The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-22

away in rude bufeting with the world; there
were fair girls who forgot that there is a
faultiness Of thought as well as ofact. But
only handful fell The war "demoralized" lit
tie more than would have been tarnished and
smirched had notthe dogs of Mars been loos-
ed upon the land. And lin 1865, though riches
were swept away and homes made desolate,
this people was manly and true-purifed,
not destroyed, by the fires OF affiiction.
For the first year or two the tone OF South
Carolina was unchanged 1t is true that the
whites were shocked at the thought that
ignorance and inexperience might be set up
in authority over intelligence and wealth.
But this was not their work, and they wait
ed patiently and quietly for that settling
down which naturally follows cycle OF ta-
multi and strife The body chosen to frame
a new constitution met and did its work.
Still there was no perceptible change in the
common standards of right and wrong.
Governor Scott was elected and the recon;
struction General Assembly began its ses-
sions. This was the turning point.
After two years Of party legislation,
the people halt and hesitate. Whether they
90 syith tile truth or join hands acah false
hood, depends upon tie otctory or defeat OF
r. K. Scott and his Ring, In the coming
general elections.
Already the evil leaven is working. The
General Assembly could be bought, and peo-
pie began to think that the conclusive argu-
ment of money was more convenient than
the reasoning founded on equity and right.
The State officials we're selling their influence,
and men OF our own people were found ready
and eager to buy. Greedy politicians grew
rich by filching and by venal speculation,
and South Carolinians were ready to join the
Ring and take their share. They used the
deceitful plea that these things could not be
prevented, and where money was going beg
ging, they, as well as strangers had right
to part of the spoils. This feeling is grow
ing in strength, and during the last few
months, public men, whose hands before
were clean, are declared to have sold them
selves for big fee or an interest in lucra,
tive speculation. They have given themselves
up, body and soul, TO band Of thieves and
robbers for part of the common booty.
Men begin now to judge by the standards OF
profit and not by the standard of right Ex-
ample has its influence, and. we firmly be-
lieve that another two years OF shameless
thieving and public impurity will so sap the
foundations of the moral fabric, that oil South
Carolina will secretly be governed by the
Identical Influences which make Scott and
his free companions Kissing and bF-word
throughout the Union.
1t is not all of life to grow sleek and rich
How dare men make money by trickery and
bribery, and then hope that their own sons
will be upright and pure! The canker of
immortality eats into the very heart of So
ciety. Good citizens now calnly do things
which it would have destroyed them to think
OF ID the tlnleS DelOFe Ine HW. lue UOltS
and pins are loosened which held together
the noble fame OF South Carolina integrity.
Two years more OF straining and heaving
will sunder timber from timber, and send the
whole mass into the vortex of public and
private corruption. And upon the citizens
OF this State, for themselves and their chill
dren, rests the burden of responsibility.
They may restrain the advancing tide. They
may burn out the fostering sores. They may
drive away the thieves and money-chaugers,
who desecrate the capitol. They may show
the world what noble sight it is to see
whole people struggling as one man, not fol
gold or lands, but for an honest government
which may protect rich and poor alike, ant
will, in all its departments, be able, impair
tial and pure In this way they may save
the did State from ruin, they may save thel
own names from dishonor, they may en-
courage their children to live like the mer
who made the name Of South Carolina, ii
olden days, synonymous with rectitude ant