The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-27
Tho Tribune and southern olvfli1at ON

leading article upon 'Civllizatlon az tne
..South." Nearly all that can be done oy
legislation for the reconstruction OF tne
Southern States has been done; but ciViliza-
tion does not necessarily follow the ballot;
II is the fruit OF moral and intellectual cul.
ture, and 1--WE shall not get it by reconstrue:
"tion acts or amendments to the constitu-
"tion." The emancipated blacks, Sin the
"intoxication Of sudden political enfran-
"chisement, have fallen victims to an
.iniamous horde of adventurers from the
"Northern States whose robberies they lack
s.the sagacity, and perhaps the instinct Of
responsibility, to prevent The shrewder
sand more unscrupulous Of their own peo-
.sple have joined hands with these thieving
''carpet- -baggers, and the result is reign OF
corruption and oppression entirely without
parallel in the history OF the. United States:
zone after another. the unfortunate commn.-
entities seem to be rushing into bankruptcy.
sWhateyer little conscience may have now
sand then shown Itself there In the manage.
.tment OF psblic affairs is fast becoming ex-
.stinguished. And, as it always happens,
..the rascality OF the rulers reacts upon the
"people, so that politically the whole coun-
.asy is ,lapsing. into Decentralization" The
suppression Of violence and wiser admin
istration at Washington 'may yet abate the
scandal of Federal completely with the cor
.rupt local authorities" but the political
society at the South rests upon 50 founda-
.qion OF ignorance and irresponsibility' and
ssupon such basis vrtuous and prosper
sous State can never be erected.
The Tribune now begins to see whatthe
Southern people have seen from the begin
ming. It cannot be denied that The blacks
were, and are, unfit to control an entire peoi-
pie as they control South Carolina The
ballot was given them that they might vote
for the Republican party, and secure to it
permanent strength which should counter
balance the changes in the political opinions
Of the NORTH and West. But, however OBJ
tanned, the negroes have the right OF sui
frage and will keep 1t. There ia monstrous
in1ust1ce III pIacIug, as IN SCUM Carollna'
sixty thousand whites under the rule OF
ninety thousand blacks, and then throwing
upon the white minority the entire cost and
responsibility OF 80 elevating the black majori-
ty that these will exercise their preponder-
ance OF power for the good OF The whole
10 Sc
no escape from it. The problem will be
easier OF solution whenever the Federal Gov
ernment ceases to make common cause with
the white rascals and black carpet-baggers,
who cajole the colored people aud strive to
ruin the white taxpayers. A gradual growth
OF confidence In the honesty and sincerity
of the whites will, in the end, enable the
property.owniDg and hard-working citizens
to elect officials and legislators who will
study the public. good rather than personal
gain. But, after all, the education OF blacks
and whites must be the permanent cure for
our troubles. And this State, which gives
now nearly s40O, 1000 year for educational
purposes, recognizes this truth. We know
that the white people are anxious to improve
the blacks both mentally and physically.
Their trouble is that the school fund Is
wasted, and the school system made part
OF the machinery Of political party. When
ever South Carolina has reformed govern
ment, far more will be done for the iDstruc-
tion OF the masses than can be done while
the Scots and ,Neagles and Pattersons lord
it over the State.