The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-06-02
auestions for Popular Cons,d,r.,,on.

NA~~1N AAAAAnscNs LII Gu6 QlSCO66lOn now
gong on as to>the represe ntation of the
State at Baltimore, it is taken for granted
that the great body of the white people
OF the State are Democrats, or that thew
have such relation with the National
Democratic party as entitle them to rep
resentatlon in the party convention.
without undertaking to decide whether
or not this is correct assumption, it
may be we'll to consider what it involves.
1t undoubtedly involves an obligation
resting upon that class of our popula-
ton to conform to the policy decided
upon IN the convention. If this obliga-
ton ID not recognized, that should be
| stated before the delegates take their
seats. and such declaration would pro.
babiy exclude them; for this convention.
though proposing to be not exclusively
Democratic, will have to decide upon the
policy of that party, at most critical
Juncture, and the decision will greatly
affect the continued existence of the
party as national organization. It is.
therefore, not likely that as a majority of
the delegates will be Democrats, and
deeply concerned for their local party
interests, they will suffer the decision to
be Influenced even to small extent BY
the representatives of State organiza-
ton politically impotent at home and
unwilling to call itself Democratic, and
yet which announces the purpose to
abandon the party altogether unless q
certain policy is adopted. Indeed, if
this is really the purpose of those to be
represented by the delegates from this
State, it is, perhaps, worth considering
whether it would not be both more
dlgnlhed and more effective for them to
refrain from the convention altogether.
On the other hand, if it is the purpose
OF the more prominent and influential
gentlemen connected with tho present
movement to advise compliance with the
decision OF the Baltimore Convention.
whatever it may he, then it is, perhaps.
due to those invited to participate in the
movement that this purpose should be
definitely indicated at orce, that they
may see where the road leads to before
they get into it.
Another and practically O much more
Important consequence of the doctrine
that all persons in the State who are not
Republicans are, therefore, necessarily
Democrats, or in affiliation with the De.
mooratic party, is the indefinite post
ponement OF any possible improvement
IN the State Government. If any doubt
that this consequence is certain to fol-
low, let them recall the cam paiRn of
1868, in which the Republican party of
this State grew in numbers and became
perfected In organization and discipline.
IN which also the control of the pnrty
passed from the hands of it's now Con
servative leaders into the hands of the
men who then made themselves most
conspicuous for their extreme and Radi.
cal doctrines.
None conversant with these matters
can doubt that such is the ordinary, and,
indeed, the inevitable consequence of
party contests. Hence, if party con-
test should now arise in the State, it
would undoubtedly give new lease of
power and influence to the very men
whom all good citizens, without distinc-
! ton OF party or race, would like to see
displaced. It is vain to hope that
party contest concerning the electoral
vote of the State in the Presidential
election could, by any possibility, fail to
AFFECT the State elections which precede
it by month. Any organization for
the Presidential campaign OF the Demo
cratic party in this State. or of any
party, however named, represented and
controlled by the persons or Glasses
heretofore identified with the Dem ocrats
for the Presidential campaign, would
certainly unite the Republicans to man
upon the regular party nominee; and
this being done. oil chance of reform
through the State elections in October
wonld pass away.
The only reasonable hope of reform in
the State Government, and the only
chance of effecting it practically, depend
upon there being first reform in the
Republican party of the State, whereby
the more conservative and respectable
elements of that party may be elevated TO
greater influence in its counsels. This,
as we have seen, cannot take place if the
party is involved in q contest with out
| siders. The preservation of the supre-
macy OF the party becomes in that case
the first consideration with all its mem
bers. and to this object all others are
certain to be subordinated. Even the
Reform party of 1870, which adopted
Republican principles. and even in
oluded some Republicans among it's
leaders, failed in it's purpose, because it's
simple presence in the field healed the
dissensions which had already arisen
among the Republicans and restored the
unity OF the party aud the power of it's
| r0nat aYkrano ovnopooko IToc x~~ot,