The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-18
S. G.
riday Morning, October 10, 1872.
For President of the United States.
HORACE GREELEY. OF New York.
For Vioe-P President
II. GRATZ BROWN, OF Missouri.
Tho stnte Election. i.


Tho State Election.
We have not yet received authentic re-
turns from the different Counties in the
State as to the result of the election on
Wednesday. We think it safe topre-
sumo, however, from what has been
heard, that Moses and the co-ruptionists
have been elected by considerable ma
jority. A spasmodio effort was made by
some public.spirited gentlemen of this
city, few days previous to the election,
by issuing circular, to draw out the
white vote in support of the Boilers or
opposition movement, but it was too
late to effect any great good. There is
no doubt now that if full white vote
had been cast in favor Of tho Boilers,
Moses and the ring would have been
whipped out of their boots. We had q
glorious opportunity to redeem our
State. and have lost it. Probably 80 fa-
vorable an opportunity will never be
offered again. We do not mean to say
that the Bolter's ticket was unexcep-
tionable, or that its success would
have worked an immediate re-
form in the State Government.
The individual characters of the candi-
dates, provided only they were such as
we could honorably sustain, were not to
be considered. It was our duty, rs pa
triotic citizens, to look to the future eff
feet upon the State which the election of
the Boilers would have had. It would
have broken at once the power of party
conventions, which are now manipulated
by bad men, and are chiefly instrum entail
in giving the control OF the State Govern
ment to unsorupulous and venal adven-
turers. South Carolina is to-day govern
ed by an oigarchy; and, what is moro to
be deplored, by corrupt and rascally
oligarohy.' the sole aim of which is indi-
vidual gain at the public expense. The
Republican party rules the State, and
this wretohed conelave of swindlers, of
which Moses is now the acknowledged
head, shapes the action of the party as
it Wills. If wo, had defeated the regular
Convention nominees, as is now apparent
that we might have done, we would have
been freed, at one blow, from the
loathsome power Of these bad men.
A combination would have been made
between the decent white people and
twenty or twenty-five thousand OF the
colored people, which is sufficient to
ensure good government in the State.
We would have gotten foothold. There
would have been bond of union be-
tween the blacks and whites which could
not be disturbed, and which must have
resulted benefcially.
Why is it, now, that the white people
did not turn out generally and support
the Boilers or opposition?
In our judgment the blame rests first
upon the Executive Committee of the
Democratic party of the State, and. Sc
condly. upon the daily press of Charles
ton. Orr people, whether wisely or not.
have been in the habit of entrusting
themselves in their action upon public
affairs to the guidance of few promi-
nent men, upon whose intelligence and
fidelity they reposed implicit confidence.
This body of political advisers is at pre-.
sent embraced in the State Central E1-
ecutive Committee of the Democratic
party. In an emergency like the pre-
sent it was to be presumed that they
would have at least some word of coun-
sci to give their fellow-citizens, who were
ready and willing to do whatever might
be deemed best for our dear old State.
But not word said the Executive Com
mittee. Scarcely q dozen of them, out
of thrice that number, could even be in.
duced to attend d meeting, and those
who did come could deter mine upon no.
thing.
The Charleston press was equally to
blame, for had it done its duty, thou
sands Of white voters would have at
tended the polls, instead of staying at