The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-01
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Wednesday Morning. may i, 1879.
Not Republicans.

Asos ASeP0OAAC6hbs
The Union, Of yesterdays date. al
leges that the delegates from this State
to the liberal Republican Convention
have no right to the name of liberal Re-
publicans.
According to the standard set up by
the Uaion, no man in South Carolina
can claim to be q Republican, unless he
sustains. by his vote, the present officials
OF the State, known and acknowledged
of all to be the most corrupt, vile and
inefficient set that have ever disgraoed
the public administration of the affairs
Of any civilized community. A mans
political opinions, and not his voting for
or against this or that particular candi-
date for office. determine his party aGili-
atoms. When there are two distinct
parties struggling for the control Of the
Government, and each have worthy
standard.bearers in the field. there is, of
course, no more reliable index to the po-
litical beliefs an individual may enter
tain, than the candidate whom he sup
ports. But We know that such ia not
always the condition OF things in State
and other elections of comparatively
minor Importance. These elections have
commonly no political Significance, in a
broader sense; at least. there are no is
sues OF governmental policy at stake in
them Other things being equal, the
political parties, whose principles are
based upon opposing or different views
OF the policy of the General Govern
ment, do most generally struggle as par
ties for the supremacy in the State and
municipal elections.
II, however, it comes to pass, as now
very commonly happens, that the
stronger political party becomes. through
party maohinations. or from the want Of
discerning intelligence among the gene.
raj constituency, completely under the
control Of bad, self-sseking and ayari-
cious men; if good. honest and true citi-
zens are set aside, and the wiles of the
demagogue prevail over the counsels OF
patriot; il an intelligent man sees plainly
that it is impossible to secure honest n,en
through the operations Of party orgsni-
zation. then, and under such oircum-
stances, he naturally opposes those who
have nothing in common with him ex-
oept q political name. He does this
without in the least surrendering his po.
litical convictions, because they are not
at stake; and even il they were, it would
be his duty to forsake them for the
nonce, in the interests of honesty and
good government. Take, for instance,
our own State. What material difference
can it makszaA AoA can it possibly effect
the persona! tigAp of the citizens or the
rights OF property, whether We have a
Republican or Democrat for Govern
or, or q Democratic or Republican I4e-
gislature, provided they be equally
honest and efficient in the discharge Of
public duty? The State Government of
South Carolina is impotent to relieve US
from the crushing weight Of the protect
i've tariff-impotent to check the ten
denoy to centralism on the part of the
General overnment-impotent to pre-
vent or determine the limits of it's inter-
ference in State concerhs-impotent to
effect civil service reform--impotent to
prevent Grant or any other President
from appointing his own and his wife's
relations to lucrative posts which they
are utterly untitled for-impotent, in
short. to do or to affect anything to con.
summate which political parties are or.
ganized.
Whenever, therefore, there is, or is
thceshs 70 be. marked difference iE
regard to the integrity Of character be-
tween candidates for State or municipal
Offices, there is no excuse whatever for any
one giving bis support to the less worthy
candidate. Mere party name has indeed
q great influence over the masses, which
is increased directly in the ratio OF their
ignorance. The disclosure Q! The Tam.
many frauds In Now York completely
demolished the Tammany ring, though
they claimed to be Democrats, and had
ranraaontad that v,aykv Whora khox, 20