The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-06-25
The Influence of Northern Opinion.


raised the flag of reform, indicating clear
intention to surrender their entrenched posi-
ton. In most cases, we fear this is only a ruse
to gain time and that the feint will succeed IN
placing another set of men inside the entrench-
ments, whose valor in plundering the State
will rank fairly with their predecessors we
would gladly welcome the prospect for differ
ent state of things, but we must be candid IN
expressing the belief that the present organl-
zation of that party will never get rid OF the
dishonest, treacherous leaders until defeat over
takes them, when this class of individuals Will
speedily take unto themselves wings and de-
part the country. Just now they are contron-
ing the machinery of the organization, and we
cannot expect them to release their hold upon
the qovernor, voluntarily. And when the lead
ing journal of their party plainly declares
"that the whole country expects them to get
rid of Moses and all his creao," there will come
an incredulous smile upon the countenance of
the least in authority and they will be unable
to comprehend the demand. 1t is not often
that people turn themselves out of doors,
knowingly anu deliberately, albeit there is
more common practice of thrusting ones
neighbors into the merciless pelting of the
storm. Hence, the demand for government
in South Carolina mot based on organized
pillagc" is vague and illusionary, so long as
the party continues under its present leaders,
who are stepped in the corruption of the reign
ing dynasty.
We do not allcge that every Republican
Office holder is dishonest, nor has it ever been
our practice to denounce them indscriminate-
ly. Yet it is undoubtedly true that the infiu-
ence of honest men goes for naught when
measures of plunder are on the tapis. Indeed,
there is nothing more certain than that mans
influence and standing will be swept away the
moment that he denounces the prevailing dis
honesty, and proceeds to act accordingly. tie
is branded as traitor to Republican princi-
Piles, and charged with being Democrat in
disguise. Such is the history of every cam
paign since reconstruction. The tactics seem
to have changed at this time, and every promi-
nent Republican would make the world believe
that he is specially engaged in the work of
reformation. The imperative demand OF their
Northern allies induces this state of affairs,
and on every hand there are loud-mouthed
protestations of reform. But even the present
campaign mary witness return to the former
tactics, and in the event of bolt from the
regular nominations, we may expect to hear
the boilers denounced in the most unmeasured
terms, with the stereotyped appeals for the in
tegrity of the party. Only a few men control
the organization, and if matters are satisfacto-
rily arranged between themselves, the primary
meetings and local conventions will be manip-
ulated in their interest. The identical leaders
of the past will stretch forth their hands in
every instance, and glibly denounce their as
sociates elsewhere, in order to ride into posi-
ton on the tide of popular favor. Once the
voting masses are duped into their support and
away goes all chance of genuine reform. In
deed, the existing organization in South Caro-
lima fully justifes Pope's definition that "Party
is the madness of the many for the benefit of
the few" and unless a change takes place in
the actions of the colored people, when select
ing their leaders and representatives for the
approaching contest, we can place no reliance
in the glittcring promises certain to be made
in the party platform. Every pledge of the
last campaign has been violated or remains
unredeemed to this day. Will the rank and
file of the Republican party begin the reform
so necessary by setting aside former leaders =?
This is demanded by the Northern Republi-
cans, whose efforts in behalf of the colored
race entitle them to patient hearing, and
whose forbearance with the disgraceful con-
duct of South Carolina politicians has ceased
to be virtue. In order to present more clear
ly this reasonable demand, we append short
extract from the New York Times, journal
which seems determined to break the power
and authority of corrupt men in this State, if
exposure and denunciation can effect that OBJ
ject:
Some of our Republican friends think they
sufficiently answer us when they ask what REM
edy we have to propose for the present robbery
and misgovernmenti in South Carolina We do
not deem ourselves bound to find remedy-our
first duty is to confess the undeniable facts. If
evidence of great fraud and wrong doing is pre-
sented to US, we should not be justified in sup
pressing it simply because we do not see at that
precise moment how the evil is to be corrected.
In reality, however. 1.-The remedy in this case is
tolerably simple Moses and his gang call
themselves Republicans, and Moses is for re-
election. The first thing to be done is to make
these men understand that the Republican par
ty cannot and will not be responsible for their
misdeeds. They have shown themselves un-
worthy of the support of the party whose name
they have abused. They must all be turned
out of office, and it should be understood at once
that the reelection of Moses would be denoun-
ced as a great scandal by the entire Republican
party. We cannot find that there is anything
to be said in this mans favor. He does not
seem able to disproye any of the accusations