The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-04-11
COLUMBIA, S. g.
Sunday Morning, April II, 1875.
The Philosophy of the Greeley Move,
r1T n1ent,

Ulou(s
In the action Of States, and in the
platforms of parties, as we'll as IN the
conduct of individuals, whatever is based
upon principle, whatever is done or pro-
fessed because it 10 right, is apt to be
@indicated by time and experience
against any nomentary failure which
may oyertake it. The effort to elect
Horace Greeley to the Presidency had
the finest send-off Of any similar political
movement in our recent political history.
It was right and just in itself. It ex-
pressed the yearning hopes of patriotic
men of ell sections of the country. But
it followed too close after the close of the
war. The wounds it had opened, the
wrongs it had fixed upon one portion of
the American people by the despotic
temper, the irresisti BILE prejudices and
passions and deplorable ignorance it had
installed into power, were not sufficiently
healed, or not sufficiently nppeased.
President Grant had but to sound his
drums and send forth the cry that the
rebels and Democrats were aspiring to
position again-he had but to agitate the
money centres Of Wall and State streets
with fears, of their safety-to walk over
the course into the White House again.
Since then power has run its usual course
into corruption, and the National Admi-
nistration has been detected to be huge
job for private gain and favoritism, and
a fragrant outrage upon the section of the
Union which, on every account, and by
every title of generosity, should have
had, if not its protecting care, at least its
unswerving Justice extended to it. Since
then the North has grown in political
.discernment, and is ripening into more
kindly feelings. What the South knew
from its reasoning, from its habit of
thought and Investigations, from the
lessons of Jefferson, the writings of Mn
Olson, the productions of Calhoun, the
example and the utterances of its greae
thinkers Incorporated into it's public
life. the North is arriving ut by another
process. Facts and experience are COM
ing to the aid of its thought. Conquered
Greece gave to its victor arts, literature
and philosophy. It taught Rome cul-
ture and refinement So the over-run
South, by the discovery of the merit of
its political creed, by the conservative
tendencies which inhere in the structure
of its society and forms Of Government.
when in their normal condition, by the
power Of recuperation, which it has
shown against the effects of disastrous
war and % more destructive and tanta-
lizing peace, is giving useful lesson to
the States North. They are discovering
that there Is more here than they were
aware Of They struck blindly at slave
ry, mere incident, remaining simply
little longer on the Southern than on
the Northern stage-not aware till they
had felt it that the mode and circum-
stances and results of their crusade would
destroy rights dearer than slavery, and en-
danger even the guarantees of sound
government and personal liberty. These
things are beginning now to be dis
cerned, to be considered and appreci-
nted.
But we have written ut greater length
than we intended. We meant merely to
introduce the sensible, just and hand
some remarks made by General Gordon,
OF Georgia, few days ago, in Atlanta, in
vindioation of the Greeley movement.
Many persons have hastily supposed
that it was great mistake; that the South
erred, &c. But it was SINCERE and
honest effort for reconciliation and resto-
ratioH, and as such will be more amply
vindicated as time rolls on. Speaking of
the attempted coalition of elements to
defeat n corrupt Administration, and the
failure which followed, Senntor Gordon
says:
''The elections of last fall were the le-
climate and the necessary results of TINT
coalition. Something like the Greeley
movement was absolutely necessary.
The Northern people had become incrus-
tated with granite formation of passion,
prejudice and hate, beneath which their
mellower and better feelings were i'm
priaoned. 1t seemed impossible to break
through this horrid easement that had
coffined the kindly Northern and West.
ern heart. No plea could penetrate it;
no outrage could shiver it; no argument
could phase it. It was O solid, unfeelinp
mass, against which all impulses fell i'm
potent. But Horace Greeley. with one