The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-20
Out OF the Depths.

The Liberals, in the present canvass, are
giving South Carolina something more than
her due. 1t would be impossible for them
to paint too darkly the evils Of military rule,
of official robbery, OF high taxation, OF igno.
rant and venal legislation; but they promise
to kill the State with kindness, when they
describe South Carolina as hopelessly ruined,
as q State whose downward career shall not
be arrested for many years to come. Their
object is to impress the Northern mind with
a proper sense OF the embarrassments OF
this people, and with an adequate idea oil
the losses and sorrows for which President
Grant and the Administration party are re-
sponsble. The bald truth is enough. 1t is
sufficient to say that the State debt is trebled
and uuadrupled, that taxation Is increased
ten.fold, that the public schools are closed
for want of funds, that the public creditors
remain unpaid, that the taxes OF whole
year are absorbed by the expenses OF a
single legislative session. These and like
results OF Radical domination will load the
Liberal guns to the muzzlo. When, how
ever, the stauuch friends OF the State over
leap prudential bounds, and declare, for in
stance, that "trade In Charleston and Co
.'lumbia is suspended, that the merchants
'are removing their capital. and the plant
oers selling their fertile acres," the Liberal
journalists and orators threaten to hoist the
engineer with his own petard, and certainly,
though unintentionally, aggravate the diff
cultles under which the people labor. What,
then, is the actual condition OF this Radical
ridden State?
The people OF South Carolina, in spite OF
the rapacity and tyranny Of their rulers, are
better of to-day than at any previous period
since the close OF the Confederate war.
This is alone due to the iudomitable perse-
verance, and unceasing though undemon-
strative industrial activity OF the white citi-
zens OF the State. The signs are not hard
to understand. They are written on broad
fields and busy streets, in the storehouse OF
the planter and the warerooms OF the mer-
chant. When the war ended, the State
was without capital, tho railroad system
was deranged and partly destroyed,
labor was entirely diso'ganized, agriculture
and commerce were alike at s.andstill.
What is the position now! Tie railroads OF
the State are rebuilt and newly equipped,
excepting where, in the up-country, they
have fallen into the hands OF Radical Rings.
The banking capital, although still small, is
largely increased, and is increasing. The
labor OF the State is at least efficient enough
10 enable the planters to make remuneratiye
crops. The receipts of cotton and the prin-
cipal articles OF merchandise and produce
grow larger every day, both absolutely and
as compared with other ports. The City OF
Columbia, which was q heap OF ruins, is
bulded up, and is instinct with commercial
liie The City of Charleston is rapidly re.
building and in every particular ia improv-
| ing her position. Fast steamships, admlra-
bly, equipped, connect Charleston with the
principal cities Of the North. Her trade in
naval stores mounts higher every year. The
business Of mining and manufacturing COM
mercial fertilizers gives emplL. ment to hun
dreds OF working men, and further swells
the business OF the port. Truck farming has
reached an Importance undreamed OF before
the war; Lumber mills, grain mills and
other manufacturing enterprises add to the
stability OF the city. In the interior the
principal towns give cheering indications OF
progress. They, too, are rebuilding, laying
out new streets, putting up mills and i'm
proving their business connections. And
this is only an imperfect sketch OF the solid
work which has been done during the past
five years.
With these facts before them the Liberals
can see for themselves that, with an honest
and economical State Government, South
Carolina would soon stand in the front rank
as State rich in the skill and industry OF
her people, and richer still in the elements Of
future prosperity. 1t is plain proposition.
II the people have accomplished so much,
despite drawbacks innumerable, how much
more would they have accomplished, and
will they accomplish, with a government
which treats white and black alike, and does
not lie and steal? This is the bright side OF
the picture. 1t is view OF the condition Of
South Carolina which eXalts and elevates the
people, without lessening the disgraceful
load which the Scott-Moses Ring and the
Administration party have 10 carry. 1t
leaves the Liberals all the arguments they
need for the campaign, without increasing
the burdens the people now bear. The op-
poslle course may be sport for the Liberals,
but it is death to US.
SrRAIaHT-oUT STOKES prints a manifesto
announcing that straight-out State Con-