The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-21
COLUMBIA. s. G.
Tuesday Morning. May 81. 1872.


friend, upon the course to be pursued by
the white people Of the State in the Pre-
sidential campaign. The letter will be
read with interest by oil who have the
welfare of the State at heart. The un-
selfish devotion to South Carolina, the
commanding ability and the eminently
pure and manly character OF Gen. Ker-
shaw, attach weight to any utterances Of
public nature which he may make,
and secure for them the eager attention
Of tho people. It will be found that the
writer maintains that the imperative and
immediate duty of the citizens Of South
Carolina is to redeem the State-to
purge and reform our local government.
Upon this point we presume thore is no
difference OF opinion. The chief con-
Germ which every one feels in the cha.
raoter of the next administration of the
General Government, is the effect it may
have to relieve us of or to perpetuate the
deadly evils of carpet-bag misrule.
Laboring under the crushing weight of
the injuries that oppress us here at home,
and conscious OF the impending ruin
from. which we can nationally entertain
scarcely hope of escape, We view with
comparative Indifference the struggle to
be made upon Issues OF national cha
raoter, and which affect as only Indirectly
and remotely.
The General disapproves of the resus-
citation of the Dem ooratio party in the
State as impotent for good and likely to
work harm in the effort which it is hoped
will be made within the ranks of the Re-
publican party to give US more honest,
economical and efficient State Govern
ment. Few will disagree with him here.
AS an agency for good. tho Democratic
party has no longer any power in South
Carolina. The oolored people have an in
superable antipathy to that party, not sur
prising nor altogether irrational; and they
have the controlling voice in the govern
ment of the State, whether they exercise
it for good or for bad. The Democratic
party is, therefore, an obstacle in the
way of establishing those relations of
friendship and mutual confidence be-
tween the races, which must bo estab-
lished before any permanent health can
be impaired to the body politio. We
say, then remove it. but with gentle
hands, for there cluster around it memo
ries TOO sacred and tender to admit of
rude or ruffian touch. We will join with
sad satisfaction in singing its requiem.
The analogy is 80 strong that We will
risk the blasphemy. and say that though
the body perish, it's soul will live; and
we doubt not that If, in time to come,
the Democratic party be needed, some
Gabriel will be found. and maybe q
colored one, at that, to blow the resur.
recting Gull. None, we teko it, will
object to the quiet interment of tho
body at this time. unless it be Mr..
Stokes, of Greenville.
The next point General Kershaw
touches upon is the sending of delegates
to the Baltimore Convention, which he
thinks should not be done. This is
with MS mooted question. Thoinduoe.
ment to send delegates is manifest. We
wish to prevent a Democratic nomina.
tion, if possible. South Carolina will
have fourteen votes, and these might de-
cido the convention in favor of support
ing Greeley and Brown. On the other
hand, if we send delegates, and the oon-
vention determines to place Democratic
nominees in the field, are we not bound
to abide the decision, and to do what we
can to promote the success of the ticket?
and will We do it?
If there are any Democrats in the
State prepared for the alternative that
presents itself, let them go by all means.
and cast their votes in favor Of the en-
dorsement Of the Cincinnati nomination.
We agree with General Kershaw, too, in
advising the white people of the State
to observe strict neutrality in the Pre-