The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-25
Tho Columbia Convention az Affecting
State Reform.

The controlling idea OF General Kersha" 8
letter to Colonel Simeon Fair is contalneu
IN ,bose words "If we avoid any organiza-
.qiop OF our people for any political purpose
.wbatever-ii we refrain from antagonzng
"the Republicans Of this State on party
oouestiops-if we avoid all irritating colll-
.ssions with the colered people, and pursue
so policy OF conciliation-we may receive
..such q participation in the affairs OF the
estate rs will arrest her impending ruin. )"
And. again eft we refrain from taking our
..lruitless part in the contest, should the Re-
..publicans succeed we will have avoided
"giving any pretext to the incoming ad-
ADMINISTRATION further to oppress and to per-
.tsecute our people, and our wise modera'
stion will have disarmed much OF that
..preiudice. which excludes US from partici-
..pation in the public affairs OF the State"
This is apparently clear enough, but it is
hardly to be supposed that General kershaW
means that this people should remain silent
and motioness until the demagogues VINO
control the voting majority are surielted
with pIunder and sick OF power. Such a
polcy would be both Improbable and dis,
graceful. When he advises that we should
avoid s'any organization for any political
t'purpose whatever" we prefer, therefore, to
assume that his intention is to discounte-
nance any political organization which
might s.antagouize" the Republicans OF this
State and cause .irritating collisions" with
the colored people. We are not ready TO
admit that even Democratic canvass IN
this State, conducted upon the basis OF
platform like that OF the Reform movement
or that OF the Cincinnati Convention, would
inevitably produce the evil consequences
which General Kershaw naturally desires to
avoid. Nevertheless, We are opposed TO
apy such canvass, for the broad reason that
its only result would be specialization OF
the Republican party and our inevitable de-
feat. The platform and the character I eI
the canuluates wouru n0C senslbly allect tne
canvass. At this time the coored people,
remembering the lessons OF their radical in
structors, decline to have anything to 10
with Democratic party, and refuse to vote
for Democratic candidates. This fact is re-
cognized by the white citizens, who are de-
termined not to put a Democratic ticket in
the field ut the State elections to be held in
October. They are prepared to support any
Liberal Republican movement which may
be shown to be worthy OF countenauce; but
they do not intend to make fight for the
sake OF being whipped, u sensation they have
experienced already too often. There is,
then, no danger Of ''antagonizlng" the Re
publicans and 'irri tating" the colored people
by Democratic party canvass. Yet the
people do not propose, much as they respect
General Kershaw's opinions, to avoid any
political organization whatever.
A State Convention OF the Democratic
party has been called, and will assemble in
Columbia on the l1th OF June. That Con-
yention will not be composed exclusively OF
Democrats. It Is held under the call OF the
National Democratic Executive Committee,
who invite, In the Baltimore Convention,
.'ths cordial cooperation of all conservative
tscltizens who desire the restoration OF con-
.stitutional government and the perpstua-
elton Of republican institutions" The State
Convention, therefore, will represent all the
elements OF opposition to the present Fede-
raj administration. 1t Is not reorganiza-
ton OF the State Democratic party; it is o
council Of conservative citizens, held under
the auspices OF the State Democratic COM
mittee. And why is it 80 held? Because,
On account Of the disbanding OF the Reform
party, there was no other machinery which
could be used for the purpose.
The we'll understood object OF the Colum-
bia Convention is to choose delegates to the
Baltimore Convention, which delegates shall
be instructed to vote against Democratic
nomination and in favor OF the endorsement
OF the Cincinnati candidates and platform.
It is agreed that il the Baltimore Convention
ouOuiu, Oy ohS Ofh ShaaSS1 hSbhh@tS ~ ehiN
ticket, South Carolina and The Southern
States in general will be constrained to oc-
cupy passive position in the canvass. In
going to Baltimore the South Carolina dele
gates proclaim the adhesion OF the Demo-
Gratis and Conservatives of this State to
Greeley and Brown and the Cincinnati plat
form. What elements OF antagonism or Of
irritation can be found in this?
General Kershaw will hardly refuse to ad-
NIT that the "reform movement, within the
"Republcan party" South Carolina, to
which he and We hopefully look forward,
must originate with the honest and intelli-
gent members OF that party. As well might
we expect the leopard to change his spots,
as to obtain reform by the free action OF our
Mackeys and Neagles. 1t is not in their
nature. The reform movement, il it come
at all, will come from men OF less notoriety
and greater virtue, who, happily for them
selves, have stood In the rear rank for years.
Will these men be antagonized by the public
avowal that the white Conservatives, who
offer them q hearty cooperation. are en-
phatically in favor OF eectine a staupch Re-