The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-03-28
From, the TorkviAe Enquirer.
The Political Situation.

i
Amid the existing political chaos in this
State, there are, strange as 1t may seem, ou
few suggestions emanating from any quarter
having In view the amefioratlon OF our nov
truly deplorable condition. :,
II is easy enough to paint in ugly colors the
manifold evils of Radical nlisrule-f far easier
| than to suggest remedy for them. The great
er portion Of the State press content themselves
| with loud denunciatious of the dominant party
devoting but little labor to the highly impor-
tant and proportionately difficult task of ascer-
tanning and applying a remedy for our present
| embarrassments.
There have appeared, however, first in the
Winnsboro Ne,cs, and afterwards IN the Co
lumbia Phenir articles setting forth the pro-
priety of taking some immediate action; and
this, think the writers in these journals, should
be initiated and carried out mainly by the
young men of the State. :.
This idea, novel as it is and far-tetched as 1t
may seem to many, is worth consideration ior
the present and a fair test in the future For
many years past, age and experience In Sate
affairs have been accounted indispensable TO
success in the political world. Bat times have
changed-vastiy, terribly changed-and we
must change with them.
There is one thing essential in any efforts
made to effect change for the better in our
present condition, and that is an acceptance,
full and in good faith, of all the laws enacted
since the war, as inevitable results of the war,
and as acts, of government is in all their parts
de facto and de jure. This suggestion may
seem superhuous at this late day; but to those
who have already pursued the course above
named it is reasonable enough, while upon
those who tenaciously cling to old ideas it can
not be too strongly impressed. This, naturally
enough. is a somewhat difficult task to the older
men of our State, and since it must be done,
we must look for laborers in class of men
hampered by no such difficulty. This class Is
readily and naturally found in the young men
of the State. Arriving at maturity, many OF
them. during the time when all the great
changes in our political system have occurred,
they are better prepared than those older to
accept and fully realize these changes 10
this element, anomalous as it may seem, we
must look for escape from our present troubles
Humiliating as it may appear, to those VINO
have heretofore led the State IN every move.
ment, the time has come when they must with,
draw from the theatre OF political lie ana
fresher and more keenly alive to the stern ne
cessities of the hour than themselves. 1t there
is one thing against which, more than against
any other, the Radicals have directed their
constant attacks, it is the old regime and those
connected with it. However unjust these at
tacks, they will continue, and if there can be
put in the field an element not open to them,
we may reasonably hope for partial success now,
and something better hereafter. ManifestIy
this element can be found among the young
men of the State, and among them only.
An all-important task in the work of politi-
cal reform, is union of the whites with the
conservative blacks; and this, too, can best be
made through the agency of the young. men.
The preiudces of the blacks against their for
mer masters have been greatly augmented by
the knavish. appeals of the Radicals SO much
so indeed, as to render 1t now almost lmpossl-
BILE to remove them. Against the young men
there is but little of this opposition and hence
they may more easily convince the blacks OF
their sincerity, and more easily obtain their CO.
operation. eu,
1t is not my object to suggest full line of
policy for the approaching or any subsequent
Campaign, but merely to offer few general
suggestions, leaving the discussion of the sub
iect in its details to other and abler pens.
The views contained in the foregoing may
be summed up as follows: l. We must accept
fully and in good faith all existing laws. 2.
We must unite with the conservative blacks
and moderate Republicans in an effort to secure
a good government 8. These can be and
should be done by the young men.
The first and second of these propositions
seem self-evident: the third is novel indeed,
but reasonable at once and practical.
'N' QUIvIs.-