The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-15
TIE DsnsscrassS PaFsy-Is ssDssS' 9.s3y~s'
Tet Lives Potentially.

OCCASIONS on which the. Democratic party
has been killed.. buried, and damned,
how often funeral orAtionsI have been
preached and funeral; obseQuies f$ae-
brated over it's dead oorpse,, We cannot
fail to be surprised at the af1uence of
the advice it receives from pretended,
lukewarm, or renegade friends and pro-
nounoed enemies as to it's present and
future course Of policy. duty aud respon-
sibility. These disinterested advisers
forget, two things -6rst, that if the.
Democracy is truly dead, buried, and
demned. it cannot. through their med
ding With what does not concern them,
be made any dead-er, buried.er, or
of their amiable efforts to cause it to
shuttle off this mortal COIL" it still
lives, it is quite capable of taking care
of itself without their superserviceabie
assistance. This venerable. renowned
and patriotic party is not a minor; and
therefore stands in no need of self.ap-
pointed guardians. It is not dead and
intestate, and therefore does not require
aelf-constituted administrators de 6onis
non. And OF this, we have the best evil
denoe in these torrents Of disinterested
advice. In truth. it is because the
| tremendous reaction of the past few
mouths shows how splendid vista is
being opened for the rehabilitation of
the Democracy in all it's historical glory
| as champion. savior and restorer of
the liberties of the people, that outside
| tide walters are anxious to direct it's
course. The recent au6 extraordinary
popular reaction against Grautism, the
! nnden;ss!e scais;H i. :ao late powerful.
and united Republican purity, caused by
the shock of disgust and alarm in the
minds Of it's most honest aud enlighten-
ed members, ut the dangerous and dar,
ing innovations of the Grant adminialra
ton upon integrity in Office, and upon
the fundamental principles of free insti-
tutiona, have unquestionably once more
brought the Democracy. with its three
millions Of staunch and unterrified
voters, to the front of the strange revo-
luton through which the country is
passing, and has given to it the balance
| Of power to shape the future throes of
that revolution.
The Democracy has eyes to see. It is
not dead-nor even does it sleep. Quiet
it is, to be sure, but watohful with its
Argus eyes. and ready at the opportune
moment to treat or to fight for it's claim,
as the only faithful aud unfaltering con-
stitntionai party, to have a leading voice
IN shaping the destinies of q constitu-
tional government. Nor is it welded to
sterile Bourbonism, as its enemies
charge. 1t hangs no "body of denth"
around It's neck to impede the free action
OF it's limbs in its struggles for the right.
1t carries stern lights as we'll as head
lights. but etill the standard Of constitu-
tional principles, Which are co-eval in
life with itself. at its peak aud truck;
and 80 the old ship sails on, much bat
tered by ten years of conflict with the
battle and the breeze, but still staunoh
and unoonquered. with her 5000, 900
crew undaunted in courage, to renew
and continue the fight for ten times ten
years longer. Aye, forever. OR until the
love OF liberty is utterly .'1tinot in the
blood OF races that have ch rished it for
1000 years. And now what do our
''disinterested advisers" rccommend2
Simply to extinguish the lights Of the
old craft, to haul down their flags, and
her go down in mid-ocean. And to do
this now. of all times. The American
Democracy, with all dutiful thanks. de.
olines the advice, and respectfully beg.
leave to be let alone to attend to it's own
'-A@AAo' ~ 40 pANoSooAh6 W1kd Stoht Chue
ton, is making no spntter on the politi-
cal arena. but bides its time, which
long political experience teaches it is sure
to come. It is ready for all alliances that
will strengthen its hands against impe.
rialism, and still conserve its honor and
it's vital principles. Above all, should it
ever see the sad time when IN imperial
sceptre might be wanted to maintain
public order. it will not seek its eagle in
AN upstart crows nest. It will hail as
an ally and friend OF sound government
any man, of any political party, who is
genuinely alarmed for the safety of free.
dom in the country, and it will make ge-
nerous terms OF alliance with any con-
siderable body of men who, like the
liberal Republicans. may sho that they
are truly after reform nnd not mere
purity power, built on Democratic ruin.
When naively invited. on the score of
so'f-sacrihce aud patriotism, to disband
it's forces and relinqush to others the
duty and the task Of saving the country,
it will reply. "act upon your own advice,
and show yourselves ready for seif-sacri-
flee and patriotism first, and then you
may call on u.s." When told that your
5000. 000 Of Democrats enlisted under
Oua hnunar ara nm ~ for o,,l ,,uooroI