The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-07-03
Retrenchmcnt in the State Government.

The liberal and generous attitude which this
journal has maintained towards the present
administration from its Inauguration up to the
present time, is well known, and is, we believe,
universally conceded. Our indignation at the
foul wrongs which have been heaped upon this
helpless State in the name of liberty, equality
and republicanism, has been deep indeed, and
our contempt for the shameless perpetrators
of these wrongs has been not whit less than
that of those who have expressed it in whole
sale anathemas against any and every man as
sociated with the dominant party. We, how
ever, have acted, and still propose to act, upon
the conviction which we entertain, that We can
best serve the public interests by refraining
from factious opposition to the powers that be.
1t has been our effort to sink the partisan in
ministration in what it might do of right, add
strength to our censures of what it might at
tempt of wrong.
The Republicans have grasp upon the
State, through the ignorance and fears of the
negro population, which cannot easily be shak-
en-. In a normal condition of things the gross
misdeeds of their official representatives, debas-
ing the public morals and so fatally affecting
every material interest of the State, would
have damned the party forever, and hurled its
minions to the depths of infamy, even in the
estimation of their party adherents. AS it is,
such result has but partially followed. Scott
and Parker, Chamberlain and Neagle, the ring
leaders of the previous corrupt administration,
have been thrown overheard, and while great
number of urprihcipled adventures have re-
tained political power and position, there has
surely been slight infusion at least of better
element. 1t is not, therefore, altogether to be
despaired of that the Republicans of the State
rably decent and honest.
out to us, we have deemed it wisest to promote
the sloughing process, by assisting the better
men of the party. But while We may thus
consent to endure Radical we shall not spare
rascal and while, on the one hand, we
would hasten to laud the administration for
every proper or approximately proper act, we
will not be tardy, On the other, in condemning
in them everything manifestly evil.
The present administration went into power
under certain solemn pledges to the people.
They promised SO much that it was impossible
for the most incredulous to believe that they
would not fulfill a little. They were to give us
thorough retrenchment and reform i'll the con-
duct of public affairs. All useless Offices were
to be abolished, salaries to be reduced, and
expenditures generally curtailcd, within the
compass OF moderate rate OF taxatlon: Lave
they kept these promises in whole or in partY
We regret to be forced to say that they have
not. The expenditures have not been visibly
diminished, and the rate of taxation is higher
than ever before, though no provision is made
for the payment of interest on the public debt.
There is no assurance either that even the
enormous rate of taxation will be sufficient to
meet the extravagant expenditures and the
probabilities are that November next will find
us with almost us ssAat a deficiency as had to
be provided for during hecu--ent fiscal year.
The people have been forced to p"y,;shis
year rate of taxation thirteen times as high
as before the war, and five times as high as in
1867, the last year of Democratic rule. With
all this additional burden we came out in debt.
The administration have one more year in
which to make good their pledges. Let them
see to it that it is done, or else let them retire
men may take their places.-cAarleston Ne~s
and Courier.