The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-11-28
Carpet Bag scoundrelism.
Another Blast from Horace Gree
ley on Carpet Bag Thievims.

Another Blast from Horace Gree.
ley on Carpet Bag ThieVius.
Frem the New York Tribune, Nov. 49,.
For months the developments of ras
cality in the management of the recon
stlucted governments IS of several South
ern States have been growing more and
more conclusive. No intelligent man
longer doubts that these goUernments
haze been .fayrantly erpeasire and
co,7Npt--that they have increased taxa
ton, incurred debt, and issued bonds to
an enormous extent. The facts are in
part concealed or obscured, but cannot
long remain so; enough is already
know to justify the very gravest appre-
tensions In thestwo Carolinas, espe-
Fcially, the rob5eries appear to hare been
gigantic, when the relative wealth of the
respective communities is considered, as
in this city. Yet men who we have es-
teemed honest talk as though all expo
sure and apprehension of these villainies
should be left to Democratic journals
that we ought to ignore, or 5efog, or
belittle them. They represent such ex
posure as calculated to damage the Re-
publican party generally. We hold that,
even if this be 50, that party will be far
worse damaged by seeking to cover up
those iniquit;es, and thus making them
to some extent it. own. Let it promptly
and fearlessly expose and denounce the
criminals, if it would viEdicate itself
from all completely in their crimes. We
have received communicating from lead
ing Republican, ia Texas Insisting tha.
we have regarded her legislation and
rule with greater disfayor tlan the facts
will warrant. To this we answer that
the people of Texas seem to take the
same view of the matter that we do
Two years ago they elected Republi
can Governor, Legislature,and three out
of four Congressman; now they have
chosen Democrats to Congress from all
four districts by an aggregate majority
of at least ten thousand. Yet there are
far more Republican journals printed in
the State to-day than there were two
years ago, with all the Federal and State
patronage in the hands Of the party
which has just been so signally defeated
While in Texas last May, we could not
fail to see that the old Texans who stood
fire for the Union and organized the Re
publican party-Gov. Hamilton, Gov.
Pease, Judge Hancock, Judge Sabine,
etc-were out in the cold, while the Re-
publican machine was in the hands Of
younger and less eminent politicians,
mainly new to the State, and enjoying no
consideration outside Of the ranks OF
their followers, Had the legislation of
the last two years commanded public
confidence, and had Republicans who
were more favorably known to the whole
people, irrespective of politics, been
nominated, we believe the State would
have gone as strongly Republican in
1871 as it did in 1869. The State Con
stitution framed in 1859 by Republicans,
plainly provides for the election of a
Legislature every second year The
present Legislature, chosen two years
ago, has held at least two long sessions,
and is now holding third. 1t ought to
have provided for the choice Of its sue
cessor at the recent election; it did just
the opposite to this-it put off that elec.
tion to future day. The fact is, we
are not prepared for an election said a
leading manager of the ruling clique last
May. So there will have to be special
election, or this moribund Legislature
must hold over for another year. But
why not prepared % ''The wicked flee
when no man pursueth, but the righteous
are a. bold as lions" says the sacred
proverb. Don't you believe that the in.
spired penman had Bullock, of Georgia,
in his eye when he made that ob.erva
ton? And he didn't class him under
the head of the righteous either
Here is Clayton, of Arkansas, charged
by his neighbors with crimes that if
proved, should send him to the State
Prison, instead of the Senate Now, We
don't know that the charges against him
are true; though the people of Little
Rock seem to believe them, if we may
Judge from the restlt of their recent
election. But, if they are true-if Clay.
ton counted out and counted in legisla
tors, and even Congressman, to secure
his own election to the Senate-then he
ought to be hurled from his seat before
the close of next January.