The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-04-18
Political Advice to Young Men.

POLITICAL ADVICE 10 IOuIl9 heH.
We have observed, for some months past,
that various suggestions have been made to the
effect that the young men must now step for
ward to save the State from impending ruin
and degradation. We accede to the PROPOSE
tion that it is necessary for salvation to come
from some quarter, and that, too, at no very
remote period of our existence as a common
wealth, in order to make the State desirable
place of residence or even endurable as tenn
porary home. The tendency for the past four
years has been backward in all that makes a
people powerful and great; and though, despite
the onerous burdens imposed by the local gov
ernment many have prospered in pecuniary
point of view, yet the people of South Carolina
are to-day pitied and derided throughout the
confines of civilization, and that which should
be our pride is positive disgrace to the land
of our birth. Various methods have been
adopted to remedy these evils, and all have
failed ingloriously. South Carolina remains in
the clutches of adventures and trading poll
ticians, and the prospect is quite fair that a
new lease is to be granted them at the coming
election.
In this emergency, it is proposed that the
young men essay the task of redemption, and
that former leaders of the Democratic party
should stand aside and witness the efforts OF
their younger brethren. The plastic mind OF
youth can better adapt itself to the changed
condition of things, and none of the response
bilty for past errors can be imputed to the
young men. All this is very true, as an ab-
stract proposition, bat we would like to know
the Ultimate aim to be considered in placing
this burden upon young and inexperienced
shoulders. Did not the white people, old and
young, accept as a fnality every legal measure
intended to secure the rights and privileges of
the coored people as free American citizens?
On this point the young men can 60 no further
than the ablest and most distinguished of our
public men vouchsafed two years ago. Here,
then, is practical question staring US in the
face What are the young men expected to
do? Surely, there is no calculation that the
young men will betake themselves to the Radi-
cal fold, in order to rectify the mistakes of their
elders, and thereby gain the confidence of the
negro, which is so essential to the success of
any movement to rid the State of her oppres-
sors. We are confident that this advice will
not be given by those who scorn and reject the
teachings of the Radical party, and to whose
influence may be ascribed the opposition to the
reconstruction measures, in the first place, and
the adhesion of the white people ever since to
the Democratic party. The old leaders would
never advise the young men to join the Radi-
calls with hope of preferment in political
sense, nor would they recommend a cause to
others which their own consciences disapprove.
How, then, is the desired work to be accom-
plished? 1t is too late to adopt the passive
policy, in our judgment, for there are not
enough liberal Republicans in South Carolina
to form a corporars guard. Two years ago,
such a course was practicable, and we happen
to know that many young men throughout the
State coincided with the views expressed and
upheld by this journal; but they were over
whelmed with opposition, and forced to ac-
ouiesce in movement which was contrary to
their Judgment. From whatever standpoint we
view this advice to young men, there arises the
pregnant issue as to the mode and manner of
their action. And we would like to be in
formed as to the proposed method of redemp-
ton, when the political fortunes of the Demo
Gratis are placed under the control of new lead
ers, and these go forth to the work assigned
them. AS one OF the young men of the State,
we have right to ask the question.