The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-19
Incipicnt Civil War In Arknnsas-Tho
Irrcprcsstblo Conflict.


Irrcprcsstblo Conflict.
The news we are receiving through
our special correspondence Of the trou-
bles in Arkansas gives rise to grave ap-
prehensions that the bloody drama there
is spreading and becoming intensified.
The immediate cause OF these disorders
and the details OF their development
have been given in our correspondence
from Arkansas, and it is unnecessary to
recapitulate them. They arose from po.
unsorupulous carpet baggers, and have
the white and black races.
The statesman whose remains were
given to the earth at Auburn on Monday
first pronounced, we believe, those omi-
nous words-the ''irrepressible conflict"
They were uttered while Mr.. Seward
was q Senator of the United States, aud
when he ,was leading the nnti-slavery
movement in this country. He did not
care, probably, to look beyond the abo
lition of slavery. He was content to
leave the consequences to tho future aud
to the wisdom aud sense Of right of the
American people. It is proper to say
here, in justice to the memory of the de-
ceased statesman, that, having brought
the irrepressible conflict to the end he
had in view-the freedom of the negroes
he became conservative, aud cndea-
vored to produce harmony between the
two races in the South. Those who fol.
lowed Mr.. Seward in the control of pub
lie affairs were more radical. They were
not contented with emancipating the
negroes, giving them the suffrage, and
securing to them, by amendments to the
Constitution and through the low, all
the rights and privileges that white citi.
zens enjoy, but we're resolved, for politi-
cal objects, to virtually make the blacks
tho ruling power in the Southern States.
1t is this policy which has produced the
fearful state Of things in Arkansas, Which
has led to the unblushing official rob-
berry and generalization in South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Louisiana, and other
States, and which threatens to bring on
a war of races at no distant day through
out the South generally. No other ci-
vilized State in modern times has exhi-
bited such spectacle of official villainy
and degraded practices as have been wit.
messed in South Carolina under negro
rule and that of the white carpet-bag-
gers, who, are the allies of the negroes
against the people of their own race and
blood. The orgies at the State capital,
Columbia, among the negro men and
women and their white allies, the trading
in votes of the Legislature through de-
graded colored women, and tho plunder
OF the Treasury and tax payers, have not
been exceeded in the black republic of
Hayti, and that is saying o great deal
So in other Southern States demoraliza.
ton has grown rank in proportion to
the negro population and it's influence
in the local governments. And how
could it be otherwise? The most intel
ligent aud capable people have been os.
tracised, and the most ignorant have
been made their political masters. Un-
scrupulous and needy adventurers from
the North have, under the fostering care
of the Radical Government ut Washing
ton, pandered to the passions and preju-
dices of the ignorant blacks, and have
thus sown broadcast the seeds of race
animosity and discord. While VIC are
not disposed to believe that either the
Administration or the majority of the
dominant Radical party in or out of
Congress wished to see this deplorable
state of things, it is evident that their
policy has brought it about. To secure
SHO sAS6AO 'ObS oo 0tk huAaA do3 Auus IL H6-
cessary to accomplish that, to ALLEVIATE
the Southern blacks from the whites,
was the object. The politicians only
looked to the present and left the future
to take care of itself, if even u war of
races should be the result.
The irrepressible conflict. then, hos
taken another shape. It is not now
question of slavery or of equal political
rights, but which race shall rule in the
South. Indeed, it has been and is still
q question OF governing the country
through pandering to and controlling
the negro vote. No such issue ought to
have been made. The material interests
of the blacks and whites in the South,
and therefore their political objects and
affiliations, arc, or should be, identical.
This issue OF race antagonism, forced
upon the Southern States by the Radi.
Gals, is full Of mischief and can only end
disastrously. We begin to see the con-
sequences in Arkansas. If we look at
the history Of other countries where the
negroes have acquired self-govcrnment,
or where they have been o predominant
ing element, either b. being in ma
'jority or by some whito faction using
them IA allies rnln and damorol;1of;or,