The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-15
. .
a KNAvE,S TRHUMPH,

=. .s'+..,N i +, H.
50, 49, 49,. - s'
A KNAvE,s TRHUMPH,
Parson, Whittemore has been re-
turned to the House Of Represe sentatives,
by q vote almsse unprecedented iu. its
unanimity, Ratnrns from nearly every
quarter OF the district indicate that the
thoroughly organized black cohorts raj.
lied with enthusiasm to the slogan of
the oulprit, whose guilt was too palpa-
ble for even the brazon front of Radi-
ealism to attempt apology or oxtenua
tion for it: : ..s1...'.,. @ .@..
Intelligence from w ashington j,asti-
fies che expectation that Whittemote
will be rscefved without question, from
his Radical confreres in Congress-; aud
that there. will be no serious opposition
to his admissiop' from any quarter. In.
deed it. is sing ular that the seoundrel,
whoi is simply type Of the carpet-bag
class, whose business in tho South is
simply to make money, honestly or dis.
honestly, should ever have been voted
"uuworthy" ofa seat in the present
House Of Representatives. Let US re-
member that Whittemore was proven
guilty of nothing more serious than
bribery and pecalation. He had hardly
stolen enough to become famous, aad Of
the peculiar sort of property necessary
to acquire dignity in the noble G. B.
fraternity. If he has ever appropriated
anybody's baby-linen, knives and forks
or chamber furniture, the fact has had
no chronicle in the annals of our time.
Why indeed should that body Of Peck
shifts, in sort Of moral spasm, have
victimised Whittemore alone aud suf-
fered other culprits to 60, not unpun
ished alone, but even unsupported. Tho
reason is plain: Radicalism does not
hate crime, but it breads detection, and
Whittemore was punished, not for be-
ing scoundrel, but for being caught in
his knavery.
Even as it was, number Of those
who voted to dislodge him shook his
hand cordially as he passed in shame
and anger from the Hall; having then
already repented their fit of virtue and
honesty, and taken fright lest similar
severity might be displayed towards
themselves. They are, doubtless, re-
lieved and grat,fed now at the oppor-
tunity to make full amends for their
undue harshness towards an unfortunate
brother and when he comes back with
his certificate Of election by a solid
black loyal constituency, they will open
wide arms of welcome, and take to their
bosom tho sleek, unblushing "loil"
knave.
We have no disposition to make spe-
cial protest against Radical conduct in
this case of Whittemore. It has been
consistent, and that is the worst that can
be alleged against it. Whittemore will
only go back to congcnial company
With the stigma of theft upon him, his
companiouship will be ominently suita-
BILE. Less with the purpose of comment.
ing upon new Radical crime against
honesty and decency, and the latest
Radical defiance of public opinion. than
with the view Of calling attention to
what, we fear, is an unpleasant incident
with Whittcmore' election,
do we make it subject Of editorial
We observe with pain that
no serious effort was made against
although the gentleman,
wEo was candidate against him, is an
exceedingly deserving man. The ap-
parent hopelessness Of contes:ing the
election with Whittemorc may explain
what would otherwise have been the
result of very shortsighted policy aud
unpar .onable error. We have no pur-
pose to oensure the Intelligent voters
who live in Whittemore's district, and
who plainly did not even go to the polls
and perform the duty OF silent protest
against an effort to degrade themselves.
But the occasion suggests lesson full
Of instruction to the people of this state
in their own political concerns. It is a
wretched business to let an election 90
BY default for any reason whatsoever,
and the man who has no choice between
4 scoundrel and an honest man, even
though nominally Of the same political |
organization, is himself unfit for the
ofsufFrage. Nay moro, no is
unfit to enjoy the fruits Of honest and
efficient governmental administration.
We cannot believe that there is any
necessity Tor an elaborate argument to
establish the position that duty de.
nands choice between evils, no matter
how reprgnant may be even the lesser
,vfI. The people of North Corolina
nave had enough Of this asiDine OBJ
'tinaoy, and We do not expect to SEQ
hem yield to it's demands IN, the pre-.
'cnt canvass. Wilmington Star.
-