The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-03-21
A Task for the Whole People.

There is little doubt, says the Charleston
NeUs that the Democracy of this State will de-
eide to abstain from nominating party candi-
dates at the general elections which are held in
October. 1t seems to be the popular desire
that the Democrats should, in districts where
they are largely IN the minority, throw their
influence upon the side of the least objectiona-
BILE of the Republicans who may seek the suf-
frages of the people; and this policy, while en-
couraging the more respectable members of the
opposition to work vigorously against corrupt
leave the Democrats at liberty to exert With
advantage all their strength in counties which
they may reasonably hepe to control. There is
abundant time, however, for an ample discus
sion of the difficulties and necessities of the
political situation. At the polls there is no
remedy to be had for six months to come, and
should the conservatism of the State then be
potent enough to secure an honorable change
in the character of the government, that happy
result may not lead to the punishment of the
public criminals for whom the portals of the
penitentiary yawns, and will not prevent the
successful completion of the bold frauds now in
process of execution. An election, at BEST is
an uncertain means of redress. The bargain
cy; the terrible readiness of the masses to con-.
done offences against the Commonwealth; the
natural willingness of a people circumstanced
like this to Let bye-gones be byc-gones, if any
amelioration of their sad condition can be OBJ
tained-these render It unlikely that a conser-
yative victory next Fall would do more than
drive from Office the blacklist of the swindlers
who now rule the State. And this is not
enough It is not sufficient that the plunderers
of the people should run their course until the
winter, and then be permitted to enjoy, in:quiet,
the rich fruits of their rascality. We owe it to
the memory of the days when public life in
South Carolina was lofty in purpose and pure
in action We owe it to the common sense
which warns us that every day of indifference
makes more grlevous the burden we have TO
bear; we owe it to the past and tbs future, to
every material interest, and to our own good
name-thas we shoald make an effort, and
make it at once, to check the mad career of
those whom our inertness has emboldened to
the commission of misdeeds without number,
and whom the public pusillanimity has led to
believe that no tyranny of theirs will be resen-
ted, and no crime either resisted or avenged
As long as we remain idle as long as each
man leaves to his neighbor the work which
should be shared by all honest citizens; as long
as we content ourselves with lachrymose ap-
peals to an honesty and intelligence which our
rulers do not possess; so long may we expect to
be the laughing-stocks of the nation, fit sub
jects for oppressioHanda pity akin to contempt.
Cries for mercy are of no avail. Action! ac-
ton action is the only thing to save the State
Well do we know that few generous, large
Drained citizens have strivcn, and still strive,
to find means of composing the redemption
of their people. These have not had the CO.
operation which they had a right to look for
They have not had the united moral support
which enabled handful of taxpayers to over
throw the Tammany Ring. The people did
not stand shoulder TO shoulder ready to cheer,
encourage and sustain them. No wonder that
nothing is done. This one is busy with his
merchandise; this one is engrossed in the cal
culation of fdiscounts and commissions this one
is numbering cotton bales, or will not take his
hand from the laboring plow. Timidity and
sloth rule the councils of the time.
1t is not pleasant to say these things, or to.
hear them but there are moments when silence
is moral delinquency, and this is such mo-
ment. The State officials, lulled to false secu-
rity, have, as we believe, laid themselves open
% damaging assault. Among the,white cit
| izens of South Carolina there is abundant tact,
experience and technical skill. If we can con-
vince our people that our misfortunes are not
irreparable, that this is the occasion when
moral blow may be struck at the very centre of
the enemy's line, there is latent force enough in
the State to make the onslaught with dash
and discipline which should be irresistible.