Tri-weekly phoenix. [volume] ([Columbia, S.C.]) 1865-1875, 1871-12-09

which appears in, the st. Louis (Mo.
Repuohcan. The letter warmly approves
the so called passive policy Of the De.
mocrsts In the next Presidential election.
In the course OF the letter. NIr. Adams
I am satisfied such . course will be
wise and patriotic, and should be alnd to
see the democracy concur in such reao.
luton. regard the present admins
tration as O national calamity. and It's
continuance should be avertei al anv
sacrifice, not because Republican in poll.
tics. but because it is mean in character.
sordid in tone. ani Ignorant, oorraDssnu;ss
arbitrary: because more than any admi
nistration we have had. it has disap.
pointed the hopes and deadened tie
generous aspirations Of the good men o.
81! parties: because it is doing more e
permanentIy disunite the States than tht
government OF Jefferson Davis ever did
because it's chief conceives there is nc
means for free government but militia
~ force; no public action but private
profit. -Four years more OF such educa
ton. family patronage and martial law.
will 80 blunt the keen sensibilities oj
popular liberty that our ignoble incubus
might we'll remain fixture.
Now, believe the Democratic party
to be powerless alone to relieve us. and
[ think it is without hope of CARRYING
the next election. No doubt. If The
votes OF any States lately in rebellion
"sre necessary to elect u, Democratic
candidate, they would be thrown out ,in
the counting. A mere majority, even
could it be mustered, would not be per:
mltted to elect Democrat for next Pre-.
sident Nothing then remains but civil
war or submission to the usurper, and il
is difficult to decide which alternative
VIII lntiict the more irreparable injury
upon the habit Of free government. To
dismiss an incompetent official aud
avoid O governmental crisis, the Mis-.
souri, policy offers the only reasonable
possibility which has been presented;
but while frankly ayow O partiality for
tue object. do not blink the very seri
Gus obstacles to its adoption. We must
subdue the pride Of party and break tbc c
bounds OF party discipline. Therts are
few more obstinate passions than the
sentimental devotion which men nffer to
the vague abstraction, party glory; not
many creeds, including theology, which
nre az despotic as platform.
1t will be u difficult task to bring q
party, yet glowing with recolIections oil
q mighty past. and but now burning with
anticipation OF great future, to yield
the head OF the column and the CON.
mand Of the aeld to allies, who were
but yesterday enemies. Norris there any
strong guaranty that these allies will moi
finch at the last. Party leaders are sell
dom famous for high moral courage
which can abide mistaken the stern
pressure that forbids rupture OF party
ties; but If they dnre fling down the
gauntlet-dnel to death with the Presi.
don't, it might be possible for the Demo
cracy to rise to the height, where humili-
ation of partisan is lost in the satisfuc
ton of patriot. But it is charged that
y sacrifice will be in vain. or worse still.
It will surrender the whole scheme oi
Democratic liberty, bare and bound, to
its enemies. 1 do not SO forebode the
event, and cannot believe that a protest
against dictatorial government can be
weakened by joining with band which
deserts 1t because 1t is hostile to civil
liberty, and which will compel the enc.
mics to corruption in Office to disband,
because they unite With those who have
slckened and turned away from the sight
OF corruption. Can friends of the Con
stltution preserve or protect it more
strenuously than by refusing to hold up
their hands, who have forsaken their
own friends rather than deface it further.
1t seems to me, on the contrary, that
the strength OF the support which this
movement would bring to the rescue OF
the principles Of Democracy would be
in exact proportion to the severity OF the
blow to the pride of the Democratic
party; for these principles must be dear,
indeed, to men who oan abandon for
them an ancient and honored name, and
not less precious to those who dare
follow them, even through the soorn,
onntempt and obloouy which aw..its po.
litical treason.
The New York Nation, OF November
%. says:
The Sonfh iCarol;,,,, l,o,J, t.,