The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-07-10
s. G..
Friday Morning. July 10. 1874.

CAANby 10VAu4Aks SuAy 4Vs AOsSs
ImpTessions.
We publish this morning readable
letter from correspondent, "H.,' .
who writes from Spartanburg. We
cannot let it go forth, however, with.
out word OF protest against some oi
its misconceptions. We do not concur
in the hopeless view which the writer
takes Of our affairs. He is greatly
mistaken in saying that the majority
OK the white people have become con
vinced that it is waste OF time and
energy to resist the tide Of corruption.
When d people reaoh suoh conolu-
sion as that, they are already slaves.
But this is no: so. They are quiet, as
they should be. The elements which
make the storm ore quietly gathered
together. It is still water which runs
deep. It is wisdom which is silent and
thoughtful. It is courage which is
calm. It is not true that every previ.
ous effort ut organized resistance has
been complete and humiliasing fail
ure. Men and States make mistakes,
OF course; but sometimes what seems
mistake to-day may prove to be good
policy or wise act tomorrow. Ere.
vious efforts made in this State were
honestly made, and it is too soon to
pronounce them failures. No good
thought or earnest purpose falls to the
ground. Men are sure to reap the
fruits OF sacrifice, toll, patience aud
perseverance,. In our case. they begin
already to wave in view.
We turn with more pleasure to
matter upon which we heartily agres
with "H." We do need organization.
II is the dusy OF the hour, and it is one
to which, as people, We are constitu-
tioually averse. We must learn it.
We must practice it. We shall soon
require it. We shall need the habit Of
self-control, the submission of our in
dividual opinions, feelings and prepos.
SESSIONS to the attrition of other
mems opinions, feelings aud prepos-
sessions. They must be polished,
unified and worked up or worked
down, till something like uniformity
is attained. n community of interest
established and a common purpose
fixed upon. We must learn to think
and act as one man. It is only in
unions OF organizations that the wea-
pons OF steady and resolute action,
Of wise forecast, of prudent restraint,
and of the repression of individual
prejudices, can be successfully forged.
What "H." says of newspapers is
what might naturally occur to one not
in position to survey the field of
their operations, or TO study the multi
farious duties which devolve upon
them. They have to consider the
wants OF most diversified class Of
readers, many of whom require line
upon line. precept upon precept. DIFF.
ferent topics have to be presented. ard
different modes Of treatment must be
resorted to-. It shonld be a newspa-
per's aim to send ont good doctrine,
sound views, prudent counsels, careful
exposition of facts and principles.
Errors and mis.statements have con-
stantly to be contrsdicted md refuted.
They must be put down. or they will
be believed and do harm. It is not
every one who can sift faIsehood from
truth-in fact, it is not every one who
instinctively prefers the truth to false
hood. The truth has to be engineered
into the minds of some men. It is not
waste OF energy to show how the
State Government is machine. q very
institution OF corruption. "H." thinks
everybody knows this, and that every
body is aware that ruin stares him in
the face. II they know these things,
1t is only because intelligent and active
newspapers have made them plain.
But they are not SO very plain. They
are constantly and plausibly denied.
If they are demonstrated to exist, in.
GeniouS EXCUSES. calcnlated 10 imnose