The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-30

Wednes lay Morning. Sept. 80. 1874.
Artificial Honesty.

In the closing hours of the session OF
the last General Assembly. the lesis!..
live robbers made savage attacks upon
the State Treasury. Some of their go.
called claims we're defeated or STAYED
OF, being at anoh monstrons character
,as to frightep from their support,those
sxho desired ..td sustain them. Many
were allowed. and are amongst those
for which the State Treasurer refused
TO issue the certificates Of inhabited
mess. Just after these fnal robberies
were consummated, 80 far as legisla.
tion could do it, it was charged by
Rsdioai speakers and the Radical press
that the Conservative members we're
TO blame in part for not being present
SC osp1nose them, The fact was, that
'She day of adjournment had been fixed
Two or three times. but, as it proved.
it deceived, and was Intended to de.
scelRe and induce to go home, several
>af the members who were tagged out
with the long protracted session. A
stranger, looking on ut the fllibuster.
ing of these final acts. would infallibly
have adopted the same views of the
legislative body which Mr.. Pike did.
But what is particularly noticeable. is
shat the blame expressed against the
Conservatives in this case is an admis.
sion that. they are specially needed in
the Legislature to guard the public
treasury. Their highest duty, as thus
anterPreted, would be TO prevent legis.
-sa:ive stealing. This, as paramount
duty. the better class OF Republicans
have also to shoulder. John Cochran,
IN the address to his constituents,
which We noticed yesterday. in explain-
sng to them why hs had not been able
20 secure the passage of more of the
1eaT ms he now advocates. gives,
amongst the reasons, this: II also had
TO devote great portion of my time
To the defeat Of many fraudulent mea,
sures that csme up for our considlra-
tiun, where tie State was interested
fun thousands to millions"
in the journals OF the Radical purity
we have read, frequently, of late, that
ehey want strong minority Of able,
honest and Industrious Conservatives
IA the Legislature. When we come to
analyze the motives of this professcd
sRish. We find them to be not that
shey propose to use the high qualities
'Thich they ooncede to the Copscryu-
tives, in the construction of better
Jaws, in the reformation of groyelling
policy, or in the faithful and economi.
,:.al discharge of the few duties incum-
bent on them. It is rather that they
shall play the part of detectives and
policemen. and by prevention, per-
haps. of some fragrant frauds, add to
the credit OF the party which they thus
hold IN check. Suys one of these
1onrnals: "Some Of our party, who are
talking loudly euongh about reform,
need some watching There hos never
been enough OF it. With strong
minority, our party would not have
fallen SO low as to be now on the de.
sensive." Where it would be nc ces ,ary,
and where little capital could b.
made out OF it. the Conservative votes
you'd be utilized for the benefit of the
liadical administration. and to smooth
over the record Of the Radical party
Sat how would it be when the
great swi1dles and jobs come
Sp for consideration Then tho
conservative honesty and intelligence
would be in the ~aJ, and tbs party
lash and all the old arts used to nullif,
sheir effect. What all honest mer
~ant is not petty pretsnces of reform
not paraded economy in ineiguifcan,
things; not political use to be made
ot good elements. in tho Legislature OF
clsewhere, all in the interests of part,
and for the benefit of Off ,ials. bn,
another spirit altogether. breathei
1nto the character Of legislative, inte
public counsels, and into all the form.
of the public life. The country need
more than minority checking th,
>autr0ges of majority, and giving tn !