The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-29
Our Modern Moses.
SUMTER, S. G., August ~.

SUMTER, 5. u, August ~.
To THE EDITOR OF The NEWS.
A. the nomination of F. ]. Moses, Jr., for
Governor, seems to be almost equivalent 10
hls election, your readers may like to know
wbat Ia thought of the ''comlng man" in this,
his native place. That he has ability, no one
wIll DENY, and that he Is generous and good
hearted, and has the manners of a gentleman,
all admit; but as To his moral qualities, ana
his probable course when be gets Into power,
opinions differ widely.
One class of persons, among whom are our
best citizens, look upon F. J. Moses, Jr.' as
about the worst man in the Radical RANKS.
They believe that he is devoid OF moral per-
ceptions, and will not hesitate, when ne mas
the opportunity, to perpetrate any fraud upon
the finances of the State, In order to gratlly
his unbounded appetite for pleasure, ana 10
indulge bis limltless extrayagance. This CLASS
point to the style Of bis living, his eight
horses, his elegant equipage, bis splehalaiy
furnished house, his English gardener, nls eA-
tensive grapery, and, knowing the modera.e
income which he can honestly command, 90
not doubt any of the stories that are current
concerning bis numerous peculations.
Thew say he was without character before
the war. behaved badly during the war, ana
has only acted consistently since ne mas risen
upon the scum of the political whirlpool, III
,ndulelng his own tastes at the expense OF tne
people. They look upon the action Of Inc
Convention In nominating Moses on The nrst
ballot, in spite OF the charges made against
him, and without any apparent desire 10 ln-
vest,pate the truth OF those charges, es con-
elusive evidence that the Radicals are perfect.
" Indifferent to the character Of their candi-
date. They do not take much comfort rom
the doings of the Boilers Convention. sucn
men az James l.. Orr and Whlttemore are not
the persona to inspire the people with respect
and condolences; and, although the persons OF
whom speak would gladly unite with any
party who would put forward candidates whom
they could trust, they do not regard the nomi'
nees of the Boilers as answering to that de-
scription. The better part of our community
thus look upon the future with gloomy tore
bodInps, and fear that the worst has not YET
been reached: >. .
There is another class Of persons, small IN
number but respectable, who, believing mucn
that Ia said Of the past career OF Noses, yet
look with hope to bis course as Governor.
They think that he is ambitious OF making q
reputation for himself, and of gaining the re-
spect and confidence OF those who constitute
the wealth and character Of the State. They
believe that he will honestly apply his talents
to the discharge of hls official duties, and will
do all he can to restore South Carolina to her
old proud position In the Union. They believe
that, lust as he has deserted the natural In
stincts of race and of education, to climb Into
power upon the shoulders of the negroes, 30
will he, when In the chair of State, kick from
under him the ladder which he used for his
own elevation, and endeavor to win the ap-
probation Of the best people In the commu-
nlty. There seems to be something In this
Idea, but 1t lacks this essential element-such
o course requires courage, a quality which we
have never heard the best friends OF Moses
attribute to him.
A third, and much the most numerous, class
regard Moses as second "MoHes" In fact.
They think he is pure, vlrtuous, noble, Sin
cerely attached to the principles OF 1.-THE
"psrty," and incapable of betraying them.
They believe he will and can redeem the State
from all her troubles, pay the debt, re-estao-
lish her lost credit. educate the negroes, feed
the hungry, clothe the naked; and after haV-
lug made the most splendid display of ability
and character will retire from office amidst
the plaudits of grateful people, and when he
dies wll ascend 10 Heaven and sit at the side
OF Abraham Lincoln, JUNIUs.