The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-18
The Proposed Convention.

ait still while bandits rifle his trunks and;
make free with: his %money-bag; but, as long.
as there is apistol at either ear, and q bayo-;
net behind, there is no use in making a dis.
turbance. This Ia very. much the position:
of: the Conservative voters in South Caro-
lima with the difference, however, that they
may save, something by notifying to save.
everything. 1t is not surprising, under Inc.
circumstances, that o cbivalrous newspaper,
like the Columbia: .Carolinian should feel
that the Conservatives occupy ia humilla
citing position This is a natural tEougbt;
but the practical fact is that, for once the
whites have sacrificed sentiment to sense.
They would rather ''pick up the crumbs"
than have no bread. The Carolinian ad-
vises a policy .'more in keeping with the
smanly instincts OF q spirited people. and
proposes that q joint Democratica and Liberal
Republican Convention be held in October
s.for the purpose OF deciding upon that
.course of action which best BELTS our in
.tearests, and the cause of genuine REFORM"
Surely the real ''msnly instinct" is that
which makes the best OF the situation, and
the election OF one good man, as far as 1t
goes, is 'genuine REFORM"
The proposed Convention is to be called a
Conservative Convention, but, TO all intents
and purposes, it would be a Democratic
Convention. ALI citizens OF South Caro-
limo, who are not members OF the Re
publican party, are known as Democrats,
and any movement which is not Republican,
in fact and in name, is sLigmatlzed by the
Radicals as Democratic. The name Con-
servatlve would add nothing to the strength
of the Convention; nor would the co-opera-
ton of q corporal's guard OF Liberal Re.
publicans give it greater force. The call Tor
the Convention would be treated as the first
step towards nominating q State ticket, and
this, if tho press represent public opinion,
the people are resolved not to do.
1t is truly said by the Carolinaan Thai
neither of the Radical State tickets now be-
fore the public is entitled to public support.
The Convention, therefore, could not COM
NIT the Conservatives to a united support
OF either ticket. This throws the Conven-
ton back to doing nothing, which can be
done without its help; or to nominating o
third ticket, which would be iraught with
evil consequences.
There is no manliness in fighting for the
sake Of fighting. And there can hardly b.
found, in South Carolina, an Intelligent maj
bold enough TO assert that q third ticket
would stand the ghost OF a chance OF being
elected. AS Dol as the ticket was an
nounced the Boilers would withdraw from
the contest-they might be glad OF On ex-
cuse for throwing upon the Conservatives
the responsibility OF the election OF State
and county officers OF the same Infamous
kind as those who were elected two years
ago. The very holding OF the proposed
Convention insures the election of the
| Moses ticket, without any Of the local gains
which, iI the absence of a third State ticket,
may be secured.
In the opinion Of the caroliniam the poll
cy OF supporting one or other OF the Radical
tickets, "just as it may be practicable to
''make o good bargain, in the matter OF
'county officers and members Of the Legis-
'~lature" will %''produce disappointment and
send in failure" Then, that failure will be
due to the apathy or dizziness OF the Con-
servative voters. We Enow that the rioal
factions are already bidding for tile aohite
cote, and that this competition will give
many counties better county officers and
members OF the Legislature than they have
had since the beginning OF reconstruction.
Every advantage OF this sort will be abso-
lutely thrown away, if there be o ConserVa-
tive or Democratic State Convention.
We are confident that the Garolinian is
not obstinate in it's opinions, and that its
motives are high and pure; but we trust
that the Conservative voters will speedily
give unmistakable expression to the opinion
that any State Convention, for any purpose,
would be unwise in itself, injurious to
the true interests OF the State, and totally
destructive OF every hope OF accomplishing
any local reform.