The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-11
s. G,
Saturday Morning. May IL, 1872.
Tho Political Field.

6AOuO0S VI GAO 0tO Va u 4I06lu0utihk elSO-
tion, such confused and uncertain
status OF political parties as is manifested
at the present time. The old stereotyped
lines that hedged in the two great parties
OF the country, and kept them asunder,
are plainly being broken from point to
point, and there is set about commin-
Cling of forces 80 promisouous that it is
impossible to judge with any approach
to certainty where exactly the line of de-
marcation will be drawn, or on which
side the larger part OF the masses will be
found in November next.
The Republican party is cleft fairly in
two. to start with. What the liberals
may lack in the number of their follow
ers, is fully counterbalanced by the su-
perior ability. earnestness. integrity and
influence of their leaders. The rank and
file of the Republican party, like that OF
oil ether political parties. does not give
much thonght to political doctrines and
policies until their attention is callod to
them in the oondnct Of the CANVASS.
When Trp mbnl. Sohurz and other libe-
raj Republican leaders shall take the
stump and bring home to the minds OF
the people the defects and dangers Of
Grants rule. and explain to them the
causes which brought liberal Republi-
oanism into being, and the spirit that
animates its action, there will be On &C.
cession to its ranks of thousands daily.
But there must be no fear of the De-
mooracy to counteraot the lessons of re-
cancellation and return to constitu-
'tional government. Partisan zeal and
'the bitter animosities Of the war have to
"a great extent steeled the hearts of the
Northern Republicans against the Demo
cratic party. It's anti-war record oripples
Its usefulness for good with the masses
at the North. They are in accord, the
larger part OF the North, with the senti-
ments and principles OF the Democratic
party as new held; but the prejudices OF
the past cannot easily be overcome, espe-
'oially by the less intelligent classes.
They stickle at name, and that which
they would heartily support when advo-
cated by liberal Republicans, they would
not stomach if presented under Demo
cratic colors.
This liberal Republican movement is
tho simple. natural and proper instru-
mentality to effect genuine. general and
enduring reconciliation between the
sadly estranged States of the Union.
The war was brought on by the antago-
nisms of the Republican and Democratic
parties. and though during it's progress
the whole people Of the North united
under the rallying cry of the "Union."
TO battle for its preservation, the original
cause of the quarrel was never entirely
lost sight of. AS long as the Govern
ment is controlled by either one of these
original parties to the quarrel, thore is
'but little hope of their past strife being
so thoroughly hid from view as to afford
inviting opportunities for the restoration
of real fraternal feeling. Some middle
ground must be taken, mutual advance
must be made and mutual proffer to
shake hands, and then, like brave and
high-minded combatants. we will only be
the better friends for the ''little bout"
we have had. This spirit, this noble
purpose, is the vitalizing energy of the
liberal Republican movement. They.
the Republicans, retain their old party
name, which is an advantage that may
we'll be accorded them as having got the
better OF the fight. but they make the
first step forward, and adopt all the es-
,sential principles now maintained by the
Dem ocratic party.
1t is now left only for the Democrats
to respond to the friendly proffer that
has been made in the same spirit in
which it was made. And then when
once again the best men from both SEQ.
tions are OF one mind and unite in the
effort to purity the Government, to cast
from the temples OF our liberties the
'accursed money changers that have
deseorated them, to restore the Consti-