The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-06
AFFAIRS IN KERSHAW.
Difficulties Of the Reform Canvass
Good and Substantial Progress.
rFRox OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE


CAMDEN, October.
On yesterday we had the great pleasure OF
hearing fromRne Of Charleston's distinguished
and gifted sons, General James Conner. No
one else spoke, but the truthful utterances of
the speaker had in them that which they
might carry home and reflect upon deeply and
long.
One old man came to your correspondent
after the speaking, and asked him to write
the name of the gentleman that had spoken,
In clear, round hand for him. I asked him
what he wanted with 1t. He replied, "His
words were so much like truth, that I
don't want to forget his name"
I am convinced that much good has been
effected by General Conner's presence and ad-
dress. And now that have paid my respects
to the General, permit me to add something
in relation to things generally IN this neigh
borhood.
ORGANIZED in town, one of which has been
armed and supnlIed with several thousand
rounds of ammunition. But the captain Will
not give them out only during drill, 80 that
the Reiormers have not begun TO tremble yet.
And if all the men are like their chieftain,
there is but little danger that they will have
cause to. t'..S
Our people are thoroughly posted in this.
campaign, and will turn ont largely on the day
of election. The only fault that can be found
| is that they don't work hard enough. Your
correspondent feels that incessant labor would
not be too much to apply In this effort to save
our State from utter ruin. There Is No doupt
| that those who are at work have more thor
ough appreciation Of Its necessity than ever ever
before in our history as people, and no stone
| is left unturned by either party which can as
sist in the triumph of either. The chief din:
| Guilty we have to contend with is the want OF
education In the colored people. BY thls they
are, many Of them, unable to appreciate the
position In which we are. They regard II .as
the tall-end OF that same old contest between
tie Democracy and Republlcanism Of two
J years ago. And most studionsly do their
speakers avoid lifting the veil of the present.
| Their sole object is to keep the c0lored people
in a state of ignorance. Need say how COM
pletely this is illustrated by the following incl
dent? A colored man asked the question
they would not turn Congress out and put
the colored people back Into slavery?
The only way of influencing the mass of
7 them is through their leaders, whom they have
confidence in, and will follow implicitly, be-
llevng that whatever they do Is right.
Their leaders are generally Intelligent men,
who know that the old, old story Of slavery,
|
buried with the dead past. They see that the
country is not prosperous, and when the foul
dealings of the s'Scott Ring" are pointed out
| to them, they trace the effect back to the
cause, and desire to 60 with the Reform party.
But despotic ''petticoat government" aided
and abetted by other fre-eaters, at the very
first indication of an inclination to come with
us, choke 1t down, and rather than be In an
eternal hubbub with their wives, or suffer
social ostracIsm, the poor seekers after good
government subside into the quiet and unoB-
| tentatious shades of mild Repu6licanlsm. But
there are notable exceptions, who are masters
| in their own establishments, and independent
enough to think for themselves and what
srrikingly shows that the Reform principles
are correct, they are almost without excep.
ton among the most. honest and intelligent OF
| them.
The uScott Ringn have assidnously taught
them that we are lighting Republicanism. and
they have endeavored to draw the party lines
precisely where they weresdrawn IN 1855, but
we invariably stagger them by referring to the
manner in which we place Republicans upon.
our tickets, and ask for nothing In our candi-
dates but honesty and intelligence.
But to leave the arena Of politics.
Our community was perfectly convulsed, Ut
is way old and rheumatic communities have,
YOU know,) by the discovery OF Q newly-born
colored infant, which had been left by Its In
human mother to perish.
Great was the excitement, and Internal the
clatter of tongues. Babel was rehearsea;
strange chimerlcal theories were ventilated;
deep the exclamations of horror at the moth
er's inhumanity; many the tears Of pity and
compassion. But all ended xnen the county
commissioners took charge Of the stranger.
The town resumed its usual aspect, and every
body went home to breakfast. The ''oldest
inhabitant" could not recall a parallel case. I
have heard OF some fever and eore-eyes since
the above happened, no doubt originating
from the excitement and tears of fcompassion.
They suffer in the line of duty (may be.) And,
| while upon the subject OF duty, will close by
saving that when you next hear from mel
hone that we will have struck noble blow for
| Reform In old KERsHAH.'