The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-25
COLUMBIA, s. c..
Friday Morning, September 26, 1874.
Tho Bostom EVIL.

" Nat might nCs |:Sc and Just
administration OF the General Govern.
uaent have done for the South in the
last nine years? We are accustomed
to complain of our local troubles, the
tdisorganization Of labor, the lack of
capital, the want Of confidence, the
,antagonisms of races. the oarpet.bag
vermin covering the body Of the State,
End the installation Of official and
Legislative brigandage as the master
lprinciple in public affairs. But what
Us the secret power which lies behind
all these enormities, giving them
gitaiity and encouraging their diaboli-
cal agencies and influences? It is the
mailed hand OF an unfriendly and in
capable government. The greatest
failure in history is the management
of the Southern States by the admi-
abstraction of President Grant. They
have been ruined and reduced to tie
' condition of satrapies. Their future
looks darker and more threatening
than 1t did half dozen years ago.
Discontent, unhappiness. distrust and
despair pervade all classes Of society,
except those which have been foisted
ufon it to prey upon its resources,
and squander its substance in riotous
living. Bourbons forget nothing and
leArn nothing; but those whom Proyi-
dence, for reasons past finding out,
Save charged with tho control of
& several OF the Southern State Govern
ments. forget none of the bitterness
and malignity of the war period, and
nave learned in this hideous period of
reconstruction, every new imaginable
device of cruelty, extortion and in
suit. Tkese acts they practice in
safety. shielded by the protection Of
the central power. A highly capable
Republican writer two years ago ex-
pressed his SURPRISE that the Federal
t;sovernuent, which could do much
towards correcting some OF the worst
practices OF our corrupt travesty of
government. had really done so little.
1t is the only authority. he said, to
which the South Carolina miscreants
pay the least Difference. It holds vast
sway over tho State in its appointment
to office of the large body of revenue
officers. postmasters, the Federal
udges. attorneys. special agents. &c.
For some reason, he continued, it has
not exercised it's influence to any
extent in the interest of good govern.
snent. "For some eason"-thereby
hangs tale. These miserable State 60
Sernments, bottomed upon the densest
Ignorance, guided by the craftiest cun-
ming, inspired BY malignity born of
the pit. are its political allies, its crea-
lures OF duty work. its propagators of
evil influence. While these creatures
or creature revel and corrupt, the
people suffer. their highest interests
>decline. and the country tends inevi-
tably to revolution and bloodshed.
The powers that be now and then
arouse from their lethargy. or are star.
tied in their revelry. Knowing nothing
better, having no resources of states.
'znanship. they cry for troops, they
resort to suppression. In lucid mo-
ment the President bewailed the con-
sdi1oo of South Carolina. He autho.
'cIzsd a correction of the impression
which prevailed that he meant to sus.
tain corruption or give his countenance
80 thieves Alas! two short months
dissipated these good resolves. He
listened to the voice of detruction and
calomny. he ordered his troops here to
serve the purposes of political hacks,
ae endorsed the party of corrupt men
and corrupt measures. Now we have
:lespatohes that the President and
sone OF his Cabinet officers (the name
OF Williams ia pradently excepted
from the list) intend to clean out the
carpet-baggers and scalawags who have
Drought discredit on the blessed party
sud have fomented strife and kent aiire
the embers of civil war. They will
throw their influence in favor of GOOD
government and against political cor