The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-02

Trescot can say Of such State as
South Carolina, that among the people
OF his State Federal politics are obso-
lete. and that the one absorbing, vital
interest is the honest administration OF
the State Government, he presents u
picture of the revolution that has
swept over the South. since the war,
which an elaborate description of the
situation might fail to convey to the
mind. South Carolina was the home
Of Federal politics. and Mr.. Trescot
was reared in its atmosphere. His
writings and his experience 10y in the
outer circle of Federal and inter State
relations. and those subjects were
always matter of absorbing interest to
The people among whom he dwelt. II
he can find no interest in these Ques-
tions now among his people. there
must be little of such interest in South
Carolina; and the fact that tho South
Caroliniaps have no such interests,
and that Federal politics are obsolete
among them, shows how completely
the old State has been beaten down.
We nre nll familiar with the events
which have effected these mighty
changes in the disposition of this
people. Men who see the Foundations
OF their homes tottering and threaten
ing destruction; who feel the hands of
robbers upon their throats; who hear
the burglars cutting their way into
their houses, do not stop to indulge in
speculations as to the right and duties
of members Of society. Just 80, the
situation is too intense in South Caro-.
IInas tho nnn6fpn
near at home; there is too much of
struggle for life aud security to person
and individual property for men to
stop to discuss State sovereignty, or
even to consider their aggregate rela-
lions with other political communities.
Federal politics are obsolete. It mat
ters little whether Republicans or De.
mocFats rule the land. It matters
little what powers the Federal Govern
ment hssumes to itself. or how little
recognition 10 given to The sovereignty
OF the States. All that the people Of
South Caroline ask is to be saved from
anarchy and ruin; to be saved from
being robbed to fiji the pockets of
sconndrels and thieves; to be estab-
lishediin at least the decency and
security that are granted to the most
abject pro vinces of the most arbitrary
and cruel despots. The large pre-
ponderance in South Caruiiuu OF the
ignorant and illiterate element in The
politico-social system would be a seri-
ous obstMcle in the way Of progress
and reform. even'if that element were
well-advised and subjected to elevatipg
Influences. Butcircumstnnces height
ened by antecedent conditions on the
one hand and cheap clup-trap on the
other. have brought the colored people
OF the State under the domination
nc: the influence, for that IMPLIES
some amount OF reasoning and intelli-
gence-of a set Of adventurers and pill
ferers, who use them for no other
purpose than their own personal ag-
grandizemept. How cun the honest
people OF South Curoliua win enough
OF these nnlettered and easily -bcgniled
colored people to the side of virtue to
enable them TO drive out the thieves
and vagabunds who are running the
black as we'll us the white people nud
destroying all hopes for better day.?
AR. Irescot has announced him ,elf us
an anlndependentc candidate for Congress.
He has undoubtedly heavy odds against
hlnl, but there ARE Indications uf q
marked re-actiun in South Carolina
against the further rule Of dishonesty
and corruption, and he has, we tliuk,
adopted the proper course 10 nvuil
himself OF that re action. if it. eau he
carried to the doors of dcoenoy and
honesty. .-LouisuiN9 Courier Journal