The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-21
Sense VS.. Sentiment.

The surprise excited BY the nominations
ot Cincinnati has, to great extent, SUB
sided. The Executive Committee OF the
Democratic party have published their call
for the National Convention, and the Demo-
cratic papers, as at the National ObserVa-
tory, are intensely studying the latitude and
longitude OF the new departure, In order to
determine, not so much whence ID came, as
whittier it is going.
But while the Democracy OF the North
and Northwest are beset with anxiety and
tortured by doubts as to the policy to be
pursued, it is curious to note the rapidity
and unanimity with which the South reached
its conclusions. 1t waited neither for con-
ventions to enlighten, nor leaders TO ad'
wise. The masses realized, as II by instinct,
that at last the avenue OF escape was opened
from evils which, for four years, had chilled
all efforts and paralyzed all prosperity. just
| in this fact lies The difference which divides
the Democracy OF the North from that OF the
South. We fear that it is neither correctly
understood nor justly appreciated; and it is
dine to ourselves and to our ancient allies in
so.many hard contests that the motives and
reasons which influence US should be fully
known.
The same political divisions and party
| struggles exist with them as with us; but
the effects and consequences are lar dlfier-
ent. They live under governments and
laws which, il not framed and administered
by themselves, are still framed and admins
tered by those equally interested with them
in the preservation OF personal liberty the
protection OF private property, the honest
and economical expenditure OF the public
money, in the suppression OF crime, and IN
the faithful administration OF justice. With
them the desire for change ia the indulgence
OF political sentiment, and success the trl
umph Of political idea. With us those
who make the laws are not amenable to
them. EXorbitant taxes are imposed oy
legislators without property, and the pro-
ceeds are lavished in jobs and bribes, or
boldly appropriated by those who made the
law which imposed the tax. Thepublic credl-
tor is defrauded OF his interest; the honest
servitor Of the State is unpaid; the educa-
tional fund is wasted or misappropriated; the
schools are suspended; the Lunatic Asylum,
the special care OF the State, is sustained by
private charity; and the superintendent OF
the Penitentiary, destitute OF funds, has to
decide whether he will starve the convicts or
let them loose on the community. II sheriff
is convicted by the United States Court OF
gross fraud OF an election, the President O.
the United States pardons, and the Cover
nor OF the State replaces him in office, with
special compliments to his ability and char
acter. II trial justice draws his six
shooter, and makes target OF reporter in
the very shadow OF the Courthouse, Radi-
cal Legislature applauds bis zeal by promot..
ing him 10 the Judiciary. II member o.
Congress is expelled as too vile for that body,
an admiring constituency send him to the
State Senate, and he becomes the chairman
Of an investigating committee to expose the
frauds practiced on the State. But we need
not accumulate the illustrations. The in-
telligence Of the State is prescribed, and the
property OF the State is taxed beyond prece-
dent or endurance; yet the treasury is
empty, the credit Of the State is ruined, and
the people are destitute well-nigh even OF
hope. Continuance Of Radical rule is death.
In change is the only hope OF resurrection.
These things must be felt as we feel them
in order that our position and course should
be appreciated. Politics are no longer with
US what they are to the rest OF the country.
We have passed far beyond the point where
men differ on shadowy lines OF party policy.
There never was at any period any portion
Of this country occupying the position we
do. Federal politics and all the great ques-
tions Of National policy are as foreign to US
as are the struggles between the Bonapar-
fists and Legitimists. Our issues may seem
small 10 others; but they vitality concern our
selves, and on them We are terribly in earn
est. The struggle is for existence as
people, honor and credit as State. The
parties are arrayed; the line which divides
them is that which separates the plunderers
from the plundered, the honest from the cor
rupt. We fight to win, and are intend to
fling aacay no chance Of success.
Skilful combination or happy accident
has placed in nomination one upon whom
the honest of all parties can unite. We
have as little sympathy with Mr.. Greeley's
political crotchets now as we ever had. We
differ from him on nearly all his pet ideas OF
national policy and constitutional construc-
tion; but we believe him to be honest, true
and Just, and we are seeking to save our
selves, not the nation. For the Baltimore
Convention to make Democratic nomina-
ton at this juncture is to insure defeat and
hand over these Southern States to Radical
misruie for long years to come. Faithfully
as the South has adhered to the fortunes
and followed the banner OF the party, in