The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-23

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lcge, but the duty, Of members of any
organization to abandon it whenever
they see that they can more surely secure
the great object that they have in view
by doing 30. Great and binding, there.
fore, as all Democrats concede the au-
thority of q more than two.thirds maio-
rity of National Democratic Conven-
ton to be, YETI if you were fully
persuaded that you could better serve
yourcountry and more certainly rescue
her from the shame and disgrace into
which she has been plunged, by leaving
your old organization and seeking new
party relations, you would be justified in
suoh q course. But let me say to the
Democrat masses in this district and
throughout the State. that I see no such
cou, SO open to any friend of his coun-
try. To those who have 80 warmly coin
cided with me as to the propriety of Mr..
Greeley's nomination. aud their name is
legion, let me say that the Democratic
party is infinitely preferable, in my
judgment, even with Horace Greeley as
its candidate, to that portion Of the Re-
publican party which acknowledges the
leadership of Grant and the proAigate
managers by whom he is led on to his
own and his country's ruin. No thought
of recreancy or intidelity to the Demo,
cratic party ever entered my mind. As
cannot control it's councils, I shall sub
NIT to them, hoping that time may show
it's ways to be easier and more beneficial
to the country than I predicted. He
who cannct have his own way in this
world is not, therefore, in my opinion,
justified in doing nothing. He can,
without inconsistency, concede that
others may be more enlightened than
himself on the points at iesue, and give
their plans fair trial.
If we turn, however, for brief sur
vey of the broad field of national poll
tics, many strange and significant as
poets are presented to our view. We
constantly hear of the unwonted posi-
ton Of the Democratic purity. Its nc
ton and its attitude we admit to be
unusual. but think if we examine, we
will find other occurrences in the politi-
cal world quite as novel and striking AS
anything IN the conduct of the Demo
cracy. Is the condition of the Repubii-
con organization so natural and healthy
that it can afford to sneer ut tho sup
posed sickness aud death of it's powerful
peighbor? At the close Of the war, it
succeeded to illimitable power and pos
sessions. Its means by which to seduce
the venal, overawe the timid, and coerce
oil others into it's support, were abso-
lutely houndless in eleven States and
nearly 80 everywhere else. If this pow
erfdl party had been pure and unselfish
In its devotion to the welfare of the
country; if it had been managed with all
eye single to the prosperity of the labor
ing people; il it had fostered tho indus
trial classes instead of tho monopolists;
If it had conciliated the conquered in
stead of abusing them every day afresh
with additional stripes; if it had sought
to invigorate and enrich an impoverished
section of the greatest natural wealth
instead of soourging itl into still more
horrible barren ness and misery; if it had
lived on love and patriotism instead OF
hate and greed, it would have had be.
fore it longer lease of power et the
hands of the American people than was
ever granted to political party in the
history of the world. But, bloated with
much power and countless wealth, it's
career has been full Of Rickedness, gra-
dually but surely forfeiting the conf.
dence of the people, and driving the
best elements out of it's organization
This fact is strikingly illustrated by the
hiss6ry Of political contests in Indiana.
In 1864. when the waves of Radical mis-
rule reached their highest point in this
State, majority of $1,000 was recorded
against the Democratic party. Two
years later, in 1866, we ngain met the
same enemy and reduced his majority
to $4,000. In 1868, we fought again
under the same colors, and wiped out
the entire majority against us, the Radi-
calls only saving the State Offices by
fraudulent returns of few hundred ma
jority. Thus stood the contest in In
diana, when tho fifteenth amendment,
never legally ratified, fraud, in my in-
dividual judgment, on the American peo-
pie, gave an increase of 100, 600 negroes
to the Radicals; yet. in 1870, we defeated
this coalition of blacks and whites, and
placed d majority Of about 5000 on the
side of the gallant and unfalteriDg De-
mocracy of the State. Certainly this is
not IL record to beget discouragement.
1t shows q steady decay of the Kepubli-
can party in Indiana. 1t shows a loss
on its part in eight years of ut least
"a. 600 votes. It shows, further, that if
the Democracy does as usual on its own
account this year, we will carry the State
by $4,000 majority; and if the Liberal