The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-12
Ku-Kluxism VS.. Endurance.

The mopstrous proposition to proclaim
martial law in South Carolina evidently
hangs fire. President Grant is not alto
sether dulard, and the sharp talk OF the
independent Northern press must make II
plain 10 him that, in their view, the estao-
ishment OF military rule in the most peace
full of the Southern States may be made
the excuse for similar interference in New
York or Ohio. This is the secret OF his
hesitation, which will not be diminished
by the production Of irrefragable proof that
Senator Scotts statements, in regard to ku-
Kluxism in South Carolina, are very wide
of the truth. There have been, we admit,
sporadic cases OF violence and contempt OF
law. AS many, perhaps, in year, as New
York can count in week. But the masses
OF the people have been patient and submls-
sive under the yoke of a tyranny such as
would justify ynch-law and revolution.
The Northern people cannot CONCEIVE what
it is to be ruled as South Carolina is ruled.
And the events Of the past few weeks prove
that one 1.-THE OF the wrong-doing which
South Carolina silently endures would cause
the North to rise en- maSSe, and hang their
supposed tyrants to the nearest lamp-post
| That this is no eXagSeration is demonstrated
by the comments OF that temperate and in
fuenlial Republican journal, The Nation,
upon the municipal troubles in Gotham.
The alleged financial abuses, exposed by the
Radical press, move The Nation 10 say:
"The Horld, we are sorry to see, was good
deal shocked by our views on Vigilance Com
mittee, propos of Hall, Connolly & Co., eX-
pressed last week, and seems 10 think we de-
sire TO see these gentlemen 'lynched.' Lynch
| inc'i however, here question-begglng term.
What we say Is, that in our opinion Hall, Con-
molly, Tweed, Barnard, and all the class to
| which they belong, and of which Louis Napo-
leon was the most conspicuous member, fear
| no penalty for their misds"as except violent
death. They are Indifferent to public opinion,
| and have matters so arranged that the peni-
tentiary has no terrors for them, and natural
death they calculate on. But the prospect OF
| a violent death, which would suddenly stop
their champagne, knock the satin sofas from
under them, shut out the velvet carpets from
their view, cause their fast horses to vanish
into thin air, and launch them into the cold
unknown, would terrify them exceedingly,
and such q death, we repeat, large and grow
ing body of respectable citizens think they
ought to die, first and foremost, in order to
stop their thieving and rid the community oil
them; and, secondly, 10 prevent The unwhole'
some influence on public and private morals OF
the spectacle of the peaceful close Of their
career in the enjoyment of their stealings.
The way in which good citizens justify this
| view of their deserts is the way in which they
Justify all revots against unsnppGrtable tyran-
nv. and all infections Of punishment on per-
sons who have grossly abused power ior the
injury of their fellow citizens, and against
whom the law affords no redress. But where
they err, in our opinion, is in supposing that
justice can be done on Hall and his associates
through what is commonly called a vigilance
committee An appeal to force in New York
would mean civil war; and those who talk of
appealing to force must make 1p their minds
to civil war, and must be prepared for some
fighting. Should they succeed in securing the
| persons OF the maleiactors, and in bringing
them to punishment, their act, however, will