The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-07
rbs work or the State Convention.

The State Convention which meets in Co
lumbia on Tuesday next will represent the
Democracy OF South Carolina, and the scat
tering Liberals or Conservatives who &C
knowledge allegiance to no existing politica
organization. The possibilities OF the future
may give this latter class political
name and nature, but at present they con,
fine themselves to promising their cordial as
sistance to whatever body OF voters may ap,
pear 10 have the will and the power to re-
form the government OF the State.
In its steadfast purpose to take that course
which is most likely to lead to an improve
ment in the character Of the local govern.
ment, the Convention will be unit. Seyera
i modes of action and inaction have been
explained and advocated Ia the public prints,
and it is probable that O minority OF the Con-
vention may advise that South Carolina take
no part in the National Democratic Con-
vention. This recommendation that the
weakest OF tho Southern States adopt o
policy OF sullen and selfish isolation, is not
expected to prevail. NJ solid argument in
it's favor has been advanced; nor can there
be. This State cannot separate her inter-
ests from those Of her Southern sisters. They
can win the great battle without the help OF
South Carolina; but it ia due to peoples who
fought side by eide with the Palmetto troops
throughout bloody war, In which this State
was the first to engage, that they be not re-
fused the countenance and support which
South Carolina can give them, In their en-
deavor to induce the Democrats OF the
North and West to choose the one line OF
policy which con give peace to the whole
country, and save the South from second
period of unrest and mlsrule. No other
Southern State has as much at stake as
South Carolina. Virginia, Georgia and the
Old North State are, In truth, striving less
for their own safety than for the redemption
OF this people. They have governments in
which they are represented, and which they
trust. They can exist, though President
Grant be reelected. This State, already on
the verge OF dissolution, cannot survive
another qaadrennial period Of robbery and
rapine. The Convention, If 1t have spark
of magnanimity, cannot advise that South
Carolina lie idle while every other Southern
State, by sending delegates to Baltimore, is
struggling to cave South Carolina, as we'll
as itself, from the myriad troubles which
will follow that reelection OF President
Grant which ''straight-out" Democratic
nomination will render inevitable.
It is quite likely that the State ConVen-
ton will be invited to determine whether, as
far as the Convention can do it, the Demo-
cratic party in South Carolina shall be
broken up, and destroyed; or whether, as
this paper advises, the State Democracy,
doing what they nrge the National Demo-
cracy to do, simply abstain from making
party nominations, and vote for any strong
and trustworthy candidates whom the op-
posite party may select. The propriety OF
dlsbanding the Democratic party is exceed
ingly doubtful. A party which controls
eighteen States, and is more powerful to-
day than it has been at any preceding period
since the memorable election OF Lincoln,
! cannot be any drag upon weak State like
South Carolina. The State Convention may
find 1t more difficult than Is supposed to in
| duce the white Carolinians to abandon the
party which has been defeated again and
again, because OF its assumed Identification
with .fhe rebellious South" and which is
surely and steadily rising from the dust
where it learned the secret Of success. It
is reasonable to suppose that there is q
batch Of politicians in this State who wish
to shatter the solid column. And why 7
There are aspirants who have run along the
banks OF the river for years, fearing to take
the plunge. These know that il the Demo-
cratic party in the State be rent asunder
they may glide, without remark or loss OF
renown, into the dark and turbid waters.
When the Democratic party Is gone, only
Radicalism remains. The laws OF political
gravitation will cause the leaderless masses
to attach themselves to the one body which
has name, organization, force. The sheep
whom the shepherds deserted will wander
into the Radical fold.
There must be two parties in South
Carolina; one Of which parties shall
not be called Republican party.
The Convention should ponder this
we'll. They who, with knowledge Of the
plain facts before them, are resolved to dis
band the Democratic party, without substl-
tuting for it an equivalent organization
which shall not be called Republican, are
bent on Radicalizing South Carolina. To
relieve the State from what is, at worst, a
minor disadvantage they are ready to des-
troy the State in substance and in spirit, to
thrust the whole people down to the level OF
Moses and Scott, to condone the thieying
and lying OF the Radical officials, to cause
the State moral degradation far more
hurtiul than the loss Of milllons-because
from that degradation South Carolina would
not, could not, recover.