The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-26
COLUMBIA, s. G..
Saturday Morning. September s6. IA
Tha Panacen.

We had the pleasure-and it was a
pleasure other day, of exhibiting
the peace and prosperity, the improve.
ment and advancement, which was at
tanned by the negro race in the South.
ern United States, while held in the
condition of involuntary servitude.
They were brought to these States
savages and oannibals, superstitious,
cruel and debaaed. They emerged
from this degradation into the sun
light of civilization, and into the
blessedness of Christian experience
and hope. The facts of their improve
ment, in every particular, are before
the world, and the world has been
duly impressed by them. All but ad-
vanced thinkers of the Wendell Phil
ips-Garrisonian school of Jewelers.,
destructives. and malignants. are
obliged to recognize the con clusions
which they establish. We may close
that volume and lay it aside, with per.
fect confidence that it will bo author
itative for all time. The black man as
slave did his duty and received his
reward. When tue mantle of free.
dom fell upon him, he was in some
measure prepared to receive it. He
was intelligent enough to perceive that
it brought obligations as well as enjoy.
ments. For the new condition to
which he was advanced, he was fitted
not by scholarly requirements, not by
attainments in science, literature and
she arts, or by knowledge of govern
ment. He had not been to school or
college; he had not travelled abroad;
ne was, in many respects, still q child
OF nature. with remains of many of
his earlier repulsive characteristics
olinging to him. Bat he had learned
habits OF obedience, order and disci-
Pllne. He had acquired good use of
his faculties of mind, speech and hand.
The skill in work, the habitude of
ahor. tho concentration OF his thoughts
upon certain definite though limited
objects. the happy exemption from the
spirit of care which he had inherited,
and which had been fostered by his
dependence on others these, and a
hundred other similar traits and use-
ful habits, served, in q measure, to
qualify him to accept the responsible.
ties Of freedom. Gould he have been
placed under the tutelage Of those who
we're naturally his friends. could the
little alienations which sprung up be-
tween them at the outset, from the sud-
denness of the change to which both
were subjected, have been permitted
70 expire, as they would have done but
for industrious fomeaters of diacord
between them, he would not to-day
have to look back upon so sad record
as his nine years of liberty show. He
escaped one kind of slavery only to
fall into another aud baser. Not bad
himself, be bscame the tool of bad
men. But the responsibility is only
partly his. The State Executive Com
mittee SANDER the negro rank and file,
when they blame them for the horrid
government which has beeu put into
operation and sustained by their votes.
The leaders, native and imported,
black and white, aro the rascals who
have spoilt things, baulked the expert.
ment and murdered the negro's good
name. They have procipitated the
colored race ia:o ruin, degraded their
manhood, despoiied them OF au honest
living, and dragged them into the
oess-pool of corruption. Had they
not been tempted by carpet-baggers,
they had not sinned and disgraoed the
new privileges Of citizenship as they
have done. They are now awakening
to sense Of their condition and to
she necessity of vindioating them.
selves. Unmistakabie evidences ap.
pear that many realize to what they
have been brought. They are anxious
to take stand in favor of better
things. Their principal obstacles arc
the old enemies OF their peace and
good name. They enter the market
with their bribes for the colored mans