The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-24
s. G.
The Democracy.

BILE creature OF real flesh and blood, and
Of an animated nature withal. That the
Cincinnati Convention will meet, that it
will be largely attended by Republicans
OF acknowledged influence and ability,
and that it will be in emphatic opposi.
ton to Grant. are questions that now
scarce admit Of q shade Of doubt. They
are about as certain as the foreordained
and stereotyped action OF the Philadel-
phia Convention in the denomination Of
Grant, which every one feels certain will
there be made. But what precise shape
the Republican opposition to Grant will
take, and how far they will, in the enun-
citation OF their principles and in the
nomination OF candidates, defer to the
wishes OF the Democracy, upon whose
support they must depend for success,
are important points upon which thers
is stiu some doubt. It is manifest that
withc ut the Democratic vote, the liberal
Republicans cannot hope to elect Pre-
sident in opposition to Grant. It is al
most equally clear, on the other hand,
that if the Democrats are foolish enough
TO make separate party nomination,
and thus put three candidates in the
field. that the very result-the reelection
OF Grant-which both liberal Republi-
cans and Democrats chiefly fear, and are
aiming to prevent, will be brought
about. The only hope for the co ountry,
then, in the eyes of those who see in
Grant military oentralism, corruption
and the final subversion of republican
liberty, will be found in q coalition of
Democrats and liberal Republicans. AS
to the necessity of this juncture of
forces, there is no diversity of opinion.
The entire Democratic press. from the
two leading organs New York
World and the Louisville Courier-Jour-
nal-to the lesser lights of Democracy
throughout the country, agree that to the
Cincinnati Convention We must look for
the reotification of the Government and
its rescue from the tyrannioal grasp of
Grant. They pledge themselves with
more or less conditional IFS and butts to
support Bohurz and Trumbull in their
bold and patriotic. course. It is true
that no one paper, like no one man or
set Of men, can be relied upon as au-
thoritativsly indicating the sentiments
and line Of action of the Democratic
masses. but whore all agree, it may be
safely presumed that this concert is in
accordance with the general pulse OF the
party. The Atlanta Sun. edited by Mr..
Stephens, holds fire a little, as do also
one or two other respectable journals.
But what Mr.. Stephens seems to fear in
the proposed coalition is not the coali-
tion itself, but that in effecting it the
Democratic party may be betrayed into
endorsing principles at variance with it's
honest and time.honored convictions.
There seems to us but little cause for
such apprehensions. There are suf-
doient of political dogmas upon which
the true men of all parties can agree
sufficient grounds of a common opposi-
ton against the nsurpations and mill
corruptions and extravaganza of his ad-
ministration, to construct a platform
upon which the Democracy may con-
sistently stand with Schurz, Trumbull
and the other Republican reformers.
The most reliable indication of the prin-
ciples which will be inscribed upon the
reform banner are those set forth in the
call for the meeting at Cincinnati. These
are local self-government, amnesty and
Cancellation to the South, tariff for re-
venue only, and reduction of the ex.
penses of the General Government.
If there is any ything here at variance
with Democratic ideas, We are unable to
discover it. They may be Republican
principles, too, but they are none the
less Democratic, md all Democrats can
consistently sustain them. The liberal
Republicans are fully aware of the ne
cessity of securing Dem mooratic help, and
for fhok raooo- o1oDo r,o