The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-01-31
C0|'Ll,UI)M!|lR|IA}A i 9 { B G.
Friday Morning, January 81, 1878.
IntoIerAnco.

Friday Morning, January 81, 1878.
., Ssts. .IntolerA noe. ~
We had occasion, some time ago. to
rebuke. the political intolerance OF our
Radical CITY contemporaries, in pressing
upon the Legislature, in elections to
oficss which require special and tried
talent and exceptional qualifications the
one claim exclusively OF party tie and
association. OF course, we expect men
to sustain their party. and, other thiugs
being equal, to prefer candidates for
office who belong to it. But our con-
tsmporaries seem to think that to be OF
the faith is OF itself all-suffioient. In
their view, this merit is enough to ba-
lance the grossest ignorance, TO Offset
,thaswautiof training and experience, and
10 cover ! multitude Of sins'besides.a For
ourselves, We think very little OF party.
We know how the Conservatives stand in
numbers to the dominant party. In that
respect, they are helpless, But they
have character and talent, education and
experience. They pay the bulk OF the
taxes, and il in any portion OF the peo-
:, pie there is I'd be found anything like
State pride, it must be with them. They
have looked with some interest to the
present administration, because it came
into power upon pro:essiens OF purpose
to reform abuses, to ourtaii expenses. to
drive dishonest men from the public
service, and to seek only the public
good. The Conservatives have been de-
sirous Of oonfiding in these promises.
They aim to support the Government in
all that is fair. =, They wish it to improve
its'oharscter. honesty and efficiency. II
il means reform, they stand ready to aid
IT, II it really desire retrenohment, it
hasiin them sincere allies. They arc
hurt, as citizens whose destiny has been
cast here, at the melancholy condition of
public affairs, and at the degradation,
low tone. manifest incapacity and shame
less dishonesty Of the late State officials.
They hope those now in Office will do
better. aud retrieve, as far as may be
possible, the character of tho State.
Supposing that the new admins
tration was wiser than it's blind
advocates, that it meant what it had
90 often said, we have sought to have
it recognize the necesuity of more liberal
views. and the abandonment Of the
hide.bound policy which they would for
ever Az upon it. The administration
has asked Us to aid them. aud we seek
to do it. We only demand in return
that they shall iberali1e their minds,
and call to their assistance, in their pro.
posed reforms. whatever experience,
talent and honesty they fad available.
We desire nothing but improvement in
the public service. But no improvement
is possible while those who control the
opinion of Republicans. pursue the mar
row course which we have condemned.
II they are to be governed by the low
maxim that to the victors belong the
spoils, if the sum and substance OF their
policy is to make hay while the sun
shines, to enjoy the offices of profit and
honor as SO many perquisites belonging
to them, and not to hold and discharge
them as important public trusts, then, Of
course, it is idle to talk of any amend
ment or to hope for any improvement.
Water cannot rise higher than it's source,
and we look in vain for pure streams to
fow from unolean fountains. We trus,
that the State Government, which il
now starting out on its career, with
many difficulties to contend with, will
not needlessly embarrass itself by adopt.
ing the narrow and petty views which
We have had more than one occnsion to
condemn. They will be fatal to it in
the quarters where it seeks strength and
confidence, and will prove 30 many
chains on its own free, unrestrained &C.
ton.
Tho Appropriation Bill.
The hill making appronriationr for n a