The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-10-22
COLUMBIA, S. C.
Wednes :ay Morning. October %. 1878.


licnn Party,
The Democratic opposition, in coming
forward again for support of the coun-
try after the war, was not sufficiently
polite in it's denunciations of tho Rldi-
cal party. as the willing violators of the
Constitution. It was itself, in it's North
ments, party to the invnsions which it
subsequently, attempted to rebuke.
These invasions sprung from a loose
construction, which, it was claimed, was
necessary to strengthen the war feeling
and give it uninterrupted course. The
party and the influences which broke
this barrier were still potent to main
cain the results which followed. It was
waste of time and talent, and at that
time wholly impolitic movement, to
call in question accomplished facts.
The people who had carried through
the war could not be expected to con-
denim it, or the steps. however irregu-
lar, by which it had been conducted.
They were wild over the SUCCESS Of the
national arms, and willingly condoned
tho unwarrantable and unconstitutional
methods which had been put in practice
to achieve it. It was as impossible to
mako headway against this frenzy us to
undo the war itself. The Reoonstruc-
k;oD Aoto wo-> FRO oroo1 -, tLa oo,,,. s,,,
lutionary spirit. But being in opera
tion and exalted in the popular esti-
mate, as the work of wisdom aud
craftsmanship, it was vain thing to
call them in question while the mania
lasted. No doubt, they were ''revolu-
tionary. unconstitutional, null aud
void;" but tho country was unwilling SO
to brand them. The Democratic party.
in joining this issue, was justified by
every consideration but that of policy.
1t was not sound policy to attempt to
cope with party prejudice and popular
passion. 7. -or!d have heen viser to
have bent to the storm. until its fury
was spent. Grant and Colfax hud an
easy victory over Seymour and Blair on
the class Of issues which were brought
into the contest, aggravated, as it was,
by the extreme and imprudent attitude
OF Blair more particularly. These same
issues were studiously kept alive through
Grants first term. They retained ST a.
cient momentum, together with other
cooperating causes, to bear Grant and
Wilson into power again. But mean
while other issues we're rising to take
the place of those which, in spite of all
the tanning of politicians on both sides.
at last began to lose their hold Oh the
popular mind. These are rapidly as
suming shape. and address themselves
with peculiar force and effect to the
honest aud respectable portion Of the
national Republican party.
The strength OF the Republican party.
coupled with it's original. overbcaring
and unsorupulous instincts. and it's
splendid opportunities ran naturally aud
easily Into license. proaigacy aud cor
ruption. Incapable of statesmanship.
the force which it had gathered in war,
and from its political conquest over i'm
practicable opposition to its results, was
expended in doubtful measures. in
creating and fostering great railroad
jobs, in unconstitutional lnnd grants,
and in new and more fngrant, because
less e1cusuble, violations Of the Cunsti-
tuition. The course of it's administrn-
tion towards the PROSTATE Southern
States was as unjustitiable and tyranni
cal as it was malignant and ill tempered.
We need not further pnriicularize its
wrong doings. A counter current has
set in. and is ginning strength aud vo-
lume every day. The victory of 1872
was the entering wedge Of ultimate &c.
feat. The exposures which came out
then are enough to ruin any party. Its
rottenness was manifested to the world,
and its decay and overthrow is only Il
question OF time. The sober second
thought OF the people is at work. The
Democratic gains in Pen nsylvana and
Ohio, the decrease Of tho overwhelming
Radical minority in Iowo to n no,,;,