The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-07-22

tyrannicalS in hate and born
in iniquity-but they resulted from
gross and unsorupulous abuse of power
by radical faction, whose legislation
was disgrace to American self-govern-
ment, and i'll comports with the liberal
| and advanced views that should have
characterized the American people,
claiming, as they do, to teach and lead
the world in the art of free government.
We should not, however, hold the people
responsible. They were misled by cor
rupt party leaders, who relied upon the
war prejndices to prolong their term of
power. 1t is not surprising, then, under
the circumstances, that the voice of rea-
son was temporarily hushed, and that it
should have required almost ten years
for Northern voters to understand tho
facts as they existed at the South, and to
realize the enormities and wrongs that
had been practiced upon our people
under the Reconstruction Acts Of Con-
gress. The truth was, however, (thanks
to the independent press at last under
stood at the North, and we have the best
evidence in the vote which was polied a..
the elections last fall, that the masses are
really "true at heart" That vote should
restore confidence in the Ameriean neo-
pie, IT the exoesses Of the preceding de-
cade had destroyed it.
+ 1t is further true, that the Government
has become consolidated; yet it is still
essentially decentralized-ce 80
MS compared with French or continental
centralism. With the growth and deye-
lopment of the country, there was ne
cessarlly the usual change from the
homogeneous to the heterogeneous, from
the simple to the complex, from the
weak and purely Federal republic of the
past, to the strong and powerful nation
OF to-day; but this was only in acoord-
ance aotM the, lap, OF progress, itself,
and arose from; the necessity of the
case, in the growth of the "sooial
organism" The country has passed
from the condition Of small confede-
racy OF States, representing a few mil
lion of people, to that of a great nation.
1t hos become one of the first powers of
the world, and, Mt the present rate of in
crease, her population will. exceed, be-
fore the close of the century, 100, 900 200.
We cannot have the pure Federalism of
Jefferson, but this should cause no appre-
heasio'l, if the present limits of national
authority be not exceeded. A strong 90
vernment does not necessarily preclude
local selfgovernment; for there is no real
incompatibility between the two. While
we cannot, therefore, expect again the
extremes of Estates rights" we NAV,
nevertheless, enjoy all the blessings
OF local control over local interests;
and it is probable that the present
revulsion against the centralizinR DO
lioy Of the Republican party will re-
suit IN the recognition of all constitu-
tional restrictions, and check any tend
ency to further consolidation. Upon the
whole, there is much that is promising
in the political outlook for the cause of
free government, and it probably stands
to-day upon aurer. basis than ever be-
fore in the history Of the world; and I
would add, in the language of the i'm
mortal bard,
doubt not but snocess
VIII fashion the event in better shape
Than can lay it down in likelihood"
But furthermore: as in the physical
world, every change in the natural enyi-
ronment is followed, we are told, by cor
responding changes in the fauna and
floral; 30. in the moral world, gradual
changes in the social environment are
followed by corresponding changes in
the social organism. While, therefore.
development and growth, in the ad-
vance OF civilization, frequently produce
cnanges that would be dangerous, if
II society remained otherwise the same:
'~~J SAoA6So OCCOAo HtNrCcS
of progress and Improvement, when, in
analogy to what is observed in natural
history, corresponding changes OCCUR in
the very fabric Of society, adopting it to
ne,o circumstances. The operation of this
law can be discerned in the history of free
government in this country. While, as we
have seen, by the force of circumstances,
our simple Federal Republic has become
strong nation, and as compared with
the States. necessarily clothed with con-
trolling powers-+suoh, indeed, as would
have been regarded BY our earlier states
men as mtal and destructive-yet, at the
same time, corrective and harnonizing
agencies have been developed, which
supply adequate 'counteracfing influ-
ences; and I hesitate not to affirm that
the equilibrium ,oW be preserved, and the
resultant be real progress.
The conclusion OF this admirable ad
dress will be furnished tomorrow.
A collation., furnished by Mr.. John
Mcken yia f011o~oJ. 1rx -.