The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-27
THE PARTY VS.. THE RING.
TIEWS OF IN INTELLIGENT COLORED
REPUBLICAN,.
A Strong Letter from Representative
w. j. Whipper.

To the Editor of the Beaufort Times:
SIR-No doubt you are aware of my aver
sion TO appearing before the public through
the columns OF the newspapers, but, uIdel
the present circumstances. I feel it to be my
duty to state the motives and impulses thai
will govern my political action in the tut ure
Istart out with the fact that I am Republi
can by birth, by education, through necessity
and by color; not because al Republicans are
coored men, but because all true colored men
should and ought to be Republicans, and be;
cause it guaranteed to my race political and
civil liberty. To the great Republican party
| of the nation I will ever owe allegiance:
| cannot and will not support other political
| principles, but when mtn under the gnse OF
Republican principles rob- steal and plunder
| the public treasury. and thereby destroy Inc
political Ess.s upon which the future OF my
race must rest. bring odium and disgrace upon
the race and party to viii i,h belong. feel u
my duty to dissolve my connection, not with
the Republican party, but with the men VINO,
by dishonesty, ,demagognism and intrigue nave
detained tie name of Republlcanism, anu
brought financial ruin upon theSState.
That this has been done in South Carolina
no one can doubt, because the 1gures OF tne
officials themselves have written their cor
demnation-this fact being patent 70 all. a
REPRESENTATIVES to impeach the Governor,
who was foremost among the dishonest OIL
cials, but the resolution failed. Why? Be-
cause the very money stolen from the mpov-
erished people of the Safe was used to brloe
members OF the House 10 defeat the resolu.
lion of Impeachment So eager and earnest
was the move 10 stay the hand OF justice that
the briber and bribe-take were known even
to those who had no official connection with
the General ASSEMBLY. Though the resolution
failed. the Governor will pass into history lm-
ppached and dishonored before the bar OF the
civilized world. AS the Hastings Of other
days and Andrew Johnsons of our own time.
these rOobelies and brlberies have become a
stencil n the noslrils OF all good men, regard,
less Of party, throughout the length ana
breadth of the land.
Knowing this. feel 1t my du'y II urge tile
reope OF this State 10 unite not simply 10
bring these men to justice, but 10 purge the
entire State CT dishonest and corrupt officials
OF whatever party. I ask this In behalf OF
humanity-in behalf CT robbed, plundered
and Impoverished State, and that the ends Of
good government may be obta'red. The gov
ernment organized under the Reconstruction
ac,s of Congress has proven failure, which
has been fully demonstrated by the fact OF lis
Inability TO protect life aud property, and that
tine State Is now necess slrly Invaded ty Fed
eral troors; and. financially, because II cam
not meet its obligations. For the present con-
ll.iou Of things. the Republican party Is not
alone charg-a0le. AT time when good coun-
sci. experience and advice were most needed
by that party. the men who should have been
mcst interes.ed In the welfare and prosperity
of he State withheld their aid, counsel and
atfiliation, and allowed bureau agents and un-
scrupulous men TO take the part which
they have since seen should have been taken
bv better men, Not Cn!y have they continued
TO withhold their counsel and advice, bnt In
the urper counties of the Safe have organized
or encouraged reign OF terror to prevent Re.
publiCans from exercising the franchise. Of
those men. natives OF the soil, who lent aid or
couxse,. what was their fate? Social ostra-
cism In this the press OF the State has aided.
KU-KlUXism on the one hand and financial ruin
on the other demand different action In the
future from the press Of the State. Does not
this condition of things ask for change at the
hands OF the people and the press? Ia taking
this position as Republican. it ls indeed a
painful duty. only warranted by the corrnp-
iiJn of officials OF the State and the utter dis
regard OF law and order on the part OF some
OF the members ofthe opposite party. Hoping
that the change so much desired Will be
brought about at the next election, and that a
new FRA CT peace and prosperity will dawn
upon the State. that all gC Cd citizens vii! lend
their cid and influence, and assuring the pub
lie that am pledged to this causa,
am, sir,
Very respectfully.
W. J. WHIPPER.