The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-22
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Sunday Morning, June %. 1873.
Know. by ,h.1r Fruits.

Win apprenenSlOnS that the Radical
party OF this State is in danger, both
from within and without. It sheds a
great deal Of ink in the effort to keep its
ranks closed. and to infuse vigilant and
suspicious spirit into its members. It
calls upon them frequently to fall into
line. in order that from their serried
order and undiminished numbers it msy
take fresh courage and draw increased
confidence. The Pilgrim Fathers. or
those claiming to be. their descendants,
have q. rock on which they landed, and
to which They. periodically resort to
catch inspiration. II they can but touch
that roek nccaaianally, or read Of it in
Bancrofts History, they think them
selves all fiaht.and,safe. Our neighbor
has q rock too-the one on which it says
the Repnncan party is founded-''the
rock Of truth, iuh4sse, freedom and hu-
man rights" Being founded on nuoh an
immovable basis, one would think it
might defy the winds of adverse doc
trine. or the waves of increasing popular
distrust. But every bfssaa Is freish:ed
with danger, and every waSe that rolls
against it is considered corrosive and
hostile. We think oar naighbor more
correct whore it says, shifting its simile.
that its party rests on the shoulders of
the people. It is heavy load 70 carry,
,huF II they like it. we have NO right to
complain. AS long as it rests there, and
-!.'the people, can be hooavHlnked by
>duloet sounds. iapd empty promises, it
may consider, tifssH secure. II. on the
other hand, ;as tie Herqd says. its adhe-
rents are daily bAooming independent of
party discipline and leaaPrahip. its lease
of power is to tha sana .extant weaken.
ing and lessening. N9!hipg in the
world is wanting to the overthrow of this
party in this State, with all its'professions.
pretensions and advantages of numbers,
but the spirit of free inquiry, and even
moderate intelligence. We should be
glad to believe that the Radical party
was seeking liberation from its shaokles
OF ignorance. ndiitsithraldom OF p,eju-
dice and fanatioiem.i If..it could exercise
any freedom OF viii, and thought, there
might be some hope lor it and the coun-
try which it graspsfin it's clutches. But
we sec no signs Of danger TO its continued
prosperous existence, from any such
cause, It is the policy Of it's leaders to
keep It In It's present state Of easy control
through itapassions and weaknesses. It
is statedly leosured upon the Importance
Of unity, the danger Of: discord, the
beauty OF ''fdelity to the party" and
the necessity Of the ''conatant victory of
the party" Whatever else may 60 to
pieces, it is held to be il.cumbent il upon
the Republican party, at all hazards. to
maintain the ,pesmanency Of it's political
power.
The Herald has an inside view Of
things. When it writes 30 frequently in
this nervous strain, it denotes uneasiness.
It has been compelled to expose to some
extent, and to denounce in general terms,
many abuses which exist in it's party. It
admits that "muoh wrong, corruption
and sin have crept into its camps" It
cannot deny that the finances havo been
badly managed, and the peoplo loaded
with fictitious and fraudulent debt. It
has battled against the Blue Ridge scrip,
and it has given its aid in exposing the
bond swindles. and in tho effort to have
the State debt Investigated and MI spn.
rious claims disallowed. Having told
some home truths OF this sort, and
dealt few sturdy blows at abuses.
it must, perforoe, hold the balance even;
and hence these inanities about the
rock-a sort Of blarney stone, We opino-
on which Radicalism securely and COM
placently sets. It is hardly consistent,
however, to laud o party for its lofty
principles, when it brings forth only
such sour and rotten fruits as the Herald
itself shows. Truth, justice, freedom
and love of human rights. if practically
embodied in party. as we'll as theoreti-
oally professed, will never produce pecu-
lation, fraud, dishonesty and quibbling.
Il: