The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-07
COLUMBIA, S. G..
Friday Morning. August z, 1874.
Instructive Figures.

who are organizing the Tax Unions
will be in order this morning. The
principle which lies at the bottom OF
this organization is one which all
honest men must approve. Every
such man, whatever his condition,
color or politics; must, from the very
necessity OF the case, be willing to
engageyin q movement which has for
object "the reduction of taxation and
the honest appropriation and expendi-
ture of the public funds." There are
=s2, however, WHO look upon it with
disfavor. These are the men who live
by official position and who have a
direct interest in having the taxes
large. The larger the taxes. the larger
the alice they will get out OF them, and
the broader the margin for the spoils
OF Office. Such opposition we must
expect. But we could not get better
endorsement; it is worth dozen argu-
ments. The people. then. will see to
it that they who pay the taxes shall
henceforth have word to say as to the
amount which is to be taken from
them. aud as to how it shall be ez.
pended. They are tired of being
feeced in the name of Law. They are
tired Of pampering thieves. They have
resolved to look more calmly into mat
tera which concsrn them 80 nearly.
No one dare gainsay the right, no one
can contest the duty. And We are
happy to know that the growth aud
progress OF the movement correspond
to- its Importance. Heretofore, we
have been without efficient organiza.
lion; now we are assured of its value,
aud intend to bring it to bear in the
most effective way.
The Radicals and Radical organs
choose to regard this movement as po.
litical. and eound forth warnings to
the fuithful against it. It is worth
while to consider moment what they
say. Everything turns to politics in
their hands. Politics in their VOC 4bu.
larry means control of the public funds
and enjoyment of the public Offices
just that and nothing more. They
have no acquaintance with it as noble
science, as the organon Of wise admi.
nistration and the means of promoting
the good of the people through the
rule of justice and right. But they
know the Tax Unions to be the embo-
diment OF the integrity, character and
determination of the people of the
State who own property and who natu-
rally wish to have good government.
They view them with dread, th erefore,
and have commenced to speculate on
the strength and numbers they may
gather, not to commend them for the
benefits they may confer upon the
country, but to impress upon their fol-
lowers that the success of the tsx-pay.
srs' object will be the overthrow of
Radical rule and the end OF Radical
confiscation Of property. The Union
Herald. Of yesterday, parades some
striking figures. They come out upon
its canvass like the Figures Of mans
hand" which wrote the fatal words on
the walls of Belshazzar's palace. It
places the full Radical vote of this
State at not over 70. 900. and the white
vote, as given by the CENSUS, .: IS. Goo.
Patting it at SIS. 900, there is only diff
ference Q; 18,0Ge. Nov. supposing
there may be as many as ten Radical
voters in the hundred, who, for snfi.
cient cause, will bolt the Radical
ticket, our contemporary says ''it
would tear the victory from the de.
pressed. agitated and gully Republi-
cans. and give it to united. confident
and excited opposition.
We need not give the plan by which,
in the U"iOn' 'Herulrs judgment. the
''guilty" may be saved, not from their
sins, but ts vote on the same old
guilty side. The use we wish to pat
this review TO is to show our friends
what power awaits their grasp, and
what Inducements they have to go on
resolutely and compact their organiza.