The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-04
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Tuesaay Morning. August 4. 1874.
A Broken Reed.

WnRG tuo peOple OIL OOutn OarOlln0,
who pay the taxes which support the
State Government, shall see fit to do
10 check its evils. reform it's abuses
.and alter it's character, will be seen
when they take counsel together. At
present. they are forming Tax Unions
all ovet the State, having for obiects
''''the reduction of taxation and the
henest appropriation and expenditure
of the public funds" These are ob-
i.ieots worthy of all effort and of the
support OF all honest men. Heavy
HEsxation and misappropriation Of the
',fands constitute the objective point of
: the present movement in the State.
When it is carried, there are many
evils which find their head and source
aa 1t, which will go with 1t, while
Others will remain to be disposed OF
separately and differently. How the
Taxi nions will be able to reduce the
taxes snd secure their honest expendi-
tare, will. no doubt, be developed in
good time. They are moving in a
perfectly legitimate and peaceful way to
accomplish good and desirable thing.
no man can gainsay the movement.
The people have the right to meet
and counsel with each other, to ex-
,press, their wants. to make known their
grievances, and to unite upon u policy
which, in their view, is calculated to
remoye them. The attempt is made in
certain Quarters to got up the cry of
1'bloodshed or revolution on the part of
the opposition of this State" But it
IA not revolution to unite against op-
presslve taxes, to require that they
hall be reduced and not be,appropri-
-ated to private uses. It will be worse
than revolution. however, to interfere
with a.people who seek in a peacefol,
qniet'and. perfectly Legitimate way to
throw of the weight which oppresses
chem. We are threatened with this.
Those who handle these taxes and who
lord it over our unhappy people, are
~Gpdn arms against, anything which
Cooks to their just reduction, and to
the overthrow OF the infamous agen-
<cies by which they have been imposed
sud similar outrsges inficted upon us.
But while they aippantly talk of
t.h!eeaeheea" they are very far
'Sirom any willingness to shed
their own. They hasten to take
position behind the General Co.
rerament. From it they illuminate
their little ediots against the "South
: Carolina Democracy" The Demo
eracy is informed that the country
does got love ii over much; that 1t
kaowa South Carolina was the cradle
ofthe rebellion, and it would "demand
4 stamping out of all organized viola
tien of the public peace. Now, the
Democracy. we venture to say. knows
Rhat it is about. 1t has q legitimate
aim and will pursue it in manly,
legitimate way. They have learnt
irom the President, upon good Repub-
Ecan authority, that the troops are not
Kept here to assist in the collection of
cxorbitant taxes. nor to protect the
State Government. The President
Indignantly denies this, and says that
'.he would infinitely rather see the
State Government pass into the hands
of the Democratic party than to see ii
continued in the hands OF the corrupt
ssew who have brought things to the
present pass" Who compose the cor.
rapt Grew who have brought things ia
the present pass? It is not Moses
alone. It is not only those who stand
with him, bnt also those who stand
against him. Neither faction has
prodered anything to the country upon
which it can rely; neither has taken a
single step towards the recognition and
reform of abuses. On the contrary,
they show purpose and desire to
Lave things run on in the same old
zuts. They shout reform, but its
meaning is Office, party, power and
-p}under. Not word for justice, mol
sentiment for oonciliation. They
<usn NTH ooosn e.oco -.