The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-04-28
COLUMBIA, s. G..
Tuesday Morning. April %. 1874.
Como ou. FROM Amongst. Them.

Au0k0 adc U0ou COaoA60AuOAO outCA Al
this State among those called Republi.
can against the rapaoity and profigacy
of its officials. Bot its echoes are
already dying away. The exposures
made within the party were only for
temporary use. which has already been
secured. The attempt to commit it to
any path OF reform was never seriously
entertained, and il tried, would SO con-
hict with its spirit and purpose as must
necessarily end in abortion. It has,
therefore, been found convenient to
tack. and tho party as such denies the
charges OF wrong doing, the existence of
OWLS, and any dangers to be apprehend-
ed from their unchecked progress. Ia
casting about for candidates to take the
place of those who now disgrace the
Offices in its gift, it can do no better
than give the "ring" turn, and pre-
sent the names of persons who either
belong to it or depend on those who do.
SO much for one phasa of development.
But we are inclined to hope that thero
IS minority in that party which means
better things. The decided stand taken
by Judge Mackey against the depreda.
tions of County officials, the investiga.
ton by committee now in session in
this city into the singular circr instance
that more than 81. $50. 900 of bonds arc
nnaccounted for in the State, tho prose
,sations which We have reason to hope
Che AttorneyGeneral will institute in
behalf of the State against some of those
who have systematically defraudet, it,
are indications Of this sort They are
few and far between, it is true, and not
as yet very strongly pronounced But
we do not see why they may not increase
both in number and earnestness. The
opportunity of doing the State some
service on the part of men who belong
'sa That party, but condemn its corrup-
tions, is one which they ought to hasten
to embrace. Two things are necessary
to give them the right to enter upon it,
and might be regarded in advance as
guarantees of success. They must first
really and heartily recognize the exist
ing evils in their length and breadth;
they must next seek their e1tirpation by
thorough aud uncompromising means.
And il such course of conluct should
endanger their party relations, they
must be willing to incur that hazard,
too.
We have peculiar state Of things
here, which hardly will allow any one,
who wishes to be of any service in this
aay and generation, to stand upon any
ceremony of party fealty or obligation.
In the short to secure decent and honest
government, the Conservatives of this
State accepted and supported Radical
in the canvass of 1870, running for Go
vernon, not as party man, or to sub
serve party interests, but upon the
broader platform Of the public good.
That Was y good, if not successful, cx-
ample which conservative Republicans
should h ed. It is the ready cry of
party which keeps down generous,
Hohoo1 ouu PuoAiC-SplIltcu meu. LII IL
tho instrument by which our chains
were originally forged, and by which
they are kept riveted upon us. Will
my considerable minority of Repubi.
cans break these odious bonds, and step
out upon the public arena as men, not
partisans, ready to devote them selves TO
the interests of the State, and to reooR-
nize the fact that they can no longer
successfully serve it in a party which
only breeds corruption? We are told
by our neighbor, the Union Herald, that
both the Republicans and the opposi.
tion in Congress think it passing strange
that large minority, controlling all the
wealth, intelligence and other influence
in this State, is unable to secure is, 600
or 10000 votes OF the majority ''all, I"
as 1t says, "that is needed to win." The
reason is plain, and the Union. Herald
has been partly responsible for it. The
Republican party ss represented here,
when 1t comes to voting, can do nothing
but vote the cccinatiopa eolidJ1 oyan