The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-04-27

| form party, becarse the results of my admins
tration depend very much upon the character,
| not only of the Legislature, but Of the local
officers throughout the State.
THE REFORM AND REPUBLICAN, PtATFOR&s-
I A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE.
@. What, in your judgment was the essen
tial difference between the two parties2
The Governor. There was none. regard
the Republican platform as embodying the
main features of the constitution of the State !;
the Reform platform was an acceptance OF the
same principles. I can arrive at no other con-
clusion, therefore, than this: that all good men
associated in the Reform movement were prac-
tically, Republicans, although they did not
dare to say 3d., Indeed, l am satisfied that a
very large element who acted with the Reform
party are at heart in full sympathy with Re-
publicanism, and are only unwillingt to identify
themselves with US because of prejudice against
the name can see no reason, however, why,
| in the future, such men may not rise above
these petty considerations, and unite with the
Republican party in correcting whatever evils
may exist in the management of the affairs of
! the government.
SOUTH CAROLINA 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 you
regard as good Republicans?
The Governor. Well, have no reason to
doubt the sincerity of such gentlemen as Gen
eral NJ. G. Butler, General MCGOWAN, Colonel
Cothran, of Abbeville; Colonels Baxter and
Simeon Fair, of Newberry Colonel T. Y.
Simons, of Charleston, and many others of
high character, when they give public express
sion to principles that are perfectly Republican
in character. I am therefore bound to accept
these gentlemen as being as good Republicans
as there are in the State.
@. What do you say of the mass Of whites
who voted with these gentlemen
| The Governor. / believe that large ma
| jority are Republicans at heart, for the reason,
very easily understood, that the chief issues of
the Democratic party, 80 far as the State was
concerned, are absorbed in the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the constitution, or
are settled by the war. They have nothing left
to stand on but that constitution, which is our
own vantage ground, and thus it is only name
which divides the two parties.
| THE K. K. z.
@. If this, in your opinion, be the prevail
| ing sentiment of the people, how do you ac-
count for the existence of the KI Klu1 Klan
The Governor. In the first place do not
believe that all of the people who have been
recognized as opponents of the Republican
party belong to or sympathize with the Ku
Klux organization. But that there are many
prominent men at the head of that organization,
and connected with it in one way or another, ]
have not the least doubt. My statement is
based on information which believe 70 be per-
fectly reliable. In the second place, their acts
indicate large and influential organization,
although l must confess 1 do not attribute all
of the outrages committed in the State to the
Ku Klux There are other parties banded to-
gether who whip and murder for their own
personal ends
| @. Seriously, Governor, do you think the
Ku Klux organization is anything more than
Vigilance Committee, such as has existed
during the incipiency of several of the State
Governments of America3
The Governor. Perhaps in one sense it is q
Vigilance committee, but am satisfied that its
chief object is political. Its whole course has
been aggressive, at the same time that it has
pretended in the name of right to punish evil
| doers and redress wrongs. Still, it can be
reached in one way, and the General Govern
ment can adopt measures that will lead to the
detection of the men engaged in it without
much more trouble or expense than attends the
detection of crime elsewhere.
@. Have you formed any opinion as 10 the
effect of the Ku Klux organization upon the
political complexion of the State hereafter
The Governor. Very decidedly. I am salts
fed that if anything was wanted te thoroughly
| crystalize the Republican party and drive every
colored man and every poor white man into
| its ranks, the Ku Klux was the only thing
necessary. Instead of accomplishing their own
political purpose they will lose by the reaction
against them. The United States Govern
ment is bound to give protection to its citizens,
and the entire South may some day be garri-
soned by troops, who will see to it that men
vote according to the dictates of their interest,
az the case may be- A further bad effect
will follow, in which the republican party it.
self will be injured, not less than the people at
large. In all periods of strife, the worst ele-
ments invariably come to the surface. The
| most extreme and unscrupulous men are GER
tain to be the most industrious in securing for
themselves political positions from the domi-
nant party, and thus that would occur which
every well-wisher of his State most wishes TO
avoid. say, therefore, that If the Democratic
party-if that be the party under which this
Ku-Klux organization is operating-aim to
achieve certain purposes, they can adopt no
surer plan to consolidate the Republicans to 8
man, than to attempt to regulate by force that
which can in time, perhaps, be won by reason.
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
@. Changing the subject, somewhat abrupt,
" what are your views on the new question OF
minority representation?
The Governor 1 have given that matter
considerable reflection, and believe the minori-
ty system to be the best plan of representation.
Il must be patent to every one that majority,
unchecked and untrammelled, may, by lcgisla-
ton. do an infinite amount of harm, and that
the the only mode by which the evil can be limi-
ted and greater purity in the administration of
affairs be secured in any Commonwealth, is by
allowing the minority to have representation
corresponding with their strength: To accom-
plish that purpose in South Carolina, however,
It would first be necessary to make change in
the constitution, which, by the way all the
people of the State will, in my Judgment! soon