The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-20
For President Of the United States.
HORACE GREELEY. OF New York.
For Vice.P President.
Tho Young Man from Howard.

There appeared in the Union, OF Thurs
days date, letter in reply to recent
editorial in this paper headed '.Plain
T@lk to the Colored People," The
writer signs his name after the latest
approved style-T. McCants Stewart
and announces himself as 50 young
colored man," fresh from the lofty hill
Of Howard. Aside from these little
sophomorio protensions, common to all
college chaps, without discrimination on
account of color, the letter of this
'yonng colored man" is surprisingly
we'll written and worthy of reply.
Though dapper young man. doubtless,
who, judging from his modest signature,
parts his hair in the middle and sports q
Tiny cane, he has evidently not neglected
mightier matters, and has made valuable
use Of his time at Howard. The letter
is written in good temper, is logical.
though based upon error, and, as mere
piece OF composition, is highly oredita-
BILE to the anthor. We are sorry, though,
to see this promising young student of
Howard content to take his political
ideas second-handed. and to stnf his
young mind with all the heresies and
false political theories dealt ont at the
Radical hustings and intended only to
gull fools that knaves may prosper. It
is petitio principii to say that the De-
zcoratic party has been and is opposed
to Stree schools. free press, free speach
and equal rights" There will be found
nothing in the platform Of the Demo
cratic party, nor in the utterances of
any of its representative men, to show
anything of the kind; but, on the other
hand, all their professions and their
practices have been in perfect keeping
with these principles which the ''young
man from Howard" claims to be the ex-
elusive property Of the Republican
party. No American who believes in a
republican form of government thinks
for q moment of opposing free speech,
free press Or equal rights. But while
free speechSis-a good thing. and should
be inviolably protected, it may be abused. i.
No man should be allowed, under the
plea of free speech, to make incendiary
harangues, 30 as to endanger the lives
and property OF the community. No
abolitionist, either, should have been
allowed to proclaim his doctrines in q
slave State, where the immediate ten
denoy was to incite ineurrection, and
thus lead to bloodshed and oil the horrors
Of civil war.
AS to the assault upon Mr.. Sumner.
which the young man from Howard"
cites 10 show that the Democratic party
did not advocate free speech, the young
man should know that the Democratic
party had nothing to do with the matter.
Mr.. Sumner, in the course of q speech
in the Senate, had used language reflect.
ing personally upon Senator Butler, OF
South Carolina, who was absent at the
time on sick bed. Mr.. Brooks, who
was the friend and protige OF Senator
Bntler, resented the insult by Gaming
Mr.. Sumner with light walking stick.
No ''life- blood flowed" nor was. there
any attempt to do Mr.. Sumner any seri-
GUS bodily harm. The public indignity
was the object Of the Gaming. and moth
ing else. The ''young man from How
ard" has been singularly unfortunate in
the instances he has selected to cast
odiuna upon the Democratic party, as
being opposed to free speech. We can
mention to him far stronger case
against the Republican party, and in this
State, too. We refer to the meeting at
Chester two years ago, when the Repub.
hcans threw brick-bats st the Reform
speakers, and broke up their meeting.
Here was o plain violation of the right
Of free speech, committed by Republi-
cans. but we know it would be unfair to
argue from this that the party is opposed
in principle to f-es spseoh.
Next, "the young man from Howard"
cites the opposition Oh the ,Demooi alto
party to the recent amendments to the
Federal Constitution, as proof of their
- - - L , I z mi !.