The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-16
The Republicans and Reform.

those to whom their party is the result OF
political sympathies or convictions, and not
mere cloak for every scheme OF public
plunder-no man in South Carolina need any
longer have any cause of quarrel. All the
ends for which the party has so long been
striving have, in this State at least, become
accomplished facts, and, right or wrong,
the principle Of the Equal Rights OF all Men,
which is the cardinal maxim in the Republican
creed, here has full and undisputed sway.
Now, then, is the time when, for the sake Of
the party itself, all respectable Republicans
white and colored should unite in the effort
to purge the State Government OF the shame
less corruption which is their disgrace in the
eyes of the whole country. Now should
they stand shoulder to shoulder with those
from whom they have honestly differed in
the past to secure for our tax-burdened peo-
pie the RErREscIIMEsr and REFORM which
every good citizen, Of whatever party, SO
earnestly desires. And, in answer to the
charge so persistently made by the hireling
trumpeter of Governor Scott, (Which is sup
ported from week to week out OF the money
robbed from the people, and the very exis-
tence of which depends upon the centinu-
ance of the opportunity for public pecula-
ton and official fraud, that the REFORM
movement is Democratic movement in dis
guise, we will only quote the following edi-
torial, from THE NATION, the acknowledged
leader in ability, consistency and philosophic
thought of the Radical press Of the country:
From The Nation, for May 12.l
"The Reform Party in South Carolina, of
ssthe establishment Of which we spike some
aweeks since, seems to be well under way and
ssto be increasing in size and spirit with graft
flying rapidity, though we fear there is but
''little chance of Its carrying the elections;
'sthe State seems to lie almost completely at The
ssnercu of the aohite and black corruptiontstS
'',oho haue been pl,tnderi,,g it. for some gears
'.past; and that the negro voters are not yet
educated to their responsibilities is clear
''cnough to everybody; and if not, it soon will
.sbe, for Mr. B. F. Whittemore Is to be sent
s'back to Congress, we see. Apparently, moth
sing could be worse than the conduct of the
"high officials of the State. 1t is, for instance,
s'constantly asserted, and is nowhere denied,
s'that senator, Leslie By name. who held the
'office of Land Commissioner, and spent alto
"gether some 100000 of the States money.
'sand then resigned without satisfactorily ac-
"counting for much of 1t, openly declared that
ssif the Advisory Board tried tO. make him ac-
sscount for It, he would have the chairman OF
''lhat body in his own penitentlary in less
"sthau two weeks The Advisory Board con-
sssists of the Governor, the Attorney-General,
''the Secretary of State, the State Treasurer,
land the omptrollcr-General More than
s'this, when Leslie resigned and there was
stalk in the Senate of compelling him to en-
.'plain his conduct in office, he cooly inquired
(which senator would like to begin, and dared
':his colleagues to press him for the reasons OF
sshls resignation; and none of them pressed
sshim, he baving tongue in his heat and
"knowing certain secrets. Plenty more things
s'ot this sort might be related, and have been
s'and nothing is s,trer than that the rescue or
s:South Carolina from her present rulers is a
'thing for ,ohich decent men erery''here-Dem-
s'ocrats and Republicans, ESPECIALLY RsrUB-
':rLcASs should pray aOiM .tervor. As we say,
showever, there seems to be as yet but little
'.ground for hope, though probably thorough
Organization of the lew party and some hard
sswork may secure Legislature for next year
(which shall be less Of q disgrace to cirtlisa-
stion than, the last ,oas. We must not forget
ssto mention that the T. J. Mackey who fig
s'ured in shooting aliray in the Common Coun-
s'cil some months since, and who escaped pun
s.lshment by pleading morphine has Just
.sbcen made Trial Justice by Governor Scott"
REPUBLICANS, Citizens! Business Men,
We ask you to ponder over these deliberate
Expressions OF the first Radical journal in
the land, and, then hesitate if you can, as
good citizens and honest men, to swell the
great popular uprising for REFORM The
voice OF Charleston goes forth tonight to her
sister counties. See to it that it he, indeed
the voice of her whole people, without dis
tinction of class, color or political creed!