The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-07

~ Do not merely on paper; but it must be
power to infuse the spirit Of reform into DO.
iitical action. II you want to know how re-
forms are.not Executed, look at those now in
power. You will hardly excel them in the
profus!on OF high sounding professions. and
you will never excel thom in tho art how not
20 90 it. Reform will not come out of Office
IN the hands OF those who either do not nm.
uolstand 1t. or do not care for it. II you
mean reform, entrust the work to none bnt
those who understand and honestly do love
an9 care more for it than their own persoual
onas. tardon me if express myself on this
POI poio1 with freedom and frankness. have
OF urging the claims or advancing the inter.
ss. OF any one man against ali others.
nave come here with sincere and ardent de-
sosU vo.ion 20 cause, and to nse nay best endea.
vors to have that cause put under the care of
men who arc devoted to 1t with eousI ain.
cerlty, and who possess those QUALIFIED Of
mind and heart which will mako it safe in
their Keeping '' -
earnestly! deprecate the CT, we have heard
30 30 frequently. Anybody to beat Grant"
There 10 something moro wanted than TO heat
Grant; not anybody Who might by cheap
popu,arity, or by astute barga aims and combi-
nations, Or by all the tricks Of political wire
pulling. manage to scrare together votes
enough to be elected President We do not
merely want another, but we want q better
fresident than we now have. We do not want
mere change OF persons in the administra.
ton OF the Government; We want the over
throw OF pernicious system; we want the
graduation OF 1agrant abuses; we want the
in1uaion OF lofticr moral spirit into our poll
ticai organism; We want a Government which
the oest people OF the country will be proud
OF. Not anybody can accomplish that. and.
therefore, away with the cry 'Anybody to
oeat Grant" cry too paltry, too unworthy
gagged. do not struggle for the mere punish
ment OF Oh opponent or for temporary lease
OF power. This is to mo thing no less more
important even than our SUCCESS in this cam.
Paign, and that is that the American people
shall not be disappointed in the fruits which
our victory is to bear. II we shopId fail to
select n man who will carry out the benificent
reforms we contemplate, then-let us say it
never been undertaken. For the continunnce
o1 thoso In power who possess it now would
mean only refOrmatory movement deferred
n anu an opportunity still; while our failure now
to tho level OF farce, q great Opportunity
lost, and the hope Of the people turned into
encouragement aud disgust. Let us discard
at least the fatal error into which many seem
onrsJ sJe 10 cnndn snat no statesmanship is re-
vernment. candidly believe the people are
waking up to the truth, for unless I greatly
mistake the spirit OF this day. what the people
now most earnestly demand is not that mere
good Intentions but that superior intelli-
gence, coupled with superior virtue. should
guide our af1airs; not that merely an honest
and popular man, but that Statesman be
put at the head OF our Government.
in selecting cnndidatesA for Office, politi-
cians are accustomed to discuss the question
Of availability. What docs availability mean
IN our case? Let us look for the best men we
nave: and from among the very best let us
desira thorough reform OF our Government:
they want not only a change, but a change
Tor the better; they want alec, therefore. to be
assured that It will be for the better, and that
ndf "a ro l,&y~ = .
available. II we present men to the suffrape
OF the people whose character and names ap-
peal to the loftiest instincts and aspirations
o! tho patriot citizen, We shall have on our
will bo the ruling arbiter Of political CON tests
the col hdence OF the nation. II that be
done, then success will be certain; then we
can appeal to the minds and hearts, to the
arguments and cntreaties which spring onlv
from clear conviction Of right. Then we
shall not appeal in vain for their support to
those of our fellow.citizens who hitherto were
h Ton us 6 party DIVISIONS who de-
the country in this crisis, and whom we shall
welcome with fraternal geeting in this strug-
gle Tor great canse, whether they call them
selvts Democrats or Republicans. Then we
shali successfully overcome those prejudices
which now confront us, and the ineidious
accusations that this great convention il a
mere gathering Of disappointed and gr:edy
politicians will fall harmless at our feet, for
we shall have demonstrated by our action
that we were guided by the purest and most
patriotic OF motives, and this can be done.
Let Us desplse as unworthy of our cause the
tricky manipulations by which, to the detri.
ment OF the republic, political bodies have so
frequently been controlled. Let us. in the
face OF the great things to be accomplished,
rise above all party considerations. Per-
ponal friendship and State pride are noble
sentiments; but what il personal friendship.
what ID State pride, compared to the great
duty We owe to our common country and the
awful responsibility resting upon our action?
Al sensible men. we know that not every one
OF us can be gratitied by tho choice OF his
favnrite. Many Of Us will have to be disap-
pointed; but i'll this solemn hour, our hearts
.hould know but one fsvorite, and that is the
American republic.
Pardon me for these worde of warning and
entreaty.. trust nobody will consider them
mi.splncrd. fervently hope the result OF our
di!locrations will show that they were not
spoken in vain. / know that they have
sprung from tho most anxious desire to do
what IL best for our country, and thus ap.
pcnl to you with all the fervor OF anxious
rarnestness. We stand on the threshold of o
great victory. and victory will surely be ours
II we truly deserve it.
Columbia Lodge. No, 1OS. AIM.