The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-19
Tho Character OF tho Campaign.

Cincinnati and Philadelphia platforms
have ceased to represent anything, and
that the canvass is purely personal one
The Nation is an intelligent and digni-
| fed hebdomadal usually, but the nomi-
nation Of Horace Greeley has somehow
had the effect Of throwing it completely
off it's balance. Up to the time when
the Cincinnati Convention met it was
jealous and able advocate OF the move
ment which then eliminated, but since
then it has gone back on its track, and
re.entered, though under protest. the
| Grant camp. It is unreasonable to con-
clude that the Nation has been disaffect-
| ed by the reference of the tariff question
to the people at their Congressional cleo.
tions, because Grant is declared pro-
tectionist upon protective platform.
It's regeneration is due to tho fact that
Mr. Greel ~ is. for some reason. person
ally Objectionable to the editor.
70 suy that the present canvass is to
be purely personal one is simply ab-
surd. Never was there political canvass
in which principles were at stake more
perfectly defined or of greater import
ance. Greeley is an able and, in most
respects, very superior mon, but his
personality sinks into nothinguess in
comparison with the principles lie repre-
| sents. Were it possible that the case
could be reversed, and were Grant the
| representative Of Liberalism and Gree.
ley of Radicaliem, it would be the duty,
though hard one, of patriotism to ac-
cept the former. As matters are, and
Greeley being 80 incomparably Grants
superior, both as a man and a statesman,
we cannot refrain from expressing our
surprise at the position of our New York
contemporary. Horace Greeley is with
US, and by that we mean that Horace
Greeley is the representative and advo-
cate OF the principles which patriotic
men, without respect to former party as
sooiations, are contending for.
AS far as the platform of the two par
ties are concerned, there are some gene
ralities in which they agree. These are
to be left wholly out of tue question.
The Liberal party, which nominated
Mr.. Greeley, or the Democratic party,
or the Liberal and Democratic party
whichever is the correct phraseology-
has made square issue with the Grant
party on the mode OF administering the
Government. Mr.. Greeley and his
friends contend that honesty and purity
ought to govern in the management of
national affairs, and Mr.. Grant is for the
rascalities and corruptions Greeley is
the joint nominee of the Liberals and
Democrats, who arc unanimously and
earnestly for civil service reform. The
Grant people have had q great deal to
say about reform, but it is mere hypo.
critical pretense. While worthless bro
thers-in-law continue to hold office, and
incompetent and corrupt friends of the
President continue to lie appointed,
while the Murphys, the Caseys, the
Leets, the Olarks and the Brittons are
vested with power to swindle the people,
civil service reform is impossible. By
putting Greeley into the Presidency, his
supporters propose to do away with
nepotism and corruption in all it's forms.
They propose to have the Government
honestly Administered, and by the de-
signation of capable and conscientious
agents to effect reform in the civil ser.
vice.
The party of which Mr.. Greeley is the
representative propose universal am-
nesty, and such advocacy. if it comes to
nothing more. has already caused Con-
gress to enact general amnesty law,
which Radical members would never
have dreamed of voting for except from
party rivalry. We desire to see. and all
except Grant men desire to SEQ, the disa-
bilities removed from every citizen of
the United States.
The Greeley party is for local self
government, and the maintenance of the
rights of the States, while tho Grant
party is for Capitalization and the con-
solidation OF power. The assumption of
extraordinary power by Congress and by
the Executive during the war was recon
ciled on the score of necessity, but am
bilious and designing men have since
then taken advantage of the bad prece-
dent. and one step after another in the
direction of Capitalization has been
tnken, until the Government, as practi.
cally administered, has very little of re-
publicanism left in it. On this ques-
ton, the two parties have taken bold
and decided position-the one on the
nide Of Capitalization and Grant, and
the other for local self-govcrnment, the
Constitution and Greeley.
The leading and vital question of the
present campaign is. whether sectional
ism shall prevail. Mr.. Greeley and his
friends are of opinion that quite enough
time has elapsed since the termination of
the civil war for sectional animosities and
prejudices to cease. and that hereafter
every good citizen should exert his infu-