The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-10
COLUMBIA, S. G..
Thursday Morning. septem'r r 10. 1874,
Tho Necessity OF Correcting MIsrepre-
aoutRtiOns.


Upon the general subject of the Go.
vernment policy OF quartering troops
In this State. we have frankly and re-.
paatedly expressed our opinion. We
have watched the course of things
hete with attention for years, and 10
any fair discussion OF our real condi.
ton. could not ignore the disastrous
moral effect Of standing army in
time of peace. However few the num-
bers of regiments. the effect has been
s'l the same. Intelligent Republicans
from other States who have looked in
upon our affairs, have pointed it out as
an undue and unhappy influence tend
ing to the s1stentation of all the bad
elements in power, aud indirectly pro
noting corruption in government.
The President at last, as if conscious
that explanations were needed, in an
interview with Senator Robertson, ex.
p'iaitly denied that his purpose in re-.
tanning the troops here was what it was
Popularly supposed to. be. and what
had really been its effect. The Sena-
sor was perfectly correct in informing
the President that "the mass of the
people, black and white. believed that
the forces were kept in South Caro-.
lima for tile purpose of sustaining the
State Government" In emphatically
denying this, the President showed
shat hs then felt the odium OF such an
1mpntation. It was signal rebuke.
He said earnestly. that the one exclu.
sive duty of the troops was to enforce
the laws Of the General Government.
Accepting this view of the case, and
learning besides that he was disgusted
with the corroptions which prevailed
here, our people became better recon
oiled with their fate, thus illumined by
some CLEANS Of hope of better time
coming.
What do we see now? Upon the
merest pretex OF violence, and, too, evi.
dently for the purpose of making an
Impression upon the colored voters, to
serve the objects of the plunderers of
the State to strengthen the bond scrip
and other rings. we have had demand
made on the Government for addi.
MonRl troops to be sent here. In answer
to it. the power has been placed in the
hands OF the Attorney General to or
der them to localities where they may
be "desired." Where they will be de-
sired, it will be quite easy to conject-
ure. We have United States Senator.
in publication meant to reach the
1hole American people. as a juatifca.
ton OF his monstrons charges of daily
murders and dangerous outbreaks,
vituperatirg large portion of the
people Of the State as Ku Klux, and
sneeringly depreoiating them as crimi-
mails who "have a wholesome respect
tor United States troops and the
United States Courts"
This rabid language OF a man who
occupies the seat once honored by
Calhoun, Is commended in our midst
as the very essence of wisdom, iudg.
ment and justice-journals which
serve the interests of money rings.
also in their interest glibly talk of
Democratic Ka Klux assassins," and
demand the interposition OF the Go
vernment for protection ngainst them.
The Government has duly listened to
all these charges and demands.
This review bringa us to the con-
sideration of our condition in a new
and changed aspect. We have new
question precipitated on us, which it
is necessary to meet. Under the cir
cumstances, it is incumbent upon the
much-abused Conservative people of
South Carolina. first. to disabuse the
National Administration of the error
upon which it acted, in strong and
emphatic denial Of the charges OF the
parties who have gained its ear with
their gross nisrepresentations; and,
secondly, to assure it of our perfect
acquiescence in its action in its recent
order. This We can do without modi-