The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-29
Attend tho Polls.


State elections, and owing, too, to an
indisposition on the part of the whites
to enter into bootless and disagreeable
controversy with the blacks, we have
made no canvass in this State for Gree
ley and Brown, and did not until recent
'ly put out an electoral ticket. It is too
=; late now to have anything Of a campaign,
|" which is, however, necessary, or should
'sbe, 80 far as securing tho white vote is
concerned. The colored people will, it
is very evident, cast their votes for Grant
with few exceptions. It is as useless
as it is unpleasant to endeavor to swerve
them from their party lines, in which
II their ignorance. prejudices and fears
combine to entrenoh them. So far as
the General Government is concerned,
nothing will ever conduce to bring about
a change in the ideas or want OF ideas OF
the oolored people. except defeat OF
~the party to which they have allied them
+ selves. They feel weak. and naturally
cling to what they believe to be the
stronger side. If Greeley is elected.
after few months experience has
convinced them that they have no reason
to dread deprivation of their "equal
rights and privileges" from the new
administration, Thousands of them will
gladly and promptly give in their adhe-
sion to the Liberal cause. Distrust and
rSdspioion of their old masters will be
removed, and an era of good will and
confidence inaugurated, which will speed
lily relieve our State of the incubus of
official venality and extravaganza under
which she now labors. It is due to our
selves. however, and to truth and prinoi-
pie. that the white people should give
their full and hearty support to Greeley
and Brown, at the ballot-box, next
Tuesday.
From the foundation of our govern
ment there has been constant struggle
between the rights of the States and the
.encroachments Of the central govern.
ment and Capitalization, between indi-
vidual liberty and freedom and despot-
tism. This was the rock, this concentra-
ion of undue power at Washington,
upon which our fore-fathers. who found
ed our great republic, feared it would
finally split. and against which they en-.
deavored to guard. It is the cha-ac-
teristic OF governments, in every section
OF the globe and in all ages, to grasp
power whenever they can. and to en-
croach upon the freedom of individuals.
Such has been the history of all nations
as far back as our records run. The re-
public of the United States has not
differed in this respect from it's prede-
ceesors and contemporaries. From the
beginning the antagonism between the
central power at Washington and the
States, as representing the liberty of the
people. has been marked, and has yearly
increased in bitterness.
Since the war, the assumptions and
usurpations of the General Government
have increased to an alarming extel t..
Never before was SO much personal power
welded by any President as is to-day by
Grant. It was tho perception of this
and the dread of it which caused Sum.
ner, Greeley, Trumbnll and the other
Liberal leaders, to bolt from the party
which they had founded, and to join
hands with the Democrats in this last
struggle for the principle OF local SELF
government, which has ever been the
chief cornerstone OF Democracy.
As we value, then, our freedom and
manhood, bought with the patriotic
blood OF our Saxon ancestry, let us be
no laggards in this momentous struggle.
Zlet Us show to our fellow citizens
throughout the United States that the
white people, at least, Of South Carolina
are not willing to show the knee to
Baal;" that we appreciate the true prin.
oiples of our Government and of repub-
iican liberty, and have the courage to as
sert them. Because the State will pro-