The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-11
OLUMBIA, s. g.
Thursday Morning, April IL, 1879.
Re1orm in our stato oovsrnment.

Reform In our stato Government.
It seems to be generally understood
and quietly agreed that the white people
OF the State will remain passive, or. at
least, take no active and distinct part,
in the general elections this fall. The
hopelessnese OF any further effort Of the
white people to bring about political
harmony Of action between the two
races has impressed the minds of our
people, and they cannot be persuaded
again to undertake suoh work, in which
nothing but insults have been hitherto
gained, until the oolored people shall
become convinced OF the folly and peril
Of their present course, and themselves
proffer that cooperation by which only
We can ever hope to have perfectly
satisfactory government in the State.
The field will be left entirely open to the
Republicans in the approaching cam
paign, to effect such reforms in their
own ranks as they may have the wish
and ability to do. They will be left per-
feotly free and unentrammelled by any
political antagonists, to select from their
own numbers the most virtuous and in
telligent that their ranks afford.
Whether such can be done or not, il,
Of course, matter OF much doubt. It
depends entirely upon the strength, tact
and earnestness which the genuine re-
formers will exhibit. There are. we be-
heve, number OF intelligent and saga-
oious colored men OF position and influ-
ense in the Republican party of the
State. and white men likewise, who are
heartily disgusted with the rottenness Of
the present government, and are keenly
ahve to the disastrous consequences
which have already followed from it,
and the still greater ruin that must ulti-
mately come, If some healthful change
be not soon wrought. Upon these men.
rests the only present hope of checking
our downward course. There will, of
course, be dissension in the Republi-
can party. With no common foe to
contend against, individual ambition for
place, power and emolument, would of
itself create division. In such squab-
BILE, whore the issue will be not that of
honest reform against corruption, but
simply rogue against rogue, or who
shall have the plunder; the white people
can take no interest. If we are left
choice. for instance, between Scott and
Neagle, merely as candidates for Go
vernon, there is not score of decent
and sensible white men in the State
who would turn on their heels for the
election of the one in preference to the
other. They are but different segments
OF the same damnable ring, and that
ring has many segments of like charac-
ter.
But, if on the other hand, the line Of
demarcation be drawn by suoh Republi-
cans as have real desire, while making
q new government, to mend. the old, a
goodly number of the whites will not be
simply Indifferent lockers on, but will
give them considerable support at the
ballot-box, If not on the stump. If the
conservative whites are satisfied that an
honest effort is being made by the better
black and white Republicans to amelior-
ate the condition of the State-which
will best be shown by the character of
the men put forward for public posi-
tions-no uncomfortable vote will be
cast in their favor.
The Republican reformers, though,
must commence to work in time. If the
primary County conventions are allowed
to be manipulated in the interest of the
present regime; if the same men who
now compose the Legislature compose or
control the County conventions, and
hence the State nominating convention,
the struggle of the reformers will be cx-
eeedingly doubtful, if not utterly hope
less. Once let it be established that
Scott or Neagle, or the devil himself, Us
some OF the party have declared, is the
nominee of what they may term the
regular Republican convention, and the
masses Of untutored blacks will follow