The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-02-26
Strong Denuneiation of the Radicals in
South Carolina.

The following remarkable article appeared
recently in the New York Times, and has at
tracted much attention throughout the country.
This leading journal is the acknowledged organ
of President Grant, and its utterances against
the system of brigandage heretofore prevailing
in South Carolina are regarded of the first i'm
portance, embracing the views and the determ-
iuation of the Northern Republicans to put
down these frauds, and restore an honest gov
ernment in this State. Congressman Elliott's
recent speeches in Columbia indicate the turn
ing point in this matter, and he does not hesi-
tate to announce that his denunciation of the
Moses administration is backed by the leading
members of the United States Congress, who
are resolved to cut loose from the party of cor
ruption and proAigacy so long rampant in
South Carolina. The abuses of power and
maladminstration of public affairs have grown
to such an extent that the Republicans of the
North are unable to stand before the country,
and to save their party in the Northern and
Western States, it is absolutely essential that
the decent portion should at once withdraw
countenance and influence from the political
brigands and merciless adventurers who have
misled the negro voters under the guise of
friendship and political af6liation, and for their
selfish ends have brought contumely and de-
nunciation upon that unfortunate race of peo-
pie. Congressman Elliott predicts the disrup-
tion of both national parties before the next
Presidential contest, and plainly tells the col
ored people that they will not be recognized
by either party hereafter, unless they demon
state their fitness for selfgovernment by elect
| ing honest and capable men next fall. They
must remedy the grievances so long and justly
denounced by the white people, even were it
necessary to strike down every leader, and
bring forward al entirely new set of men, who
would redeem the pledges made two years ago.
The large majority of negro voters makes it
peculiarly incumbent upon them to rectify the
abuses and profigacy of the past, and their
responsibility cannot be shirked, without TAX
ing away from them the support and influence
of the strongest and most Jealous Republicans
of the North. These and similar views were
advanced by Congressman Elliott, and the an
nexed article strengthens the truths 80 forcibly
presented in his recent speeches:
At moment when the sad condition of
affairs in Louisiana is attracting the attention
of the whole country, and when Mississippi
has elected q steamboat porter to the United
States Senate only because his skin is black,
the proceedings of the South Carolina Legisla-
ture are more scandalous than at any time
since the close of the war. No one can deny
that some of the members of the colored race
have displayed rare capacity for public af-
fairs. Yet, owing to combination of unfor-
tunate circumstances, the race has not distin-
guished itself favorably in the three States
we have mentioned. With Louisiana we have
recently dealt at length, and we need not refer
to it more in detail Mississippi is not in so
bad condition, and has not been plundered
to the same extent, but the recent elections
prove that the State can hope for no substantial
prosperity under it's present control. 1t IS,
however, in South Carolina that negro domina-
tion in affairs is most pronounced, ana there Its
evils are most apparent.
If there were any doubt Of the unftness of
the present rulers of the State to hold the
trusts now reposed in them, they would be
wholly removed by the perusal of sketch OF
the proceedings of recent session of the Leg
islature, which we print in another column.
Those who have hoped that matters were i'm
proving in South Carolina, will be sorely dis
appointed by this latest specimen of the tenn
per which controls the law-making power of
the State There would be little cause to COM
plain that the manners of legislators are not
better than in former years if their morals had
improved. But this, unhappily, does not ap-
pear to be the case.
The Legislature of South Carolina is appa
rcntly gang of thieves, intent only upon
plundering the people whom it is supposed to
serve. Long practice has made the Legsla-