The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-19
Barnaele Tito s Co.

The Do-Nothing school of politicians, and
their equally inert disciples, declare, with
mingled pathos and bathos, that only pas
sive resistance should be offered to the rule
of Extravaganza and Corruption, Sich is
fast driving South Carolina to the very brink
of financial bankruptcy and commercial
ruin. At the same time, these very Barna-
cles are tolerably well aware that they would,
themselves, find it extremely difficult to earn
their daily bread, if the majority OF their
fellow-citizens clung with like tenacity to the
mouldering timbers of the past. Lolling on
luxurious cushions, dabhling in stocks and
bonds, or practicing lucrative profession,
Barnacle Tite & Co believe that life enough
will be left in the Old State, in any event, to
support them and theirs. Lest they should
soil their dainty disits, lest the breezes
of heaven should blow too roughly upon
their cherubic countenance they decline to
wag Il tongue or raise hand for the saliva
ton of their people. But they will eagerly
seize upon every advantage which reformed
government can give tlIem. They refuse,
now, to work with the party Of Retrench-
ment and Reform. But they will instantly
claim their full share of the benefits of low
taxation and equal representation, which their
more sensible fellew-citizens are working
hard to obtain. This Do-Nothing policy, it
will be observed, is in many respects an
adroit one. If the party OF Retrenchment
and Reform should wholly or partially fail,
the Do-Nothings would exalt their horns and
say-We told you so! And when that party
is gloriously successful, the Do-Nothngs will
walk smilingy to the front, claim their share
of the profit, and take all the offices which
an injured people will give them. The Do
Nothings may not mean all this; but no
other construction can be PLACED upon their
conduct. 1t is easier to believe that men
are governed by self-interest, than that those
who see farthest on other occasions should
be shortest-sighted now.
For the masses of the people, the argu-
ment against "passlve resistance" and in
favor OF an energetic effort to obtain bet
ter government, is both short and simple.
That argument is--THE ENORMOUS INCREASE
OF TIE STATE DEBT, THE ENORMOUS COST OF
THE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND THE ENORMOUS
TAXATION, WHICH INCREASED DEBT AND IN
CREASED EXPENSES MAKE ABSOLUTELY HEcEs-
sARY Can any man who looks atthe figures
doubt that unless We have purer and more
frugal administration the State will be hope
lessly ruined?
l. The appropriation for the expenses OF
the State Government was S42O, 900 in 1866,
and is S72O,OOO in 1870, exclusive of the in
terest on the public debt. Besides this
there is the county tax, amounting 10 more
than S50O,0O0 and the capitation tax
amounting to $500, 900.
O. The salaries Of the State officials were
$50, 800 in 1867, and are SlG7. 500 in 1870.
3. The estimate OF the Comptroller-Gen
raj for the expenses OF the year 1869, under
specified heads, was s777,39O. But the
amount actually spent was Sl,296,752. And
this does not include the $1,000 spent by
the Land Commission.
t. To make long story short-thc debt
Of the State direct and indirect, which was
SIN MILLION DOLLARS in 1868, is now FOUR
TEEN MILLION DOLLARS.
How can any one, in the face OF figures
like these, advise his fellow citizens to prac-
tice mastery inactivity, and wait patiently
until some peaceful revolution shall not only
hurl Radicalism from power, but wipe out,
besides, the long roll OF debt and taxation !!
The only thing which can save the State and
the people is u change Of government at the
ncut elections. We cannot afford to wait !;
for il the struggle were postponed two years
longer the taxation would be so enormous
that neither commerce nor agriculture could
thrive and prosper. And then the only
spassive resistance" remaining to the peO-
pile would be general Exodus from State
which was ruined, less by the act OF her
enemies than by the obstinate folly OF few
OF her own children.