The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-19

have stated. or very nearly so, flor I have not
! the figures with me.) It will also bring %
sether elements that have been kept asunder
rom various causes, and kindle a better feel
ing than has hitherto existed among the two
parties in the State. Convened In the proper
spirit, it may indeed Be the S eGm%en nee
sought through a different channel
a wear ago. by making all classes of the peo-
| pie realize that the dread of each other exists
more in imagination than IN fact; and That
| gentlemen of ability and experience IN State
craft should have a fair share in the RESPONSE
BILE places Of the State government, where
conduce to the re-establishment OF confidence
on the part of THE taxpayers, will give assurance
| that. in taking an active part In the admins.
tration of public affairs. they will faithfully
serve the interests Of the whole people:
O. Do you consider that the May ConVen-
ton will be held In a spirit of hostility to- you
and Your administration .
regard it as an honest effort, on the part Of most
| of the gentlemen connected with the move
| ment, to develop what has been set forth IN
| the resolutions of the Board Of Trade and
Chamber Of Commerce-namely, the truth or
! falsfsy of the report that there has been large
increase In The state debt. l should oe more
pleased, however, were / assured that the
proceedings would not take a political turn.
The delegates ought to be selected without
reference to their political affiliations and
opinions.
0. Do you think you observe any decided
| change in the public sentiment OF the State.
looking to a political combination OF the two
races?
The Governor. I think that the moderate
views recently uttered by the press OF the
| Ctata an c,,hinnto n0pnQnfQ6 with ifa n0Ilttcs
| are tending to obliterate the preiudlces and
fear, once entertained by Republicans that If
the State fell into the hands OF the opposition.
or the leading native white citizens were given
any considerable influence in the administra-
tion of affairs, they would use it to the injury
OF THE political status OF the newly ehfranohls-
ed class. and employ the dominant power IN
depressing those with whom they might differ
In politics. Whether this belief was well found
| ed I will not undertake to say, but that 1t has
existed honestly in the minds of almost all Re
publicans in the State, there Is not the least
doubt.
Q. Allow me to ask what you think she
cessary for the people OF the State to don OF,
der to effect perfect harmony between all
classes
The Governor. The answer is In a nutshell.
Let the intelligent whites OF the State show by
their acts that they would not. If they had the
power, interfere with the rights and privileges
of the newly enfranchised citizen. Confidence
can only be Inspired by practical illustration.
Pledges are all very. we'll in their way, but
palpable results are better.
Q. That being true, why did not the colored
people ~acceptthe right hand Of felloWshipfsx-
tended to them during the last campaign!
The Governor. Because up to the time OF
the nomination q different policy prevailed.
The conversion was TOO sudden. The Repuo-
licans doubted you. Furthermore 1t was
Lz..- a., - r,,raIr nolifiool nnnuanp nf IN
which nothing more was desired than to gain
the ascendancy without reference to the char
attrr of persons put in nomination for Vari-
oIs Offices. / hold that whatever reform Is
necessary must be accomplished thfough HE
combined influence Of the good men OF the
Stale. and the selection OF persons to MI re.
.sponsible public positions, whose personal
character 10 q guarantee fr the correctness OF
their official conduct.
Q. Do You think that you made a reason
able effort to secure the best men, and carry
out The plan enuncfated by you IN yonr Iast
answer?
The Governor. Having mixed as much in
politics as you have done, you can readily IN
derstand the impossibility' of my making any
Yery great effort duriug the heat of a oam-
paign like that through which we have just
passed. The attack OF the Reform party was
made principally upon myself, and that TACT
alone precluded me from using any consldera-
Bile portion Of my personal influence TO secure
the election OF the best class OF men to Office,
which, by the way, ! desired perhaps more
earnestly than even the members Of the Be
form Parry, because the results Of my admnis-
tration depend very much upon the character,
not only oil the Legislature, but Of the local
officers thu oughout the State. =.
THE REFORM ASp REPUBLICAN, P~LATfoRASiA
DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE.
Q. What. in your Judgment, was the essen
tial Difference between the two parties
the Republican platform as embodying the
main features Of the constitution Of the
States, the Reform platform was an ac-
ceptaace of the same principles. l can
arrive at no other conclusion, therefore.
than this: that oil good men associated
in the Reform movement were. practi-
calIy. Republicans. although. they did not dare
to SAY so. Indeed. ] am satisfied that a very
large element who acted with the Reform par
ty are at heart in full sympathy with Republi-
canism, and are only unwilling TO identity
themselves with us because of prejudice
against the anne. j can see no reason, now
ever. why, in the future, such men may not rise
above these petty considerations, and unite
with the Republican party In correcting what.
ever evils may exist in the management OF
the affairs of The government.
SOUTH CAROLINA 4 REPUBLICAN STATE.
@. Have you any objection to mentioning
the names OF some of the gentlemen you en-
brace in This category. that is to say, whom
yon regard as good Republicans!
The Governor. Well, l have no reason to
doubt the sincerity Of such gentlemen as Gene.
ral NJ. c. Butler, General McGowan, Colonel
Cothran.. OF Abbeville; Colonies Baxter and
Simeon Fair, of Newberry; Colonel 7. 81.
Simons, of Charleston, and many others
Of high character, when they give pub
lie expression to principles that are per-
iectly Republican in character. l am there
fore bound to accept these gentlemen as being
as good Republicans as there are in the State.
j. What do YOU say OF the mass OF white:
who voted with these gentlemen?
The Governor. believe that u large ma
jority are Republicans at heart, for the reason.
very easily understood, that the chleftssueso OF
the Democratic party, so fur as the State was
concerned, are absorbed in the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments 10 the constitu-
ton, or are settled by the war. They have
nothing left 10 stand on but that constitution,
which is our W vantage ground, and thus 1t Is
only q pane which divides the two parties.
q THE K. K. (.
O. II this, in your opinion, be The prevail
iug sentiment oil the people, how DO you ac-
count for the existence Of the k~n-hluX-Rlan!
The Governor. In the first place | do not
believe that al! Of the people who have been
recognized as opponents of the Republican
party belong to or synpathize with the XII
| KluX organization. But that there are many
| prominent men at the head Of that organiza-
tion, and connected with 1t in one way or
| another, | have+not the least doubt. My state
ment is based on Information which / believe
| to be perfectly reliable. In the second place,