The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-11
Weighed and Found Wanting.

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There are none so blind as they who will
not see; and the Lords OF Misruic, who would
peer cententedly forever through the jaun-
diced spectacles OF party politics, refuse to
clear from their sight the mists OF prejudice
or the films of selfish feeling. Perhaps they
are right. a popular movement is now afoot
whose success is their destruction. Well
may they, therefore, threaten with awful
consequences those who dare to assert that
South Carolina has not the "wisest purcst
land best government" known to modern
civilization. Fortunately, however, tangl-
bic facts are not easily overcome, even by
the combined powers of rhetoric, innuendo
and downright abuse The State Govern
ment OF South Carolina is weighed in the
balance and found wanting-wanting in hon
esty, wanting in ability, wanting in due
! appreciation of the necessities of the times,
wanting in a proper regard for the habits
and temper Of the people And now an
effort is making to obtain for the State
capable and temperate government, which
shall represent the interests Of all classes
sustaining every project whose aim is the
protection OF labor, the education OF the
poor, the elevation of the lowly, and the,
steady development Of agriculture, manu-
factures and general trade. Such govern
mcnt we have not, and such government
we caunot have unless better and wiser and
.c;ler men than our present rulers are placed
in public office.
The Radical administration has been in
power more than two years. 1t has had vast
opportunities for usefulness; it might have
won public respect and public trust. But
the guilty scheming Of some, and the mex
perience or ignorance of Others have caused
our State government 10 be by-word and
reproach in the mouths of honest men. Even
The Nation, the head and front OF American
Republicanism, is forced to declare that ''thc
Legislature which has just been adjourned
sswas one of the most corrupt assemblages
sthat ever legislated for State, and one OF
'sthe most contemplate in point of ability"
The whole object of legislation and official
action has been, not the common good but
individual profit In one notable instance
the financial policy of the administration
the measures which improved the State credit
filed to overilowing the Golfers OF official
spectators. But apart from this, the Ills
tory of the last two years is q loathsome
record of nepotism, extravaganza and fraud
There has been no adequate appreciation ol
public right or private privilege. Nothing has
been done for the encctual protection ali Sc
curity of the working classes. Personal as-
.randizement has been the sole purpose ofthe
plotting and contriving which nave brought
shame and disgrace upon the fair fame of
the State. There has been mod!cum of
wise and proper action; but what is this
against the long array of foolish and wrong
full legislation?
But onc-half penny-worth OF bread to this
intolcraJlc deal Of sack!
To secure the good and avoid the bad; 10
cast out the unfaithful stewards, and put in
their place faithful servants Of the public; to
retain whatever there may he OF trustworthy
in the existing administration, and join to
it fit representatives OF the whole people; to
obtain, in fine, government under which
commerce and agriculture may flourish, and
the high and the low may enjoy prosperity and
content-thisis is the whole aim of the CITIZENS
or Reform PARTY. 1t does not seek the down.
fall of Republicanism or Democracy; for its
object is dear to all good men, whatever
their party name. 1t does not seek class
aggrandizement; for it recognizes the right
OF all classes to representation in the cOun
ellis OF the State. 1t pledges to the white
man just ard exact government; and it
promises the colored man, and secures TO
him, the continued enjoyment ofal his rights,
and the amplest assertion of his position,
un,ler tie law, rs citizen OF South Carolina.
May it nc:, then. be fairly claimed that the
CITIZENS or REFORM PARTY deserves the cor
dial support cfevery true citizen, and may we
not believe that there is energy and intelli-
gence enough among the white and the col
ored citizens of the State to give us, with |
proper effort, the wise and good government |
which all true men desire?