The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-31
The Liberal Republicans and the Con.
necticut Election.

aecticut Election.
The action which the liberal Republi-
cans will take is the chief theme of gen.
eral interest in the Connecticut election,
which comes off tomorrow. Like her
sister. New Hampshire, Connecticut is
fairly divided, in every respect, between
Republicans and Democrats. In num-
bers, wealth, intelligence, chataoter, anda
patriotic devotion to their State, the
warmest partisan on either side cannot
claim any appreciable preference for
themselves. The last Republican admi.
nistration, like it's Democratic predeoes.
sors, has given to the Nutmeg State an
irreproachable Government. No cor
ruptions, no thefts, no swindles, no ex-
travagance, no fraudulent issue OF bonds,
no increase of taxation. and, withal, o,
diminution Of the public debt. is the re.
cord OF that happy State. Yet we hear,
too. that the Government was Republi-
can last year. The rotten concern we
have here in South Carolina calls itself
Republican, too. One or the other is
lie; whioh is it? South Carolina had
so:called Republican majority of 80, 900
at the last electionAC Connecticut only
100. Our Government, then, If it doesn't
lie in calling itself Republican, is more
Republican than Connections. We arss
forced to the conclusion that there:is q.
mistake nthe name here, and that car
pet-bagism and Republioanism are by
no means synonymous terms. s
But to Connecticut. There are no
local issues in the election now on hand,
and national politics alone serve to
clothe the contest with the little interest
it has to the citizens of the State. But
little effort is being made by the Demo.
GRATIS and the Republicans; though
struggling strenuously, under the i'm
pulse of mighty shove from Washing
ton and, host Of speakers from other
States. has failed to arouse any marked
enthusiasm among the masses. The re-
suit depends. perhaps, upon the course
which the liberal Republicans may pur-
sue. The New York rRorla is deep in
its denunciations Of Schurz, Sumner
and the other leaders OF the liberal Re-
publican. movement, that they have
made no endeavor whatever to show
their strength in opposing Grant, by
taking sides with the Democrats and
aiding. in the election Of Hubbard; the
Democratic candidate for Governor. It
accuses them OF on utter want OF poIiti-
cal courage and Independence; predicts
that they will be frightened back into
the support of Grant. and advises q
square-out Democratic fight for the Pre-
sidency. Why this hot haste to turn
tail upon tho menqwhom tho THoyid has
been 80 warmly sustaining but short
while since. we are at q loss to see?
1t is silly to suppose and unreasonable
to demand that liberal Republicans, be-
cause they oppose Grant and centraliza-.
ton, must support Democratic oandi-
dates, and especially in case liko that
IN Connecticut, where the interests of
good government are in no way endan-
gered by Republican success A Re-
publican triumph in Connecticut cannot
now be claimed, by any means, as an
endorsement OF Grant; for the Central
Republican Committee, clearly perceiv-
ing the certainty of defeat on that issue,
have declared that no such issue is in
volved in the campaign. Senator Ferry,
too, Republican, who is working for
reelection, is reAprted by the CORES.
pondent of the N4w York Herald, which
strongly favors Grant, as being notice
ably guarded, in his public speeches, not
TO soy ono word in personal or indivi-
dual commentator Of Grant. Liberal
Republicanism means opposition to
Grant and Capitalization, the success Of
which will be glory enough for ono cam
paign. On that lino. good men, how
eyer they may differ in collateral politi-
cal opinions, can join hands. That is
Nil that need be required, and all that is
wise to belaskod. Whether Connecticut
or any other Stase becomes in its local