The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-04-12
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Sunday Morning. April 10. 1874.
Pro,nises OF Rsforna.

"hAou uotSao VIC pohsaSnI poHoE Au tuio
State. It ragged until tho dog days, and
finally eliminated in the adoption OF a
platform lin words) whose planks were
all so many promises OF reform, and in
the nomination OF candidates for the
high State Offices. who solemnly engaged
to redeem these pledges. portion of
the "party," 1--WE know not what else to
call it, not liking the outlook, and dis.
trustful OF the ability Of those who were
put up to conduct reform, and doubt
fnl OF their sincerity, made another no.
1s;ns::on, cpca Substantially the same
platform, in like manner abounding in
promises and pledges. Reform was the
fashion, and it was necessary to keep in
it. It was the bait for gudgeons. by
which only they could be caught. But
with the election came change. It
brought oblivion of oil these fair words.
By common consent, the purpose so os-
tentatiously proclaimed was abandoned.
The divisions healod up. The bolters
came back to the fold. Reform was for
gotten. The country knows what fol-
lowed. The ''party" swung from one
extreme of fair promises to another of
the practice of every form and mode OF
corruption. Now that the time ap-
proaches for another nominating con-
vention to assemble, the epidemic of
honest intentions is breaking out again.
The symptoms are more emphatic, and,
we hope, more sincere. We hear in the
party" stronger denunc;a.ions, and
more pregnant proofs OF corruption,
than we're shown to exist two years ago.
superadded to these, We have the point
made against those who have filed the
Offices, that they have betrayed the
truets eemmitsed to their hands. The
anestion is derisively asked. "How have
we kept these pledges?" There are de-
malls by some, there are charges by
others. The issue is being made up. It
is given out that the process of puriHca.
tion will DO entered upon vigorously;
that the character of the party must be
'redeehed. and that better men must be
found to act as its standard bearers.
Reform is once more in vogue. The
situation 80 far is exactly parallel to that
which preceded the last campaign. But
it seems likely that there will be de-
yeloped significant difference. Those
who were known two years ago as
"bolters." although better men. appa.
rentiy, than the regulars, surrounded
themselves at that time with an odious
atmosphere. which repelled support
from any other quarter. Several of the
men who engineered the movement had
gone to an mi and unnecessary
extreme in the prosecution OF the poor,
deluded Ku Klnx. They had outraged
the public feeling. Besides the boiling
leaders. including even the sagacious J.
L. Orr, proclaimed it on the house tops,
that they did not solicit or desire "De-
mocratio" votes. They we're afraid of
being compromised in their party stand
ing. Of course, they did not receive
what they professed not to desire.
Now, it looks as if We shall have the
same sort of split coming out of the
same causes. But it also looks as if
those who. par excellence. profess to hlve
regard for the public interests. as " ell
as desire for the emoluments OF Office,
will be more than willing to accept Con-
aervative help. In fact, the invitation
has gone forth to all good citizens from
the mere respectable classes Of the Re-
publioans to come over and help them
reform the Government. So we under
stand the overtures OF the moro mode
rate men; so wo interpret tho editorials
in several of their journals; such we
believe to he the desire OF some, at least,
who are thoroughly convinced by expe-
-ience that the work to be done is be-
ycnd their nnaidod strength. No indi-
vidual Hercules can cleanse out the
political Augean stables The Conserva-
tives of South Carolina desire nothing
30 much as good government. It is o
blessing which they are prepared to ap-