The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-14
,GOL'UIMEB'IA. s. g.
Thufsday Morning. November IA, 1879.

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Thuisday Morning. November IA, 1879.
IL is the easiest thing in the world to
talk reform; 1t is one Of the hardest to
effect it. A man goes astray, very natu-
rally, by, force of the old Adam within
him; bnt to recover himself, and repair
his. damaged morale, is q difficulty
which tries his unaided powers to their
utmost tension. And what is true of in
dividuals, is oven more strikingly true
of parties. Men aggregated together
lose, in large MEASURE, the sense Of re-
sponsibility which eaohlf feels separately.
Being divided amongst oil, and held to
be binding only on the mass as whole,
It decays ina corresponding degree in
each individual member. Men will
take liberties in crowd which they
dare not do alone. Corporations, pro-
verbally, have no souls, and parties and
oliques are swayed mainly by the cohe-
sive power Of the advantages which their
organization and system give them. In
parties, as in individuals, to continue
the parallel, it would be better to resist
the beginnings Of evil. That is the
time when headway can be most surely
made against them. It is abstinence
that is required. Taste not, touch not,
handle ncs tbs unolean thing. It is not
difficult to break single stick, but the
compact iagot .defes our strength.
Thus it. would have been practicable
and comparatively easy for the Govern
nent OF the United States, had it con-
tinued In the hands OF wise and good
mon, to have been kept in the path of
fidelity to the Constitution and to laws
made strictly in pursuance thereof. It
was originally one detection, followed
later by another, and another, until the
stream OF misrule and corruption be-
came overpowering and irresistible. that
has caused the out-pouriug of the vials
ofswrath. and brought upon the county.
at this early period Of its life, an "Iliad
Of woes" Macauley's criticism that our
Government had too much sail for its
ballast. was partially true; but virtnc in
our rulers, enforcing responsibility
everywhere, would have supplied the
ballast otherwise wanting, and the ship
Of State. if ateered by the chart of the
Constitution, might have made pros
porous and successful voyage.
These general remarks find further
application to our own State. Here, TOO,
abstinence would have been better than
the reform which is 80 lavishly promised
ns. The party now 80 overwhelmingly
placed in power, is the same that has
had control of the State Government for
Sic las: Las. ::ca. years. It began with viola
tions of the State Constitution which
themselves had made. Il enacted laws
not in conformity with its provisions.
They are open doors to fraud, and. at
the same time. 80 many shields OF pro-
tection against every attempt to bring its
perpetrators to Justice. The swindles Of
the Land Commission, Continental Teie-
6KapA AfSG.FSAy uuu CoufSt6lOu CUHGS,
thel bribery used in passing phosphate
and many other Objectionable bills; the
fraudulent issue OF pay certificates
have their warrant and sanction or per-
mission in these laws. In charge to a
jury, one Of the newly elected members
OF the State Government--Attorne
General Melton-has complained of their
glazing defeotH. We are thankful for 80
much, but how can you get better set
Of laws unless you get better set OF
men to pass them7 And how can you
turn running stream. with its aconmu.
lated filth and mud back to it's pure
source?
The State Republican party. through
it's leaders now about to take hold of the
helm OF State, and in its platform. has
promised many reforms. If promises
could save US, then are we henccforth
secure. r. H. Cain, who supported the
nomination of Mr.. F. J.. Moses, Jr.,
upon the ground that if lie had sqnan.
dered the money Of the State, it was