The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-08-19

u commence this canvass. Lii tEc
mcau;imc, | submit myself to Jour
consideration. merely stating the three
following propositions as an outline Of
the er"u"d | shall occupy:
l>t. With the Republican party of
the tni"n have no controversy. 90
not belong to it, but the issues upt
which we have differed. have driftCd
olt of practical consideration. Orr
misfortune has been that this great par
ty, with its immense power md its
heavy responsibility, never compre-
hendcd the true temper or the real con-
dition of the South, for the simple rea-
son that since the war the South has
never been represented in the councils
of the Nation. think that the policy
of Reconstruction was harsh and unwisc.
l doubt if to-,lay any thoughtful Repnb-
lican thinks otherwise. But it is not
surprising or unnatural that it should
have been so. At any rate what has
been done, has been done. We have
lived through it. What we have the
right to ask of the Republican party to-
day is. that what we honestly are, that
VIC shall be represented at Washington
to be. If we have become Republicans.
then by al! means let our representative
be Republican. five have not, then
let the Republican party of the Union
refuse to strengthen the hands of Il fac
ton in the State which, for corrupt pur-
poses and by fraudulent means, STILES
the true voice of the State, betrays its
true interests. and miSreprcsents its
real sentiment. This State cannot be
redeemed from the hideous misrllc
under which it is perishing. except by
the cooperation Of the General Govern
ment with those who represent really
its property, its intelligence and its
character. And these two powers will
never understand each other until we
have ut Washington jnst such complete
and honest representation rs we are en-
titled to in fair election. And il is the
interest Of the National Republican par
ty and of the whole country, no less
than ours. that this should be secured.
81. I have no war to make upon Gen.
Grants administration. I do not know
Gen. Grant. have rot been in WASH
inut0n since he has been President
But know this, that between you and
the National policy OF Gen. Grant, for
eign OF domestic, there is not Il single
issue to make YOU enemies. So absorb
cd have we been in our own miserable
condition, that most Of those issues have
passed us entirely disregarded, and up
on none of them is there roolp for more
than IN amicable and honest difference
of public opinion. The difficulty be-
tween General Grant and yourselves is
precisely the difficulty between the
State and the National Republican par
ty. A corrupt oligarchy, who have got
possession of the offices Of the State.
End who, so far, have successfully held
control Of the mass Of ignorant vot.rs
who compose the majority, have inter-
posed between YOU and him. He is
never allowed to hear the truth. PHI
vatc whiSperings and public misrepre-
srntation, color and tistort every fact
before it reaches him. And l can we'll
understand how. with the best intcn-
tons, al 0verburiencd President is
forced to rely on official representation.
which, under or political system, are
almost authoritative. Our official re-
presentation IN Washington is but Il
part Of the same machinery by which
the State is governed. Senators and
members are made by the same power
which makes vcnal members of the
Legislature and defaulting County
Treasurer>. and the same Influence
which corrupts the ballot-box at home,
closes the door Of the White House to
YOU ut the Capital. Your position to-
wards the administration ought to be
one not Of pronounced antlgonism, bnt
of perfect Independence. Whoever re-
presents you ought to be free to give to
Gen. Gr;int's administration cordial
support when he believes it right. and
Il temperate and respectful opposition
when he believes it wrong. AS | said
before, tile political iSsnes which are
coming are not tinctured with the bit
tcrncss of the past. and should be dealt |
with on their own merits. 1t is, of |
course. desirable that the President |
should feel and manifest a kinder SYM |
pathy with the distressed condition of
the State, and that he should be disa-
bu$ed of the impressions so persistently |
and maliciously made, that there is an
incurable personal hostility to him
among the people of this State. But |
this YOU never can accomplish unless
YOU can secure fitting representation |
in Washington.
3l. Lastly, ! refuse to acknow!: agc |
the Republican party, as it calls itself,
Of South Carolina, as the representative |
either of the people Of the State or Of
the Republican party IF the Nation.
1t Is simply the government Of com
pact and atroit close corporation Of Of
licc-holt!crs. I do not propose to de-
nouncc them. Abuse is in my opinion
Il very inefficient weapon, and besides,
if | wished. | could find no language Of
such vehement denunciation us the
terms in which they speak Of each other.
If their present differences continue,
we shall soon know what they are from
themselves. ! shall leave them TO
write each others epitaphs. But the re-
suit Of their government, confessed by
themselves and open to the world, is
before lis. The industry Of the State
paral yzed It's credit destroyed, its pco-
pie dcmoraizcd, its character degraded.
With al this we have had nothing to
do. We have been excluded from pow
cr or place. and our only privilege has
been to endure. Opposition to them is
neither opposition to The interests of the
people Of the State, nor to the Federal
Administration, nor to the National
party which controls the Government,
Int simply tile dnty of all men who be-
licve tl!2: honesty and decency are the