The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-22

b. GRATZ BROWN. OF BIIssourl.
Our Duty Now In tho Presidential Com
test.
Nothing was ever gained by apathy
and Indifference, either in politics or any
OF the other concerns of life. Persistent
effort is the secret Of success in almost
every instance, and when combined with
honest faith seldom misses it's goal.
There is nothing so weak as despair;
nothing 80 strong as manly exertion.
These are trite truths, but they need to
be brought to the attention of our peo.
pie at this time. for we seem laboring
under fit of political dependency,
which, if not removed, will be the sure
cause of our utter discontinue and tho
ruin of our State. It is bootlcss,
though, to speak now of our recent State
election. It is not pleasant, and, proba-
bly,, not profitable. We must take the
result as it stands, with hope and de-
termination to do better next time. The
question of greatest and most pressing
importance to US, at present. is the Pre-
sidential contest between Greeley and
Grant; and Which eliminates at the cleo
tion just two weeks from to-day.
Though most interested in the result,
most unanimous in our support OF Gree
ley, and most to be benefited by his cleo
tion, the Conservatives Of South Carroll
ma have alone, OF all Of the States of the
Union, failed to make at least the neoes-
sary arrangements to cast their votes in
his behalf. It is, true, that there is no
hopeo carrying this State against Grant.
but that is no reason why we should not
do our duty-act up to our honest con-
victions and leave the rest to Providence.
Moreover, we may help the good cause
in North Carolina, for instance, by pre-
senting an undappted front here. The
fire should be kept up along the whole
line. or else the enemy may concentrate
their forces to our disadvantage.
The Cincinnati platform is grounded
in patriotic trnth and right. The move
ment :sprang Into existence from q. popu-
lar impulse, and is bound eventually to
be pushed on to full frlition. In it we
have undoubtedly far the greater por-
tion OF the best, the ablest. and the
most patriotic of the leaders of both the
old Democratic and Republican parties.
It is desperate fight, however, we are
making against all the corrupting power
and patronage of the Government; more
dangerous than ever before in the history
of the republic, and backed, too, by
Grants great personal hold upon the
hearts of the Northern people, as the
successful Union General. We may be
defented, truly, but it is not the part OF
brave men or good citizens to allow q
possible, or even probable, defeat to
chill their courage or make them wsvel
in the discharge of their plain duty.
We are certainly not without reasonable
ground of hope-very strong ground oi
hope-of Greeley's election. The great.
ost danger which besets us is the possi
BILE despondency which may come upon
our people on account of the failure in
Pennsylvania. The truth is, we laid toe
much store by that State, from the con.
viotion which almost every honest man
felt, that such suspicious character as
Hartranft could not, in an intelligent
community, engage successfully in 8
contest with 30 pare and able man as
Buokalew. That great State would have
been a most desirable ally, beyond al
question, to the Liberal cause: but we
can do without her, and without many
others, and still beat Grant.
Even should we fail in getting contro
of the Presidency, tits still highly de-
sirable to get as strong an opposition as
possible in Congress, to prevent the ex
treme and corrupt actions of the Radi
Gals. The white people of South caro-
lima can aid the good cause materially, II
they will, by showing that they have an
interest in it. II We allow the election