The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-09-03

Liberal movement is purely in the De-
mocratio interest. People. at any rate,
are beginning to ask, we'll, what Of it2
This may seem bold in the face of such
constant denunciations OF party which
still bears o venerable name; but it is
true, nevertheless. What divided Re-
publicans and Democrats ten years ago?
rThe conduct OF the war and the question
of slavery, which pervaded the whole
struggle. What were the issues which
still existed when the war was over, and
Grant and Seymour were before the peo-
pie as Presidential candidates? The ad-
iustment of several political questions
which grow out of the civil war, bat
notably those OF providing for the pay
ment Of the national debt, the prevention
of oppression Of the freeIme and the
adjustment of the deranged political
sues as these, or their correlatives, the
nation was divided into two great purties
in 1864 and 1868. Are those issu 8 not
settled now? And if they are not, will
they ever be? Will they be quieted ami
cably in 1876? in 1880? in 1884? If
| then, why not now?
Plainly, what is the issue now before
the country on which voters may logical
ly be divided into two parties under old
party names? It is not enough to answer
this query with vague flourish about
| danger to the finances. aud aiding and
abetting treason. All of these matters
were either settled by the war or by sub
sequent legislation. Can you, brother
Republican, put your finger on one car
dinal political doctrine wherein you diff
fer from the maj ority of men who call
themselves Democrats? Is there single
point of radical difference between you
and your Democratic neighbor, unless,
possibly, you and he support different
men as Presidential candidates? Is it
not, after all, question in governmental
! management, more or less colored by
personal prejudice, which divides You?
Let US examine the points of difference
! which existed in 1864 and 1868, and zee
how wise you are in bringing them into
1872. Nobody proposes, 80 fur as we
know, to make another attempt to build
Southern Confederacy. Nobody pre-
tends that it is possible, desirable or ex-
| pedient to re-enslave the blacks. It is
equally impossible to reopen the ques-
ton OF negro suffrage and the political
status of the freedmen. Ample and
| rigorous provision is made for the full
honest payment of the public debt; aud
equally safe preventives against aEy ns-
sumption Of any part of the rebel debt
by the United States have also been
made. These principal points of ma
| tional concern have been built into the
amended Constitution of the United
States. They cannot be taken out by
this generation; there is no party, nor
even fragment Of party, which pro-
poses to attempt to tako them out.
Why, even some of the men who fought
longest for American slavery and Con
federaoy founded thereon, both during
and since the civil war, are against us.
Even the sanguine and sanguinary Mos
by secs no hope for the Southern empire
in Greeley's election. He is for Grant.
And even VIM. Lloyd Garrison, a seed
sower of Abolitionism, passionatey de-
clares that it is idle to talk longer OF "the
Infinite 'ongs of the African" He is
able to shit for and defend himself. So
both OF these extremists are agreed that
their old ideals have no part in this Pre-.
sidential contest. And is it not little
illogical, not to say dishonest, for men to
profess anxiety about the national
finances while they are uphoding an
administration which has sustained the
Southern State governments. in running
| SASAA PoCSIO AubO dSDI (W6 Will mere 0Ol
say plundering them) to tho amount of
over 5000, 100000?
If, then, Democrats propose to unite
with Republicans in undertaking what
seem to be vitally-needed reforms in the
Government, where is the possible oh.
lection? We havo shown that the old
party names are as meaningless now as
the old party divisions are useless.
Why, then. fight the old battles over
again? In peaceful canvass which pro-
poses REIMBURSEMENT of the powers of
the Government, and correction of
growing abuses which threaten the very
existence of that Government, what
place have the Virginia Resolutions of
'9S? or the political platforms of 1860?
or the battles of Bull Run and Appomat- l.
tox Court House? Tho Liberal party,
as we cnll the new combination of voters,
propose, not only to stand by the public
credit, and the men who fought to keep
it. and the people who were frectl during
that fight, but also to return to every
State, Southern rs we'll as Northern, the
power of self government, prune down
the enormous patronage of the National
Government, reduce its excessive cost,
purify the civil service of all possibility
| IF tu