Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-08-14
y. Henry liurf ReecHcr:

: have hardly the patience to state
the transactions OF the black and white
scoundrels who are rubbing the op-
pressed people Of South Carolina,
without occasionally leaving the bare
recital of facts ana INDUCING IN Il style
OF comment inspired by the magnitude
and meanness a the I&s1ali:y which I
see Oh all sides. snow that the
reader desires facts a3i not comment,
but if lie knew the condition Of Things
here he would pardon me for an Occa-
siOnal indulgence III savage reflections.
The condition OF this Stare IS without
parallel IL the history OF America. !.
is governed by thieves. pickpocl,ets
and penitentiary convicts from top 10
bottom. To tiud an honest man n the
whole government concern is the ex-
ception, not tho rule. Honest men
there are in government positions.
but they cannot stem the tide of cor
ruption that sets i'll against Them
The moment n man begins to show de-
c ded symptoms of honesty, to stand
out as a light in an ocean of darkness,
that moment lie is suspic;oued of dis
loyalty, and loses his standing in the
party.
But it is not alone tie thieving0 pcr-
atiOns that disgust a man IN studying
the condition of affairs here. lie finds
men i'll public positions who cannot
read or write, nor even sign their
names, and who have but little more
conception OF their duties than horse
would have if solemnly indicted into
office. Hsre we find black, ignorant,
stupid, dull plantation hands holding
the offices Of Senator and legislator,
as well as justices, county com
missioner, sheriff, tax collector, and, in
fact. the whole list OF county officers.
With such officers how can government
matters be managed decently or hon
estly? They are not; and the whole
government here is the most stipend
Gus farce that the sun now shines
upon. That i: IS permitted to exist,
is cruelty, shame and a disgrace.
The whole thing ought to be abolish
ed, the State given a military govern
ment for a white, and then reorgan-
lied or reconstructed on basis OF IN
educational or property qualification
for electors. Yon may say this would
be unconstitutional. Perhaps so. But
until some such thing is done there
will be no hope for South Carolina
With each succeeding year she viii
sink lower and lower Into the abyss OF
ruin and despair. The majority of her
voting population are incapable Of
self-Government. AS long as such is
the fact there can be no reform here.
If there is ever any reform or improve
ment it must begin at the polls. The
balance of power must be taken from
a portion of the more densely iguo-
rant. Until some measure of relief is
adopted the star on our flag represent
ing South Carolina may as well have
black patcn over it's face, q, 10 &c
entirely punched out. The problem
here cannot be lodged forever by the
people. It will have to be
met some time. and the longer put off
the more difficult Of solution it viii
become. Either the government here.
and administered by
thieves, who are kept in position by
the most densely ignorant set of men
who ever saw ballot, must be dis
owned and overthrown by the Ameri-
IAN people, or supported. The issue
'orces itself upon us, and cannot be
'orever lodged.