The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-09
a Repen.ant R.dic.l.

a Repensant Radical.
A correspondent. whose letter will be
found below, has seen the political work.
ings OF the mischievous political organi.
zation to which lie attached himself
since the war, under the persuasive
teachings OF ex.Gov. Brown, and turns
from it in disgust. He comes back to
the Democratic fold, wiser, and, it is
to be hoped. better man. How de-
cent, law-abiding men, who have respect
for the principles of justice and the
rights OF the people, can longer cling to
party that has outraged them all, it is
difficult to conceive. The result must
inevitably be that Radicalism and Impe-
rlaliam, as illustrated by Grant and the
Kn Iux law, will be q name without o
party at the South, except among the
vicious and ignorant. The intelligent
and honest elements of society must
triumph, even in South Uarolina, over
the brute force that now weighs them
down, or the State will be abandoned to
its plnnderers and oppressors. In Geor-
gia, the negro has ceased to be an exclu-
sive element in politics. He has found
that it does not pay to be the dupe OF
the crafty white leaders. The better
ally absorbed by the Democratic party
What is left of them will not be sufficient
to make Republican party respectable,
even for numbers. We have no doubt
ex-Gov. Brown feels the force of these
facts, and regrets the part he has played
in giving to that party the influence of
his name and talents. We fully expect
to see his efforts in the great canvass,
about to take place this year, put forth
in behalf OF reform and of Democratic
asoendanoy.
South Carolina will aid in the great
work, if it be only as beacon and q
warning. Her great wrongs will plead
in other and happier States, trumpet
tongued, against the wicked policy
which has wrought such oppression and
ruin.-Augustd Constitutionaiist.
COLUMBIA HoTKn,
COLUMBIA, 8. c., January 3, 1872.
EDITORS CONsT1TUTIONALIsT: The writ
or of this is one who has Justly been
stigmatized as radical" because hav-
ing received my primary education in
Georgia, and been O resident in the
Eastern portion of that State since
1866, was naturally misled by the
erroneous doctrines inculcated by Joseph
f.. Brown. and other eminent person
ages who had been greatly honored by
the people of their State. I was in
duced to join and endorse the Republic
can party and its principles, first, be-
cause thought them calculated, in q
general way, to be of great service to
the State, and because was ignorant of
the low malice which has characterized
its leaders throughout the entire South
within the past four years. This morn
ing, after finishing my breakfast. in
company with an old college mate, I
wended my way to the State House, to
see if what I had read in the Demo.
cratic press about the Ku Klux trials,
and their attendant monstrosities, were
correct. Why, sirs, the half has not
been told. The venom and spite ex-
hibited, even upon the bench, by the
presiding Judge. surpassed anything 1
had ever surmised. The brutal treat
ment shown the unfortunate prisoners
by the negro officers it makes me
shudder to think that have prostituted
my talents in an attempt to bolster up
the rotten log of Radicalism in nv
adopted State. I saw to-day ignorant
men, incapable of reading or writing,
arraigned and plead guilty. invoking the
mercy OF the court; but, alasl in vain,
for they were remanded to the keeping
OF their insolent colored jailors, who
pushed them from the court room, and
took them back to Jail. One poor old
man stated that he had been forced by
the leader Of the khan in Spartanburg
County to make raid into North Caro-
lima; whereupon the presiding carpet
Dagger wanted to know of the old man
"if he had no more regard than that for
State rights" Every conceivable device
was resorted to to degrade and insult,
not only the prisoners at the bar, but
also the counsel who appeared for them.
Corbin was very insulting to Colonel
McMaster in his closing speech, and I
question not but that he will tonight
be held to an accountability for his
temerity. Negro policemen confront
you here on every hand, and the spirit
OF the people seems greatly broken.
DR.. Avery was found guilty by the
Jury to-day. but the poor man knowing
what the verdict of an improvised jury
would be. had fled the capital the day
before yesterday. He will, doubtless, be
sentenced to ten years, although there
was great doubt existing in the minds OF
every one present as to his guilt. am
satisfied with my experience as Repub.
lican, and shall hereafter sustain the
Democratic party. Yours. &C..
BURKE.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF New YoRK
CITY.-Governor Hoffman has sent to