The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-07

and intelligent legislation. Certain it is
ta,as it would absolutely prevent the fur
Ghers increase ;of-,oar -pnbiioydebt. the
feokless sqnandet1ilg 81. pubic funds,
[and the improvidSnt CITING oe State, aid
20 selfish monaSed, CORPORATIONS. iBpt
the whole subject teqqhes deep study
70 perceive its wide: reaching reeuits. and
suchT1 study will, think, convince any
one that here lies our trne remedy-a
remedy singulariy we'll adapted to just
such q community Of voters, interests
and Influences ns now exist in our State.
Thofe Are other reforms, also, which
We must demand, and demand imperi.
ously and peremptorily. One is the re-
peal of TINT most unjust and scandalous
ELECTION law under which our last general
election was held Another is an nbso.
lnte prohibition OF any further increase
of our public debt. except under re-
striotions which shall be rigid and abso-
lutte. Another is the immediate re.luc.
ton OF all public expenditures to ut least
two-thirds OF their present amount.
Another is the speedy removal, by the
Executive, OF incompetent local officers,
especially tax. officers, and the appoint
ment of capable aud honest men in their
places. regardless of party. This will
it will do much Immediately to remove n
deep and just ouuso Of complaint. These
ore some Of tho demands of tho hour,
which I, for one. will join with ull gos,l
citizens in making. and I trust that, by
every means, by individual influence und
action, by tho press and by conventions,
the people OF the State viii proclnim and
enforce those just demands. There are
abundant means, in my judgment, with
in the reach OF tho Taxpayers Of our
State to enforce these changes. without
doing violence to civil md social order.
In fact, nothing is so sure to proloug the
present situation MS resort to violence
Nothing Gun and nothing will, in the
eyes Of the nation and the world, justify
or tScuso whit is known ns Ku kluxism.
1t is simply horrible, infamous, diaboli-
cal; never to be tolerated ns means OF
reform or relief from present abuses, for
it is in itself tho most stupendous Of
crimes. Good citizens who look to re-
form, must compel such means to be
forever abandoned. Violence begets
violence, and soon that spirit of law
escapes dcnunciRtion, will run riot and
civil society. It will. III due time, return
to plague it's Inventors. But by whut-
ever means or from whntovor causes relief
and reform are secured, they must come
from ourselves, and not from, abroad.
Our hope lies solely in the strong and
fixed resolution Of our own people to
right our own wrongs and to work ont
our own salvation. Repression of open
crime may come from the National Cos
! 9e-; mont, but permanent reform, in our
political condition. can only come
through ourselves. Lot this truth be
never forgotten. It is lesson which
mhst be learned, Mt whatever cost. With
rcsolute and prudent spirit. on the
part Of our responsible and enlightened
fellow-citizens, cheerfully acknowledging
and defending the equal civil and politi-
col rights of all our citizens, laying
aside effete traditions and bending all
their energies to the work of present re-
form, I confidently say, from my init
mate knowledge of the present situation,
that not only can the present dominant
purity be restrained from further abuses,
bnt thoy can'be controlled in the interest
Of those men who look to the common
and permanent welfare of our State.
Despair is folly; doubt is weakness;
resolution, confidence, prudence, fair
ness, justice are the qualities which the
situation calls for. Our State can be
saved; saved by peaceful, constitutional
means; and only by such means adopted
by her own citizens, can she be saved at
all. You and, Mt least, are ready for
such work. Who that loves his race
or his State will refuse his aid? With
sentiments of high personal regard, 1
remain your obedient servant.
D. Fl. CHAM BERLAIN.