The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-07-04
Joining the Radicals.

Some Of our exchanges mention instances
of deftctions from the ranks of Southern men
to the Radicals. They mildly term it ''join-
ing the Republican Party" We hear now
and then ofarcspcctable young man who has
done his duty to his race and country in the
past, and who still enjoys the confidence and
good will of his suffering countrymen, a
more precious inheritance than radical gold
can buy, We hear of such an one some.
times, bartcrinS his good name and the grand
memories and associations Of the past, for
the chances of lucre from the great Radical
mess chest. We have no emotion but pity
and regret for such as these. We are sure
they know not what they do when they take
that fatal pledge. They will not know until
they have forfeited it, the value Of a good
name among honorable men, and pure women
There is no such thing as Republicanism
At the North there are certain principles
upon which men may differ in opinion and
which honestly array respectable people in
the Republican ranks. Here there are no
such principles. No Southern white man
can now become South Carolina Radical
and maintain the respect of his people. If
that time ever was it has now passed All
Southern men, with one heart and one
mind! embraced the Southern cause, honestly
believing it the cause of truth, justice and
right. They defended it with heroism,. a
sclf-sacri6cing and patriotic DEVOTION which
will write their names in history as adding
lustre to the human race. A few years
hence tlie, blind and sensclcss follies of. the
present will have passed aENeyf and the world
will awake as from q dream. The scales of
venom, prejudice and hate will fab from all
ewes, the truth will be made to appear. and
the memory of Lee and of Jackson and the
noble band which followed them in the
death struggle for freedom and the right,
will be held embalmed as sacred things.
No richer legacy can man leave his chill
dren than the uitarnished fame Of the faith
fal Southern soldier. For what does a man
exchange it when he turns his back upon
Els race and kindred, and all the glories Of
the past? Does he not leave honor behind ?
Does he not give the lie to his past life !
Does he not defle the graves of his dead
comrades and polluto and bring reproach
upon their memories, when he joins the par
ty whose whole stock Of principles consists
in hatred of the rebellion and all connected
with it? Whose highest arguments consist
of abuse of the people with whom he has
until now been identified, and whose ulti-
mate ambition is to have our children spit
upon and contemn the principles for which
their fathers fought and died? But what
can he gain by thus degrading himself at
this late day? 1t is too late now to make
anything by such a course. Thrift no long
er follows fawning. When the necessitie,
of party required the aid of men of brain,
there were not wanting those who were will
ling to listen to their overtures for consid-
Grafton, and invariably they got their price
down, in hand as itwerc. But that day has
gone by. Places are not now so abundant as
candidates, and the long. suffering and much
abused rank and file Of the party, the col
ored people, arc beginning to lift up their
heads and think for themselves. They can
see no reason why they should continueto
trust these new converts and to reward them
with fat offices, especially now that they see
among themselves many quite as competent
and likely to be more honest than those who
desert the friends and principles of life
time merely for office. 1t will never pay. We
g!ia.l no longer see nillionaires like Parker,
Scott & Co., springing up like mushrooms
and accommodating colossal fortunes upon
salaries greatly less than their annual cx-
pcnscs. The people arc tired of being plum
dercd and impoverished to enrich q few
carpctbaggers, for let it be remember no
scalawas has ever succeeded 50 we'll in this
business.
Let no Southern white man suppose that
he can take this false part without the loss
OF friends, character and inward peace. IF
lie is conscientious in the belief that the rad
ical rule in South Carolina is best for his
people, let him cndcavor to convince them
and carry them with him, but nothing that
Earth can give can justify his dcsortion Of