Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-12-02
Reign OF Terror In South Carolina.

hSISH VI ACIIOi III oOutH odEOlAds
The state Of affairs now prevailing in
South Carolina in a melancholy. commeu-
tary upon Republican government. There
was no call for the suspension Of the civil
authorities and the Inauguration Of the
stern, unreasoning, irresponsible military
rule. Peace and good order prevailed
everywhere, broken only, as in other COM
muuities, by personal rencontrcs or an
occasional summary execution of Justice
where the civil magistrates had failed to
execute the law. This wasithe height Of
the offending. A number, of Republican
officials, summoned before the .ku Klux
inqusition, testified that the condition Of
affairs did not warrant the use of the mill.
tary, and others of the same ilk, in pub
lie card, gave a fat denial to the raw head
bl,ody bones report of Senator Scott.
The Governor Of the State, Of whose fealty
to party there can be no question, declares
that there was no need for the declaration
Of martial law, and expresses regret that
the civil power has been overthrow.
When, in the face of such facts, martial
law is proclaimed, and when we consider
that the power to do so is conferred by
Congress, and that this authority is exer-
cised in the Presidents own discretion, We
question whether ours {" is the best govern
ment the world ever saw"
But whether an absolutism, tempered
by fanatical, but subservient Congress,
or still a Republican, temporarily under
the control of fanatics, plunderers and dem
a,osues, it is certain that Cars ukase
could not produce greater reign of terror
in Poland, than has the proclamation Of
President Grant caused in several districts
of South Carolina now under martial law
Nor, judging from all accounts, could old
Mcuravieff himselfimprove upon the fash
ion in which the bayoncs rule is carried
out in these districts, only the shooting
and hanging have not yet been inaugu.
rated. The best citizens are al! suspected,
as naturally obnoxious to the needy and
social disorganizing head that has mainly
been instrumental IN bringing about the
present reign of terror; and, as under
Mouravieff in Poland, or upon Napo-
lronic coup d. etat, arrests are made all
hours of the night, and those Of most per-
soual worth, social aud political influence,
are the first and most numerous victims.
No wonder families arc fleeing across into
Georgia, abandoning forever their ances-
torial homesteads, and that women and
children are covering by hearthstoncs, tor
tured with fears as to the fate of fathers
and brothers and sous. "Iunocent citi-
zens," says a correspondent, "arc dragged
from their homes in the night and thrown
into Jail with common felons. Instances
are given where men are torn from the bo-
som of their families without being allowed
to make any preparations for their jour
ncy, and were forced to ride ten, twenty
and thirty miles, and then be confined in
loathsome dungeons"
And SO the State that has been the fruit
full mother of gallant men, incorrup'ible
and gifted statesmen, and the noble type
of women worthy Of such men, has become
the prey Of q vulgar and iusatiate horde
whose hate is intensified by her virtues.
And this is ''the higher civilization J"