The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-10
A Plain Answer.

I'VE confess our surprise that our contem-
porary the Courier should deem it neces-
sary to ask whether The CHARLESTON NEWS
is disposed to white-wash fraud, and to ed
vocate the payment Of an unjust and illegal
debt. We have, to the best Of our ability,
fought the battle OF the people, in season
and out of season. And the unrelentipg
hostility of the principal South Carolina
Radicals to THE CHARLESTON NEWS is a
sufficient proof that they, at least know this
paper to be the persistent and uncompro-
missing foe of every kind Of peculation and
corruption. We bad thought that our
words in relation to the alleged over-issue
OF South Carolina bonds we're too plain to
be misunderstood. But we Willingly answer
the question OF the Courier, and claim from
that paper the apology which it processes to
be ready to give.
The Courier, in It's issue. of yesterday,
says:
1.-THE CHARLESTON DAILY NEWS, however,
Is disposed, If we read English correctly, to
whlte-wash the frauds which have been perpe-
trated upon our people, and to advocate the
offer of premium to peculation, and by so
doing to causeShe bankruptcy Of the State in
counsellIng the payment Of the debt fraudu-
lently contracted by the Scott administration.
If Its editorial of yesterday, together wlthsihe
general make up, In printers parlance, OF the
same issue, does not mean this, we will gladly
apologize for the wrong which we have done
in entertaining such an opinion. We, how
ever, are not singular in our belief, for that
bcliof is ohur.ta by {. largo uumbvE of our moot
intelligent citizens.
I'VE, therefore, ask our contemporary to
state, In Justice to itself and 10 our people,
frankly and freely, whether we are right or
The CHARLESTON DAILY
NEWS means to advocate the payment Of
debt contracted In fraud, by irresponsible par
ties, In the name Of the State-or whether 1t
means to put the stamp OF its disapproval Of
such frauds, In common with the better por-
tion of our fellow.citlzens, by advocating the
only course left to honest men-the course of
repudlatlon."
In reply, we beg tosay that The CHARLES
TON NEWS is unequivocally opposed to the
payment OF any debt OF the State which has
been contracted ia fraud AS, however,
we have no positive proof that there have
been any fraudulent issues Of State bonds,
we await o full knowledge OF the indisputa-
BILE facts before advocating reputation
which, however necessary, is always dis
tasteful to an honorable and upright people.
Nor do we see that anything is lost by such
o delay as may be Indispensable to delibe-
rate and intelligent action. AS long as the
State Is controlled by the Radical Ring,
reputation policy cannot be carried into
practical effect, and, as regards the public,
the press have given sufficient warning that
whoever may now pin his faith to new
South Carolina bonds does it at bis own
risk. We hope that, before long, the whole
truth will be published in such way as to
compel confidence and belief. And if it be
established that any fraudulent debt has
been contracted, for any purpose, THE
CHARLESTON NEWS will resist its payment,
and urge its reputation.