The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-02-06
COLUMBIA, !. s. G.
Friday Morning. February 8, 1874.
The spIrit OF tho nIovement In the State
It suits the purposes of leading Radi.

whose path OF corruption, plundor and
imbecility the shadows of coming events
are falling, to brand the approaching
convention OF taxpayers as political.
So said 8. J. Lee, Speaker of the House
Of Representatives, to his constituents
in Aiken, and so has charged more than
once the U.ien. Herald: t is the first
tune which the old-new Unioa, the re.
vamped organ OF carpet bag plunderers,
grinds out upon its re.appearance. Such
is the way of these people. Misrepre.
sentation and appeals to prejudice and
ignorance compose their stock in trade.
They have been powerful weapons in
their hands heretofore. But through
their exoesses. they have produced. q
state OF things 80 serious and embar-
rassingi to the whole country, including
even their wretohed and oredulous
clientage, that such Influences aud suoh
appeals cannot avail them to the same
extent'any more. Instinct impels them
to their continued use. however. They
have no other tools with which to work.
They atilli clutch at them with despe-
rate grasp. They seek to inooulate
thaif weak followers with tho fear of q
loss Of power and all the fat things
which it affords to them. They pre-
teud2to think that tho present move
xaent in the State has originatedin the
purpose to contest the next elections
with them. But they know that they
misrepfaaent it. They know it has
broader basis than this to rest upon, q
higher. object than this to subserve.
They know that those who have it in
handiare not such fools as to waste their
ammunition upon o hopeless expert
ment. We do not expect them either
to understand It's full significance. to
appreciate the patriotic motives which
anspire it, or to regard tho high objects
at which it aims. But they only take
counsel of their fears, OF they only
practice their usual duplicity in endea-
voring to discredit it by suoh imputa-
tions as they think will damage it with
their rank and file.
SO far as the determination of the
people has been expressed, including
more particularly the tax-paying por-
ton. nothing has been put forth or
thought about entering into any scram-
BILE or contest for Offices. There is no
Democratic party organic alton in the
State which has taken, or which pro.
poses to take, any action OF this sort.
We understand perfectly the difficulties
which surround Us. We know that
there is no easy way out of them. We
are not'so blind as to suppose they can
be overcome in q dny. The struggle is
one which VIZ cannot longer avoid. Cir.
oumstances force it upon us. We can
not decline it, if we have any self.re-
spect and pride of character, any man
hood, left. We dare not, in justice to
those rights which it is no less duty
than privilege to maintain. and which
are centred in the words and the
thoughts of country, home, family.
children. property, honor and oiviliza-
tion. abdicate those powers which have
been given us to defend them. Our op.
preston and our shame have continued
till they have become intolorable. The
evils, corruptions, imbecility and hypo-
criay of the barbarian government under
which we suffer, have brought it to the
last analysis. It stands before the world
a guilty thing for scorn to point her
slow, nnmoving finger at. Other com.
munities and States, other7countries,
even the General Government itself,
will now appreciate the work of destruc.
ton which has boon wrought here.
They who needed not the voice Of manly
remonstrance or tho protests against
wrong OF brave but unfortunate peo-
pie; they who could coldly turn awuy
from the piteous appeals wrung by suf-
fering from innocent victims-need only
turn their attention this way to see
sight never to be forgotten. Here Ii.
berty, true Republicanism, good govern.
ment, respect for right, regard for do
ceney. all lie PROSTATE. Here schools
and colleges have been destroyed, and
1 -. -.