The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-09-05
The Radical Factions.

opinions, which have undergone no change as
to the merits or demerits of the rival tickets.
We take it for granted that it is unnecessary to
present our readers with full details as to the
antecedents of F. ]. Noses jr., the Irregular"
nominee of the Republican party. His record,
shameless and infamous as it is, cannot be OBJ
liberated from the minds of the honest masses.
His competitor, Reuben Tomlnson, is less
known to the public, and we will admit is more
fayorably recommended by his past conduct
than Moses But he is charged with an init
mate knowledge and active participation in the
bribery which secured the passage of the Phos-
phate Bill while he was a member of the Leg
islature, and moreover that he was concerned
in the stealage consequent upon the sale of the
Greenville Railroad, whereby the States money
was transferred into the pockets Of private in
dividuals. Neither of these charges have been
explained 10 our satisfaction by Tomlinson or
his friends, although frequent efforts have been
made to clear up these doubtful and dubious
points.
In view of this condition of things, we can
not conscientiously lend the slightest encour-
agement to the "bolters," and our unalterable
opposition to the Moses ring proceeds upon
even better defined grounds. Both factions
make the fairest promises as TO their future
course in the administration of the State gov
ernment, but we have no faith in the guaran-
tees offered for the fullflment Of these pledges.
The Radical party represented by Moses is still
the party of pillage and plumber, retaining as
its leaders throughout the State the very men
who are responsible for the outrageous legisla-
ton and enormous taxation of the last four
years. The "bolters" embrace within their
ranks, it is true, some of the most respectable
men in point of talents and general character
ever within the folds of the Republican party
in South Carolina, albeit this is not saying q
great deal for their characters as public men.
But we have no confidence in their professions
of honesty and reform, when we are told en-
phatically that they are prepared to join with
! the thieves and plunderers at any moment to
prevent the elections of Democrats!
The truth is apparent that this whole move
ment of the "bolters" in intended to save Grant
in the Presidential campaign. 1t is an ac-
knowledged fact that the miserable caricature
upon State government in South Carolina,
which has long since become "a disgrace to
civilization" has been one of the sorest and
most deadly thorns in the Grant administra-
'tion, and it was necessary that this heavy load
should be removed, as it was pressing down too
hard upon the shoulders of the Northern Re
publicans, who are justly held responsible for
the utter disgrace and failure of reconstruction
in South Carolina. This pretended effort to
oust the thieves is made with view to deceive
the Northern people, in our judgment, and
gainsay the popular belief that Gen. Grant is,
in some measure, responsible for upholding the
plunderers in this State. AS proof that this
conception is rightly founded, we have only to
cite the fact that nearly every Federal official
in South Carolina joined with the ''bolters," !"
although they were not delegates to the State
Republican Convention, but were conveniently
at hand to organize the "True Republicans" !"
and set the ball in motion which was intended
to relieve President Grant from the odium Of
State government. Now, it is probable that
Gen. Grant will not openly espouse the cause
of the "boltess," nor seek to interfere with the
success of the Moses party; but his adherents
in the North will claim the credit of urging
this movement of reform" as we are constant
ly assured by the "bolters" themselves that
they were implored to purify the party in this
State, in order to remove the incubus from
their Northern friends in the present campaign
A semblance of publication will answer the
purpose as well, and hence we find the declara
ton in their mouths that any united action
upon the part of Democrats will force them to
abandon the struggle and once more affiliate
with robbers
But more than all, the Tomlinson ticket does
not stand the ghost of a chance among the
rank and file Of the Republican party in South
Carolina. At present, the colored people are
thoroughly in accord with the Moses wing, and
this assures nine-tenths of the Radical vote.
The signs of any persistent and determined op-
position are already beginning to wane; the
"bolters" are preparing to surrender in small
squads and it would be quite a relief TO their
feelings were the Democrats to furnish the de-
sired excuse for their return to the camp of the
Philistines. Their condition is pitiful, indeed,
and under other and different circumstances, it
might excite our sympathy and coincidence.
But we are not prepared to offer lachrymosc
entertainment at this time, and are willing to
see them suffer for awhile, at least. cts none
of our funerap this time.
For the anderson Mtel2igcnccr.
Organize and Save the State.