The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-06-26
COLUMBIA, s. G..
Friday Morning. June 20. 1874.

Friday Morning. June 20, 1874.
Tho New York ..Timcs" on South
Carolina Affairs.
The New York Times has for some
weeks past made specially OF the
co==unn.;cn and governmental ahnsee
of South Carolina. It was later than
the other great New York journals in
discovering the rich placer, but now
that it has found it out, the Times
seems disposed to dig till it gets to the
bottom. We are under very great
obligations to the American press. and
particularly SO to that of New York,
for throwing their strong influence
and broad light upon our affairs. For
many long months. for years even, our
condition was bat feebly disoer ned
outside the State. Our outcries were
treated as 80 many reasonable utter.
ances. and the sufferiugs of which we
complained were, in many instanc es,
pronounced The just consequences OF
our political Sins. But at last light
has broken through che crust of
Ignorance and prejudice. and the po-
litioal rancor which hugged delusions
and sought to place blame where it
did not belong, seems as il about to
expire. The situation OF South Oaro.
lima, the abnormal. unrepublioan oha-
racter of Its government, the gigantic
frauds and corruptions which oharac.
serize it. The rapid tendency it shows
to degradation and to the dissolution
OF the ties which bind society together
by the harmonious development OF all
its parts. and By the just protection
OF ell its interests-these and their
causes have become study to the
curious. We welcome the researches
and the intelligent interest OF these
thoughtful men. We invite their in.
vestigations. The problem which is
70 be worked out here is OF, which
not merely involves the fortunes of
the citizens Of the State, bat ooncer MS
the whole American people.
The last letter OF the Times CORES
pondent from Columbia is of consider.
able length. and is devoted to an ex.
position of the views OF Ex-Governor
Magrath on some Of the oauses and
the remedy for the ills of the State, to
interviews with Governor Moses aud
Ex-Governor Scott, and to statements
Of Treasurer Oaraozo' about some fan.
cied reforms. The mode of reform
proposed by Ex-Governor Magrath
sounds plausible enough, but does not
seem to us to be practicable or posi-
BILE. It presupposs % three things, none
OF which can be counted upon or con.
ceded-arst, sincere desire and pur.
pose on the part Of the Federal Govern
ment to effect genuine reforms here; Sc
condiy. the capacity OF its appointees
to office in the State to make ANY seri-
ous impression upon the minds of the
colored people; and Ia stly. the will and
the ability on the part OF these people
to accept ;his diosation. aud to regu.
late their political conduct accordingly.
1t is,Sn6t worth whilesto discuss suoh q
sohsMsss ior tie United States Govern.
ment. as at present controlled and ad.
vised. has shown mo just conception OF
the evils existing here. and not par.
tiole OF dssire, to- have them. absted.
As much Is admitted BY ex. Governor
Magrath, when he Gays: '.D honest,
educated men we're appointed to the
United States Offices. now filed by cor.
rupt and ignorant political favorites.
much good would certainly follow.
In asking Government to reform it.
self, as the preliminary step to intro
ducing reform here. he begs the whole
question. What, again. would the
colored men care about "the nation al
large" demanding of them to "reiorp
their party and to give their support
only to honest oandidates?" By wha
tribunal would it be determined who
are "honest?" How would those b.
designated and spotted who have beer
''engaged in corrupt transactlons?'