The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-04
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Thursday Morning. July 4. 1872.
Moses on tho Move.

Cal campaign In south carolina this
year. Hitherto the custom has been to
hold nominating convention, and then,
after the candidates were put in the field,
the public canvass would commence.
Now. though, the converse of this ap-
pears to be the plan-the canvass is to
precede the convention.
Moses has led off in the State cam
paign. There have been other meetings
-one in Abbeville, addressed by Orr.
Hogo and others; another in Greenville,
addressed by Earle and others. But
these we're chiefly intended as Grant
ratification meetings, for though their
State affairs were discussed pretty freely,
nothing like preference for gubernato-
rial or other candidates was manifested.
At Oalhoun's Mills, AbbevilIe, on Sa-
turday last, correspondent Of the Union
writes that there was ''a most enthusi-
astio Republican meeting" F. J. Moses,
Jr., was the orator of the occasion; and
after the speaking was over, resolution
was unanimously adopted declaring
Moses to be the proper man for Co.
vernon.
A preceding resolution, adopted with
equal unanimity, was that only honest
and reliable Republicans were to be
elected to Office. Moses. then, Scott's
right hand bower, and prominent among
the most profligate, dissolute, unreliable
and corrupt members Of the General
Assembly, is an "honest and reliable"
Republican, according to those good
people Of Calhoun's Mills. This, we
presume, is q specimen OF the reform
which the Republican party is to work.
It is the kind of reform which the ring
intends, at any rate. But We trust they
may find themselves mistaken.
There are some Republicans in the
State who, we believe, sincerely desire
reform in the State Government, and
mean to battle for it. It is to Grants
interest, and that of the Republican
party throughout the country, to relieve
themselves of the odium of this mon
strous caricature of government. The
object cannot be accomplished by chang
ing SCOTT for Moses. or any other mem
ber of their clique or known corruption
ist. That would only be swapping the
devil for witch.
There are some honest and capable
men in the Republican party in this
State. They are we'll known, for they
are few in number. Let these be put
forward for the leading Offices and the
white people will vote for them and
sustain their administration in every
thing which is honest and beneficial to
the State. For minor Offices, let new
men be named. It will be far better to
risk the trial of an unknown man than
trust again one who has already shown
himself unworthy of public confidence.
This is the case with three-fourths of
the last General Assembly, and it will be
nothing but farce if, while prating
reform, these men are again placed in
power.
The colored people have grave duty
before them, to their State and to their
race. The character of the next State
Government will determine very con-
clusiveIy whether or not they are fitted
to exercise the duties of citizenship, and
whether their hasty enfranchisement is
likely to prove blessing or curse to
the country.
They have free scope in South Caro-
lima, with their overpowering majority
of 10000, to SHOW what they can do
in the way of maintaining good govern
ment.
They have controlled the State for
four years absolutely. It is now on the
verge of bankruptcy. Millions of dollars
have been collected by taxation and
squandered. There is not public i'm
provement to show for it. Millions
more have been added to the public
debt. Where it has gone no man can
tell. There is no evidence of it except
the sudden wealth of quondam sesdy
office-holders.
MI