The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-02-01
1HE PLAIN Truth.

The annexed editorial remarks, taken
from the Charleston Daily Republican
of Friday last, We may say, notWith-
standing the source from whence they
emanate, we tranfer to our columns with
pleasure aud not without hope. With
pleasure because they tell the plain
truth with regard to the class of men
with some exceptions) who have aoated
inso office, on the tide of revolution, in
South Carolina, and with hope because
the swell and sway Of partyism has 30
far subsidized as to admit Of such freedom
of fspeech from the leading Republican
journal of the State.
We have looked and We have.wonder-
ed, since the organization Of the Con-
vention in 1858, aud the more we lave
looked at the men, in the main, who
manage tho high and important public
affairs of the State, and at their acts,
the more we have wondered. Every
fundamental principle Of truth by which
men have been wont to steer and govern
their actions, has been departed from
the whole auperstructure Of moral
philosophy is upturncd-vice and cor
ruption soar aloft in gilded plumage, in
the broad light of open day, maintained
at the expense of the honesty and
industry, the virtue and intelligence of
the country. The existence of such
condition of things, in the midst Of a
civilization such as this country boasts,
can but be regarded as one Of the seoen
soonders of these extraordinary times.
And the generations to come, looking
back upon it, from ? stand point Of
morals, caouot fail to be astonished, as
have been succeeding generations, from
a physical stand point, by the Pyramids
of Egypt, the Mausoleum of Artemi sia,
the Temple Of Diana, the Gardens of
Babylon, the Colossus at Rhodes, the
Statue of Jupiter Olympus or the
Pharos of Alexandra. The Republican
we'll and truthfully says that son for q
thousand years, perhaps no time would
come that would lift this class of men
"to the giddy height they now occupy"
But, restraining further commets at
this time, we shall prefer to let the
Republican tell the tale in its own clear
ard pointed way:
There is unrest. Men are dissatisfied,
aud questioning. The feeling pervades
the masses. The very air is charged
with political scepticism. What is the
South Carolina of the future to be,
judging from the present? is the great
question wish good citizens.
That South Carolina has immense
resources all admit. Soil and climate
aud location combine to give this State
a great leverage with the world. That
leverage was used in the past-not as it
should have been, indeed, but still to
considerable advantage-and 80 our
State had something like its share Of
influence until after the mad,eap in.
auguration ofwar.
But even the desolations Of war could
not crush our people. They set to work,
and through almost appalling discOur-
agemeuts climbed TO better ways.
And finally, though We all saw that We
must struggle and ecououize for years
before great prosperity was reached,
there came good deal Of hope.
But now the corruptions and thiev-
iDgs and general mismanagement Of
some of our politicians, and of some of
our so-called statesmen, are doing what
even the aerce hurricane Of war could
not do. 10 disheartening our people.
The effect af the work Of some Of these
jackals Of politics is direfu!.
There are, 10 truth, good men
holding position in the government OF
the State-mcn who are anxiously seek
ing the advancement Of the people
but many OF those who hold Office, both
white and colored, hold it only because
the tremendous revelation in our affairs
lifted them there By the merest accident,
they themselves being stepped in cor
ru2tion. These are the creatures Of
circumstance. On tor thousand gears,
perhaps no time would come that would
lit this class Of men to the giddy height
they now occupy.
Il is not that some these are not
graduates Of colleges, or even Of com
mon schools it is not that they ere
cramped ia Knowledge becsuse Of the
political system which ralH the State |;
il is not this, fer We are ror0ugh Re-
publicans, and not onE believsin the
rosernaeot Of the. p16q2s but knoV
that many of the greags ksioed mes Hho
are or most service &s &e ne State are not
Of The schools ;--sis iist5ss tkisoysr sbssh
We are gloomy, but itis that 50 tssny of
our public men 1ss thieves! That hes
harsh sound us knoHs sbatisis, sinply
the plain EagIish wsy, 90 tie ouiy true
aay. Of pu.sing ].
From ssery side cone runners Of Tie