The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-08-14


rest Of the country was progressing
prospsrously, the value of real proper
ty in many of those States appeared
in the census Of 1870, after five years
Of peace, far below the figures exhib-
tied by the census Of 1860. Such
have been the effects of so-caIled car
pet-bag government in tho South.
Who was responsible for this? Those
governments were and arc at this
moment carried on in the name and
under the auspices of the Republican
party. 1t was through them that the
Southern people felt the touch of de
grading power. 1t was in them that
they saw the spirit working.
"While the most reckless and rapa-
cious Of political blood-suckers were
thus plundcring those communities,
a system of political disabilities was
maintained which excluded a large
number of the intelligent and proper
ty-holding men from eligibility to
Office and thus from active participa-
ton in the administration Of public
affairs. A large number of those who
had tho greatest stake in good gov
ernmcnt were thus told that it was
no business Of theirs. While in this
way on the one side the work of the
plunderers was facilitated, it was not
wonderful that on the other the sum.
mons you shall love this Government
did not meet with enthusiastic re-
sponsc. The removal of political dis
abilities, although its good effects
could not have been doubted, was
studiously put off until it could NO
longer bo denied; aye, until the Gin
cinnati Convention had shown that
the question could be trifled with no
longer, and when amnesty was grant
cd it was done with such useless re-
strictions and with such grudging
grace as to make it appear that those
who gave it would mnch rather have
withheld it. 1t was simply the first
victory of tho Cincinnati movement.
Look over the legislation of Congress
touching tho late insurrectionary
States. Study attentively the bayo.
net law, the Ku Klux law, as they
now present themselves in RETROSPECT
two view.
"Not only did they, while protect
ing the rights Of some, break down
the bulwarks of the citizens against
arbitrary authority, and by trans
crossing all constitutional limits Of
power engender tho rights of all.
Not only did they awaken in the
breasts of many, however well dis
posed, tho grave apprehension that o
Government or ruling party assuming
so much would stop at nothing, but
such measures served directly to sus-
tain in power the very Adventures
who, by their. revolving system Of
plumber, were violently keeping alive
the spirit of disorder which that lcgis-
lation would repress.
cit is in this light that the majesty
of the National Government appears
to those people, not as friend to lift
them up from their prostration, to
guide them out Of their errors with q
generous hand, and to make them
look up to the national flag as SYM
Dol of Justice and fairness equal to all
not that, but as the ally and abetter
of tho robbers who suck their blood,
as the mainstay of system which
drains their resources, blasts their
hopes, cmasculates their energies,
moclzs their enterprise, and condemns
them to utter poverty, distress and
ruin. You honest Republicans whose
cars have. been assiduously filled only
with horrible Ku KluX stories, and
whose mind is IMMERSED in tho myste.
rics of party management, you may
look with surprise at this picture.
You understand that the affection of
these people cannot bo successfully
invited by the cry, You must lovc us,
ifit takes your last penny"
"You ask how it is possible that so
wicked game should be carried on
by tho leaders of q party wont to
boast of its great principles. 1t would
be impossible had not that party
fallen under the control Of a selfish
ness so unscrupulous as to put party
success above the best principles it
ever professcd. You must hnow that
carpet.baggcrdom is exceedingly faith
ful to the party except, perhaps, when
it's leading spirits, quarrcling over the
spoils, fall out among themselves.
1t lives upon party fidelity, and it
breaches it as its political gospel. 1t
relies upon the virtue of party fidelity
to cover multitude of sins. 1t sends
its representatives to Congress strong
enough in number to make up major
tiles. They arc tho staunchcst and
most Jealous supporters Of tho adj
miuistration for value received. They
are tho household troops, always
ready to march forward and back
ward, and to wheel to tho right and
to the left rs the Administration man
ayers may direct. Whatever lcgisla-
tive scheme the Administration may
set up, by whatever means Of partisan
tyranny in caucus or in Congress, tho
opposition of independent men is to
bo nut down. n,.thosc household troops
can be counted on. They faithfully
aid the Administration in governing
tho country-in governing you. For
that they receive their patronage, and
By that patronage the Administration
aids and sustains them in their States.