The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-24

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economical administration of the affairs OF
the State, have already carried alarm into
the ranks Of the enemies Of good govern
ment. These abandon in haste their cid
lines of Defence while the organ OF the Scott
Ring, with an industry worthy Of a better
cause, hastily constructs new platform
which will, it is hoped, be broad enough
and strong enough to hold up the manifold
sins and wickednesses of the present rulers
of the State. Daunted by the indignant
words of an injured people, the Ring are
ready to promise anything and everything.
Just in the same way they paved their polit-
ical path with fair declarations two years
ago. But their pledges stand unredeemed,
their every promise is broken, and it is our
right to Judge them now By the light Of 'ohat
Mey hare done, and not by what they gush-
ingly and gIbly promise. The contrite thief
should be forgiven, but he shall not receive
the keys of the plate-chest until time has
proved the sincerity Of his repentance.
The organ Of the Scott Ring resolves, as
portion of the platform OF the Ring, that (D
dishonesty or Incidence in office is crime
against the people: that ~ monopolies must
be steadily and uncompromisingly opposed;
that (3) exemption from taxation must be
opposed; that ~ the debt OF the State must
be fully and promptly paid; that t5) the edu-
cation of the children OF the State is Of
paramount Importance; that (6) the expen-
ditures of the government must be reduced
to the lowest figure consistent with efficiency,
and that the next Legislature must reduce
the burden Of taxation.
l. dishonesty or indolence IN office is a
''crine against tile people," All the State
officials have, in two years, accumulated
large fortunes, although their salaries are
small and they were poor mon when they
were elected. The principal members OF the
Legislature live in extravagant style, and
set hardly any limit to their expenditure.
During the sessions of the Legislature votes
are bought and sold like catfish in the
Charleston market. A large sum @ money
1850, 600 is said to be the amount) was paid
for the passage of one bill. The more i'm
portant committees declined to report upon
certain bills and resolutions, which were re-
ferred to them, unless they were paid for
their tt6uble. A sum of 100000 was ap-
propriated for the Land Commission, and
out of that sum about s56O,OOO is declared
to have been spent, leaving the State a liza
bility of $500, 900 beyond the appropriation.
The late Land Commissioner is charged with
having signed warrants for sl2O, 900 in pay
ment for tract of land which cost only
$50, ,O0o-the responsibility for this proceed
ing is borne wholly or in part, by the high
officials of the State. The debt of the State
exclusive of the ST. 900, 900 to be guaranteed
for the Blue Ridge Railroad) is increased
more than 81, 100000 in two years; and the
general expenses OF the State Government
rise from 1914, $50 in 1867 to s72l, l69 for
the current year.
We charge that these facts prove that the
Scott Ring are guilty of dishonesty and in
ssdolence in Office, and that they are, there
fore, guilty of ssa crime against the people, y
2. "1fonopolieS must be denounced ana
opposed" The Legislature, at its last ses-
sion, granted an exclusive privilege to a
phosphate company which, it must be ad-
mitted, paida heavy price for securing the
passage Of the bill.
8. "TAe exemption Of rich corporations
s.fron, taxation must be opposed" This is
nothing new. The difference between the
Ring and the Reformers is only this-the
Ring insist that all corporations snail be
taxed whom they desire to tax; the Reform
ers take the ground that all corporations
shall be taxed who can legally be taxed.
4. "The debt Me State must be fully and
spromptly PAID" This is admitted on all
sides, but the Ring have added FOUR MIL
LIONS to the debt in two years. They have
brought the State TO the verge OF bankrupt
cy, and now piously declare that the debt
must be paid. A simple resolution "to pay
sthe debt" is not enough. Whatever the
willingness OF the people, the debt cannot be
paid unless It's increase be stopped. The
people cannot bear unlimited taxation; they
cannot long endure the load OF taxation now
pressing them down to ruin. And the Ring
have already proved that while they are de,
termined enough, in words, to pay the debt,
they do, in fact, increase the amount Of that
debt every year, and so make its final e1-
tinction more and more difficult, if not i'm,
possible.
S. "THe education of The chtld,en Of the
estate is efparanonat importance. This
we all know and admit, but during the two
years of their power, the Ring have done
nothing for the education OF the children o.
the State. Q.) An ordinance Of the Consti'
tutional Convention, dated March l6, 1868,
instructs the General Assembly to provide
for the appropriation of the Citadel and
grounds in Charleston for educational pur-
poses. This has not been done. (2.) The
public schools Of Charleston are at the point
OF suspen sion. These schools cost zoos