The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-06-14
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Sunday Morning. June 1s. 1874.
Pent UP In Partys

LII uouuuClHtlOu VI tu6 OOutu SaEO.
lima Radical State Government, We
cannot hold candle to our neighbor,
the Union- Herald. Our will is good.
bat could never equal its distinguished
skill. Our mild expletives toll in vain
after its burning epithets. It seems,
though, as if the Union Herald che.
rishes this luxury as one peculiarly it's
own. It finds fault with ms for our
humble limitations OF its fiery rain OF
wrath. It charges. further, that we do
not discriminate sufficiently between
those in its party who have ''honest
ID earnest intentions to do better"
and the regular rogues. In that. the
Union Herald makes q great mistake.
Repeatedly, We have commended its
own EFFORTS and outspoken plain
speech. It has done good, undoubt-
edly, and We are very far from any
thought or purpose to discourage it.
What we want it to do is, not to eat
its big words, but to accept and carry
out their logical conclusions. The
argument is pretty nearly exhausted.
Defamation has had it's day. It is
time to come to something practical.
To be effectual, reform must take q
definite, tangible shape. As o mere
idea, we had enough OF it; it must
now REPRESENT things; it must mean
some particular reform. We presented
several subjects proper for reforma-
tory action in yesterdays issue. The
reforming Republicans have it in their
'power, by initiating genuine move
ment of this sort, to make good I'M
preston for themselves and to dull the
edge of censure which rests upon
them. It is no time to talk about the
black code, the Legislature of 1865, the
secrets looked up il the vaults OF the
Bank OF the State. or anything else,
! however bad you may say it was. that
'heppaped before the food. 1t looks
S&e the practice of the cuttle-fish
blackening the waters to eIude pursuit.
The real questions are. have We rogues
to catch, criminals to punish, wrongs
to redress. reforms to carry out. good
measures to institute. country to
paoify, on the principles of justice and
right?
There is no question of party that
need be raised. We have never raised
ono. We never think about party ad.
vantages. But We are sorry to say,
that that's exactly what the Union
Herald thinks too much about. "Be
dead sure" the man you vote for "is
a Republican," 1--WE do not propose to
elect Democratic Governor or Lieu.
tenant. Governor" ".he integrity of
onr party" &c.-these are specimens
of the Union. Herdld's thoughts. They
have not aufloient calibre. They are
inconsistent with earnest reform. You
must come out OF that. You must not
place party triumph and ascendancy
above the safety and prosperity of the
SoAA HhEelS6
promote the good of State. They
watch and protect each other. Their
rivalry prevents blunders, and con-
dnces to the results of good admins
tration and correct management in
each. But We have only an ugly, one
sided affair in South Carolina, bloated
with rottenness. needing only vigor-
Gus and resolved undertaken. Is that
the thing the Union Herald means for
ever to swear by? Is that the misera-
BILE monster that it would conserve in
preference to the State itself, and all
that makes life in it respectable, de.
sirable or tolerable? II so, then it's
role Of reformer has been ill.chosen.
1t has said some good things. IL has
done some good. It can do more, if
it bursts the trAmmels of party, and
makes good its professions in vigorous
measures.