The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-20
Cause for encouragement.

b. GRATZ BROWN, OF Missouri.
Cause for encouragement.
There is one feature of the State can
vass just ended. which we regard as the
fret hopeful sign yet given of the posi-
BILE political reformation of our plum
dered and misgoverned State. We refer
to the independence which large num-
bers of the colored people exhibited in
the exercise of their right of suffrage.
Hitherto, at every election in the State
since their participation in the duties
and privileges of citizenship, they have
voted, in solid mass, the party ticket,
without questioning, and, apparently,
without caring for the character of their
candidates.
They had been taught to regard it al
most crime to depart, in the least
degree, from the course dictated by
their leagues and conventions. They
looked upon their ticket with eyes of
idolatrous devotion, and we're utterly
deaf to all appeals. which might be made
10 them to alter or amend it in any way.
This time We find their vote fuotuating
to surprising extent, even among the
candidates upon the regular ticket.
As q general thing, the men OF better
character have polled the largest vote.
At any rate, preference has been shown,
and thousands Of the colored people
have voted as in their judgment was
BEST and not simply as their leaders di-
rected. This is shown most clearly in
the handsome colored vote which Natha-
MEL Barnwell, Esq, the independent
candidate for Solicitor of this Circuit,
has received. He is believed to be
elected by'a swinging majority, though
the colored vote in the Circnit exceeds
the white several thousand. II the Bolt
ers had been elected. the colored people
would have been freed OF once from the
thraldom of party tyranny, and the final
redemption of the State assured. AS it
is, tho ice has been broken, and we are
firmly impressed with the inspiring faith
that South Carolina's night of degrade
tion and misrule is drawing to close.
We shall have an ugly time Of it, doubt
less, for two years more, and be sub
iected to taxation far more burdensome
than any we have yet experienced.
But the feast of the thieves is drawing
to close. There is an outside pressure
in the daily increasing public sentiment
at the North in favor OF change of the
national policy towards the South. and
an inside pressure from q large portion
of the colored citizens in the State,
which the public plunderera who have
been despoiling the State for the past
four years cannot much longer success
fully resist.
If the white people remain true to
themselves, and true to their State, her
redemption is assured, and future in
store for US more glorious than our past.
There is no State on the Atlantic coast
more admirably situated than our own.
We have two fine harbors, large and in
creasing railroad facilities, the finest oil
mate in the world, fertile soil. large
mineral resources, manufacturing advan-
tages Of high order. an active. ener-
getic, heightened people, in short, every
requisite except good government to
make prosperous, happy and great
commonwealth.
Good government we must and will
have if our people remain staunch and
true, and will take the necessary steps
to insure success.
We believe that the best and most CO.
pable man in the State can be made Go
vernon at the next election.
A constant reading OF the Arizona pa
pers, with their endless catalogues of In.
dian outrages, brings the following edi-
torial extract from the arizona Miner, of
the 21st ult., published ut Prescott, out