The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-28
A Correct state government.

This is the desiderdtun for South Ca.
rolinas This would prove, the panacea
for all our ills. What prevents usfromn
getting it2 We'll, many things. Unit
versal euffrage. under miechieyous guild.
anae, has resulted In dtvoroing property,
intelligence. qualifications for the duties
of enlightened citizenship and integrity,
from their proper connection with the
Government. and in placing the manage
ment of affairs in the most irresponsible
hands. The classes who are capable of
conducting them successfully and ho.
norably ara completely cstraoised. They
pay heavy taxes, but the chief use to
which they are put is to support the
State officials, whom they have not
chosen, in barbaric splendor, and to
perpetnate the rule OF ignorsnce, preju-
dice and dishonesty by which they are
oppressed. Why is it that those who
have the voting power exert it 30 dis
astrously and constantly to tho detri-
ment Of the true interests Of the coun.
try2 Because they act under the advice
Of bad men, who have them in leading
strings, and whose thoughts and aims all
run in dirty channels. These people
have settled upon US like the murruin,
flies, locusts,. frogs, lice and other
denominations which devastated Egypt.
They came with professions of exclu-
sive loyalty to the Unitod States Co.
vernment and Of extrome regard for the
welfare OF the colored people. They
secured their confidence only to betray
it. They crouched under the folds of
the national flag. and thus protected,
have perpetrated wrongs which it will
take generations of good government. to
wipe out. Will this flag continue to
cover and countenauce their iniquities?
Shal! they be allowed to use it as tho
shell, the testudo, under which they may
make safe approaches to the last citadel
of the peoples rights, liberties and pro-
perty?
What the final result will bo. all can
judge from what has already occurred.
We are tending rapidly to the loss of
all guarantees of freedom, all protec-
tion of property, all securities Of good
order. all pledges of good understand
ing for the future. Unless this unnntn-
raj and artificial state of things is cor
rected, fearful era is before US. we
wish to be rid of men who keep them
selves in position by fomenting strife.
We wish the true and substantial iEte-
rests of the country to come together,
upon the basis of good understanding
between oil classes and conditions who
are concerned in its permanent prosper
ity. A dangerous and meddlesome ele-
ment must be eliminated before thisIcan
be done. AS is pointedly shown in an
article in our columns, today, from the
New York World, Gen. Grant pulled out
"the wrong tooth" in Ku Klux times.
He seems even conscious of it himself,
for he is credited with saying to Re-
publican visitor from this State, that
had the Ku Klux struck down the mise.
rable State officials, instead Of their
poor tools, che would not havo worn
Grape" Nothing is truer than what Mr..
Witherspoon, Of Yorkville, said to Sena-
tor Scott: "Give us a correct State Go
vernment, an' will assure you that the
Law will be administered without fear
or favor, impurtially." This assurance
tho Conservative people of South Caro-
lima are ready to give and make good to-
day.