democrats" repudlate
Judge Stephens's ''eXtreme views If further
expressions by the Southern press shall confirm
this estimate. the reconstruction measures may
be dismissed, by common consent, from the po-
litical arena. Il is desirable that the Democratic
press iu each State should express the views
OF those whom 1t represents, when an eaSJ
comparison will determine what the great
boHy of the party regards as ''live," and what
as sidead" issues. One Of the ablest and most
representative organs OF the New York De-
mcracy, has Just made what we believe to be
perfectly authentic statement Of the public
sentiment of the party in This state we re-
fer to the Albany Argus, published at the State
capital; careful and guarded journal which Is
ALWAYS faithful to Its representative character,
and maintains close and confidential relations
with the State government aud the rural
Democratic press The following extract
from wel-weighed editorial in the Argus
may be regarded as expressing the deliberate
aud settled judgment of the Democracy OF the
Empire State:
1t seems to be generally conceded that the DEM
ocrats cannot be beaten IN 1872, except by their
own Lismanagenent aud folly. The most saga
cious and far-seeing Republicans have little con
Gdence In regard to the future. And yrt hdJ
dozen hot-hedded fnlprdcttcdbleS cIn yJ0redoont
the Democratic partg to q deFeat as utte'. a'ad
Overwhelming as that or 1858, II they are allo'ced
to put the organisation on me extreme course
arhich then caused our doecn1aU. We apprehend
no such result, however; ior The serious lessons
of the past lew years will net he lost on the party,
nor viii the solad conservative statesmen, Who
are entitled to direct and control the movements
of the organization, shrink from the proper res
possibility OF represslng the turouence OF faction
and restraining tic movement ol those VINO
fare fare. There There are Certain obvious facts llla.
Cannot be overlooked or forgotten. Tie POLITICAL
situation is determined and unmis'asabl.. There
is TO be no reciral or Obsolete isSues-no reaction
ary increment or recurrence 10, TIE past-,no r.
o. a. sasnreS S a psrss M peepe ts
10 ee nt bnv srs u oS nsri of ne undo
metal nuy law and i Is worse than useless to dis
Gus; Their character and tendency, the means by
which they were carried, or 1.-The effect produced
b. them. The provisions embraced In me u.tr, mr.
tesch and 5eenM aaemaeS s @ a1s tns "t1 cGnos m he
rso aa " ScM oT,m. ,..o1t;n nsns
s, eeep I shSs ~ Hay freedom to
,,a nearo a1S' az and we have neither s inclination
nor The power to remand hin to servitude The
Democratic party cheely,uty accepts this as one
of the consequences Of TIE rebellion, ana mas no
desire TO reUerSe IL. The fifteenth amendmens
secures the privileges OF Voter 10 tne negsa io anu