The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-11-01
COLUMBIA, S. c..
Sunday Morning. November l, 1874.
Tho Real Issue.

In yesterdays PHOENIX, we published
the letter Of Hon. J. p. Reed, of An
dersen, giving the reasons which have
induced him. as betwesn the :wo Re-
publican candidates for Governor, to
support Mr.. D. II. Chamberlain. The
argument, as there presented, seems to
us to have peculiar force and clear.
ness. 1t suits the purposes of those
who take purely partisan view of the
situation, to denounoe Mr. Reed as q
Republican. because of the pronounced
position he has taken; but we fail to
find, in this communication. one word
to indicate that this gentleman has
foresworn his time.honored principles
or purposes. now or hereafter, to ally
himself with the Republican party.
Let us treat this matter in candor,
without prejudice and with decency.
As We have heretofore indicated, if the
C,nservAtives of this State hal placed
our banner in the hands of General
kershaw, or any other recognized
leader OF the people Of this State. we
should have had our line of duty
plainly marked out before US; and, so
far as the letter of Mr. Reed gives us
ground for judgment, he would have
united with Us in the support of such
candidate. But the Conservative
banner. the Democratic banner, the
banner. by whatever name, which We
have heretofore followed. has been
folded away; and we are bidden. like
dumb, driven CATTLE" to follow new
banner. with Republicanisns inscribed
upon every fold of it. and yet We are
to be taunted and denounced as
Republican" when we refuse to do i'll
Our nature revolts at this. It is not
fair; it is not decent. When the peo-
pie are called upon to choose between
these two evils, let them have their
choice untrammelled. If Conserya.
tive citizen of this State now deter
mines to support Mr.. Chamberlain, he
is no more Republican in 80 doing
than he would be If he supports Judge
Greene. Both are alike obnoxious, 80
far as abstract principles are con-
cerned. The honest, earnest Con-
servative may support the one as we'll
as the other, and yet keep his faith
untarnished, and his blade bright to
contest the real battle of Conservatism
wherever the occasion offsr. The fact
is potent that. especially in tho up
country, many Conservative people
think, and profess to act With, Mr..
Reed, and it is folly in the Democratic
supporters OF Judge Greene to say
them yea or nay. on any ground which
attaches to the real Issues held in abey.
ance by the Conservative people OF
South Carolina.
We have recognized the fact that
considerable number of our people
have, in an organized way. declared
their preference for Judge Greene. For
this declaration we have entertained
profound respect, and to this day We
have deemed it our duty to keep the co.
lumns Of the PHOENIX so that their pre-
ference might have the utmost express
sion. We havo not seen fit to denounce
orr friends as Republicans because of
their adherence to Judge Greene; in
deed. We have not seen fit to question
their motives or embarrass their action
by pronounoipg against them. We do
not do SO now. But we have at last a
duty to perform to ourselves, as we'll
as to those with whom we have for
long been associated in political action;
and this duty it is now time for US 10
discharge. We do it with regret, but
"time at last makes all things even."
In the last two years, we have
watched with anxious care the action
OF the present administration with
reference to the public debt; for this
is to us the chief concern. at the close
of Gov. Soott's second term, it was
admitted that the debt of this State
amounted to over $40. 900. 900 upon
its face, whilst it was claimed that the
larger portion of this debt was in fact