The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-03

IHE CARPET-BAdGERs IN SOUTH CARO-.
LINA.--We have already helped to bring
to light the misdeeds of some men in
high places in Texas. Georgia, North
Carolina and elsewhere, and on yester-
day gave the public sorry picture of
the results of carpet-bag rule in South
Carolina. What a shameful exhibit it isl
By juggling with figures and manipulat-
ing artfully oontrived tables, ring of
adventurers kept the people of South
Carolina as completely in the dark about
the finances Of the State as though their
false returns had been printed in San
scrit. They prophesied smooth thinga
while the ship was drifting into the
whirlpool of bankruptcy. They lied
about the condition OF the treasury re-
gularly, and at fixed intervals, with ali
the system of practiced mountebanks
Bonds were printed in Now York by the
ream and sold in Wall street for what
they would fetch. A so.oalled State
agent, street broker, handled millions
of these bonds, without giving shadow
of responsible security for the integrity
OF his dealings. The Governor, Trea-
surer and Comptroller General We'd with
each other In fabrioating statements in
tended for the public eye, while the cal
facts and figures in tue desperate case
were kept III the secrecy OF their own
offices. There seemed to be no suoh
thing as sounding bottom in the wild
stream which rushed out of the State
Treasury. An Investigating committee.
appointed by the frightened Legislnture.
came up to New York to look into the
dnances of the State, which had no ap-
parent existence outside of Wall street:
and these gentlemen turned their tour
into holiday trip, and relaxed the stern
Justice OF their intent into wild junket-
ing at an uptown hotel
But the end has come at last. The
fabric OF falsehood has collapsed; the
public credit is moribund. The people
have been deceived as long as possible,
and, after such statements as 81, 900, 600
debt in 1870. and SO, 500, 600 in Septem-
Der, 1871, We grasp the astounding fact
that on the 10Th November, 1871, South
Carolina owed the enormous sum OF
BIG. .806. 9O8. Here is State made
financially bankrupt by mere speoulators
in politics. What punishment shall
overtake the plunderers who, within a
very few days, have been whitewashinp
each other1 Certain it is that their guilt
ls as clearly determined as that of our
own municipal bariditti, whose audaoity
so much resembles theirs. We are
heartily sick of the sentimental attempts
OF "party managers" to cover up the
corruption. dishonesty and extravaganza
OF the oarpet-bag governments. The
plea that exposure of these frauds will
inJure the Republican party is as wicked
as it is silly. Better, thousand times,
that the party be rent asunder, than that
any crime for which it can be Justly held
responsible be covered up in its own
house. No party can long live with such
q cancer concealed in its bosom. But
the party is not responsible for the cri-
minal dishonesty of few officials who
bear it's name; though it would be
Justly held to strict account if it should
he accessory to any attempt ut conceal
ment of tho offences to which we have
called attention. We are glad that it is
too late to screen the rascalities which
have been perpetrated in the Carolinas.
We have fully exposed and denounced
these cunning thefts, and leave the issue
with the courts and the public, M ore than
ever convinced that this is specially a
time for letting in the light into dark
places. and bringing rogues everywhere
to righteous punishment.
Reader. the foregoing is from the New
York Tribune