The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-03
s:7ss..7 fiS :.
COLtJJ'.M|lBIA, 3S., e..
wednesday, morning; Mi:. IL n; May ia s. 1871.
n ,Virtusus Effort, q Success Il

We are not one Of the number who
have expected, with confidence, sub
stantiall results from the May convention.
Yet We have regarded it as an effort in
the right direction. It meets for a high
purpose. + It is to seek to protect, by
peaceful agencies, the public interests;
to arrest fraud, corruption and robbery;
to analyze the obligations sought to be
imposed upon ourselves, and those who
are to come after us; to pass in stern re.
view the financial operations Of offlcinls,
Of whom many have forfeited all claims
to confidence. The convention meets,
we assume, not to repudiato any just
liability Of the State, but to consider
whether fraudulent transactions have not
been recorded and passed under the Of
fetal seal. It's purpose, as we take it,
is to review the past and to provide, if it
can, guards for tho future. We do not
desire to see the convention diverted
from it's legitimate business end-from
its financial character. But, at the same
time. we do not care to SEQ its edge taken
off by too tender treatment of the case
we are dealing with. We hope that tho
convention Will proceed in calm, just,
reasonable. sagacious way to the work
before il, but, at the same time, it is but
right to ddd that, in our Judgment, it is
not the less important that the evils we
are seeking to correct should be cncoun-
fered in .h resolute way. We want no
:'sop to Cerberus." The public mind is
in earnest on the subject of taxes. of
property assessments and of the squnn-
dering Of the public moneys. Reform
is demanded. It is q righteous demand.
The rulers OF the State-the powers that
be-should appreciate the issues that
confront them. There is a problem to
be eolved, If violence does not solve it,
or attempt to solve it, then reason, JUS
tice and concessions must have full sway.
We write in no party or personal spirit.
We prefer reforms by quiet, legal agen-
;cies. We advocate such methods of
public action. On this account it is that
we suggest the spirit in which the rea-
sonable objects of the May convention
should be met by the majority in this
State, Already the spirit and purpose
,sof this convention are assailcd and mis-
represented. The convention assemblies
upon no motion OF ours. We are no
special advocate of it. We pin no faith
upon its action. But we 90 recognize
sthe great and crying evils that have
called II forth: We do recognize its pos
abilities Tor good to say no more. And
we hold that, although its voice will be
the voice Of "a minority. it will be pow.
erful minority, who will assert just in.
Hhepce liz the State. Minority repre-
sentation hos always been right. It is
growing to be o demand Let us hope
that such a reasonable demand will be
promptly conceded to the end that We
may, il possible. settle our affairs in
South Carolina upon basis of mutual
forbearapce, justice and good will, to the
end that we may pass from condition
@of political excitement into one of ma
Sterial and moral development.
s.''LET Us HAVE WAR" The Chicago
journal radioal sheet, is incautious
ienoughf to admit that the only animating
principle left in its party is sectional
rancor. 1t expresses its Joy that "the
reconstruction issue is to be kept before
the people" It sees no hope of success
unless the strife is kept up. The North
must be embittered against the white
people Of the South; the negroes must
be arrayed against their natural friends;
sDongress must continue to legislate; the
military alone must execute the laws, and
q prescribed people must, if possible, be
goaded into something like symptoms of
.disaffection. This is the radical pro-
'gramme as foreshadowed by Senator
Morton, and tho Chicago Journal en-
dorses it as the only practical method of
retaining power. What q burlesque on
sIet us have peace.
Commenting on the Schutzenfcst,
which yraa inauournte1 on Nronl,y lo.t