The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-02-18
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Wednesday Morning. February 10, IA.
Coming 10 Tnesr senses.

A very significant change has come
oyer the spirit Of some OF the Radical
lights in this State. It is worthy of re.
'oognition and notice. The views sent
forth from time to time from the press,
the exposure Of the damaging facts OF
corrupt practice in government, the ras-
oally frauds, the utterly rotten eondi.
tion of things in the public service, the
impending ruin OF the substantial poo.
pie, who pay the taxes and bear the
burthens. the bankruptcy of the State
n means and character, haye st last at
tracted attention amongst the Republi-
cams North. These Hbuses have been
Justly charaoterized5and reflected back
upon us .in thejf journals and in the
utteranoes Of their public men. 1.-THE
PROSTATE State, " by Mr.. Pike. is terri
BILE indictment, to which these destroy
ers Of its prosperity, these legislative
and administration plunderers, plead
guilty by their silence. They have put
in no answer to its grave charges. Com
ing in this shape and from this source,
they force themselves upon the notice
of the Radicals here. who begin to see
that the, day Of ftheir doom is not far of.
Another thing has tended to en-
tighten them. It is the determined
attitude Of the people whom they have
: systematically plundered and outraged.
The consciousness that their guilt has
been .detected, coupled with the start
ling fact that the people have resolved
no longer to bear the evils imposed
upon them. that they mean to throw off
the burden ,et wrong, have brought
some .of their leading men to terms.
Delany has sounded the alarm to the
black race, and. in sensible letter. of
advice. urges them to prepare for the
inevitable change, 80 as that. when it
shall come. they may still have share,
through the principle of proportional
representation, in the councils of the
State. His apprehensions arise from
the view of the stream of immigration
which is flowing into the State.
Elliott, in speech delivered two
evenings since, which is vastly more
sensible than his flourish in Congress,
has reproduced the structures 80 freely
expressed in the North. and brought
them home with an application which
touches the raw. He speaks in re.
ypectful terms of the Tax-Payers' Con-
vention, and deprecated the idea that
it was sham or sore-head movement.
It was perfectly legitimate. on the con-
trary, in view of the fact that things
were daily growing worse, and needed
prompt treatment. It's counsels would
be entitled to every consideration. The
movements of the grange were also sig
ni6cant. and with other signs, be-
tokened q disruption Of existing politi-
cal organizations The name Of Sonth
Carolina was kissing and reproach
everywhere. The national Republican
party was ready to cut off this rotten
branch. These latter.d day confessions
and warnings of Elliott are kept in
countsnance by remarkable editorial
in the U"ion- Herald, OF yesterday. It
has persistently fought the idea of the
convention, and bespattered it with no
little amount Of mud. Now it surren-
>.aers at discretion. and thinks it may do
some good. Verify. the world moves.
or perhaps we should say in these cases
is moved.
Elliott is very correct in bis admis-
sions, bnt is not so happy when he
coD'es to indicate q remedy for the evils
he pictures. The new set of men"
whom he proposes to take the place of
the old swarm would bleed rs even more
severely, being driven by thirst not
even partially assuaged. They would
hnve no more reform in them than their
predecessors. Suc.. purity cunnot of
itself purge itself. We shall never see
it slough of It's rotten elements. They
can neither reform or really favor re.
form. It is virtue beyond their reach.
But we need not dwell upon that, nor
upon tho charge which he makes, that
the dire evils which now affl;ct fbo nao