The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-09-04

dpoed regulations .Qf npexampled COM
p!exity, rejecting two Fundamental bases
OF the pre.existing system. They yet
adopted the English policy OF checks
and balances. However useful it NAV
be IN land OF estates, kings. lords and
commons, experience has shown that
this policy is inadequate to the mainte.
nance of public order where absolute
equality is recognized. With US it has
proven exceedingly misohievous by it's
enormous multiplication of offices alone.
1e affords no permanently effeotual re-
stralnt upon power. To the inquiry,
how such restraint can be imposed in
our country. politicians have responded,
by the virtue and intelligence of the
people. But this is delusive hope.
Laborious attention, constant watch
fulness and combined action are neoes-
sary to practical results. IF our people
we're placed upon sterile soil, their per-
petual hand-to-hand conflict for sub
sistence With niggard nature might qua
lily them for resistance to the official
p!underers. Their poverty would dimi-
nlsh his temptation and invigorate their
defence. But in great and prosperous
country, suoh popular guardianship CAN
not be had; and the only effective prtoeo.
ton against official misrule is in totally
prohibiting these powers, which cannot
be edectually regulated by law, This
fact was asserted in the public councils
which gave birth to our Constitution;
but Its recognition was prevented by the
want OF prior human experience under
Just systems of government. History
furnished no precise parallels, and con-
Qpnnanfiu no trs0 ~, IL =
appreciated the right, was unable to
prove its statements or maintain it's ar
guments against convincing illustrations.
Failing to engraft upon the written law
the limitations deemed necessary, the
Democratic fathers sought practical
establishment of them by advocating q
strict construction. This doctrine was
never thoroughly enforced by any party,
and is now totally disregarded. Hence
our present political condition. Far
reaching changes are needed to obviate
It's evils; and it is only by such changes
that We can successfully inaugurate the
second stage in that second grand social
reform, which was intended by the
fathers. A free and enlightened people,
with capacities matured under the influ-
enoe of their experiment. we can now
detect and remedy those defects in their
glorious though unfinished work, which
experience has developed. They laid
the foundation. Upon us is devolved
the duty OF completing the superstruc-
ture.
The enormous growth of official NAL
VersRtlon in this city and State, which
was brought to light during the last year,
invited good men to action. The dis
coveries made afforded au opportunity of
stirring the general mind to persistent
effort for reform. The opportunity was
improved; and except 80 far as disturbed
by the lnopportune recurrence of Pre-
sldential canvass, the current of popular
sentiment has ever since moved steadily
in the right direction. The desire has
been extensively entertained that this
movement, originating in the nations
metropolis, should be permitted to run
its natural course, draw into harmony
with itself the honest masses throughout
our country, and thereby lead to the es.
tablishment of efficient self-sustaining
and permanent barriers against preva-
lent evils. The facts, however, warrant
an apprehension that the pending con-
fiict for the control of Federal power has
broken in upon the tendency to reform,
and may completely reverse it.
Governmental intermeddling with
those concerns of society which, under
judicious laws, might beneficially be left
to individual action, is the only real evil
actually developed in our system. This
eminence is assigned to it because it is
the fruitful parent Of all Others existing,
and because the measures required to
correct it are precisely those which would
extirpate the understandable powers now
mischievously exercised by our officials.
II, instead of prohibiting or diminish
ing this vicious practice, our people
should impart to it new sanctions and
greater vitality, reform must become i'm
possible.
Now, of this practice, above all other
living Americans, Greeley is the recog-
nized champion, and no body of organ
lied opponents to it has ever existed in
the country, except the Dem mocratic par
ty. Yet, by the decree of convention.
assuming to REPRESENT that party, Gree.
ley has been gaket,ed us it's standard
bearer. OppositibH to that proceeding
has, in my mind. far deeper source than
mere attachment to party. That I, at
least, am not unduly Influenced by that
sentiment. may appear by the measures
adopted againet the recently detected