The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-24

Tho RumPus Among tho Republicans.
A serious breach has taken place among
the Republican leaders in the State Con-
vention here. How fur it may extend
among tho masses, remains to be seen.
The Immediate cause Of the schism was
the nomination Of Franklin J. Moses,
Jr., the present Speaker of tho House OF
Representatives, and one Of, if not tue
most corrupt. members of the present
Infamous General Assembly, for Govern
or of the State. The moment Of his
nomination, Judge. Orr arose and de-
oared his purpose to withdraw from the
Convention, and did 80. A number of
other delegates followed his example,
and met with him, yesterday, in sepa-
rate Con vention.
Among the disafected party, we note
most of the reputable members of the
party as Sawyer, Corbin, Tomlin-
son, and others. Many more will doubt
sincere determination to wipe off the
disgrace that now furnishes the name of
Republicanism in this State, and to res
cue the negro race from the obloquy
with which it is fast being covered;
others, doubtless. from feeling simply
of personal pique and disappointment.
Much responsibility rests upon the
Orr party. If they meet it like men,
and true and patriotic citizens. and their
counsels ore governed by wisdom and
sagaoity. their movement can certainly
be made SUCCESS, and the State be re-
deemed from the clutches of the worth
less and venal men who have controlled
her destinies for the past four years. If
they act foolishly. and allow personal
preferences, or any other consideration
save the real, substantial good of the
commonwealth to influence them, their
reform will prove fiasco.
SO far, it is no fight of ours, or of the
white conservative minority in the State.
We are ready, yes, anxious. 10 give what
support and influence we can to any ho-
nest ticket that may be offered. But
the men who solicit the suffrages of the
white people of South Carolina must be
unimpeached and unim peachabIe in inte-
gritty.
As to their Republioanism, they may
be as rank Radicals as Charles Sumner
himself. Mere political opinions or
dogmas Of government are at this time
questions of precious little concern to
our crushed and ruined people. We
would accept monarchy tomorrow, aye.
even q military Dictatorship. should
either promise safe refuge from the
giant evils which beset as.
We will not quibblc, therefore, GER
tainly, at the difference between Repub-
licanism and Democracy, which, as the
parties now stand, it would require q
corps of Philadelphia lawyers to define.
Such are our principles, and we have 80
declared them for many months past.
Reform in South Carolina, if it can be
accomplished at all within the State,
must come from the Republican party
Of the State, which musters almost a
two-thirds majority. This faot we have
long since recognized.
But we are not going to fly off at the
handle, and jump headlong into any strug-
gle, merely because it bears the name of
reform. There must be reasonable ex-
pectation of such result. Otherwise,
we, the white people of the State, had
better have nothing to do with it. Ii no
other resource be left us; if the colored
people of South Carolina continue blind
ly to entrnst the dearest interests OF the
State, which are common to both races,
in the hands of acknowledged thieves,
bribe-takers and public robbers, wo shall
turn, first, to those of our own raoe
throughout this broad and still partly
free country, and appeal to them to lift
us from this mire Of corruption into
which We have been thrown by their and
not our own fundamentally. If that
ayails us not. we will throttle the Villains