National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-17
ennrH nARnLTKA

Inc eHllrt pfcoS VI tlC 1NOItu. VIII NC
customed haste. has taken rs cue in the
discussion of affairs. connected with the re-
cent Republican State convention of South
Carolina, to great extent from the dis.
torted and groundless statements of their
Democratic cOtempOrsries. In this way
the impression has been spread broadcast
that the Hon. D. H. Chamberlain. Repub-
lican nominee for Governor, is, or has
been, in some mysterious way connected
with the Moses ring Of plundesers. Nc
greater mistake could have been made.
Months ago, before the convention was
called, and before he was even mentioned
as a probable candidate, he began with
Judge Melton, Attorney General OF the
State, and other intrepid Republican re-
formers. movement which resulted in
depriving Moses Of the ability to use the
resources of the State Treasury for political
purposes. The result. Of this movement
was the issue Of mandamus against the
State Treasurer by Moses to compel the
payment Of certain moneys An appeal
was taken from the State courts to
the Supreme Court Of the United
States, aAd the case was heard by
Justice Miller in Chambers few weeks ago.
The direct effect of the appeal was to tie
the hands Of Moses and his fellow thieves
so that they had no funds with which TO
manipulate the election Of delegates to the
convention. At the same time Mr. Cham
berlain and his friends, the true reformers
of the State, urged the passage Of bills by
the Legislature which not only served :
similar purpose but also served to
reduce taxation, to improve the credit Of the
Treasury ald to secure good government.
OF course Moses became enraged at their
interference and antagonized them at each
and every step. Finding. finally, that he
eoul d make no headway against the tide Of
reform which threatened him with de-
struction, Moses formed negative combi-
nation with the white Conservatives, the Tax
Unions and the Ku-Klux, through which
he expected to secure Chamberlain's defeat
for the nomination and his own success.
Some of the details of this combination were
fully developed in recent special dis
patch printed in our news columns, charg-
ing that the money and influence
Of the Conservatives were brought TO bear
in Moses behalf The ConserVatiYesknew
very wen, from the tone of the Northern
press that the denomination Of Moses would
receive universal condemnation, and ef-
fectually destroy the reputation Of the Re
publican party, not only in South Carolina.
hut in all of the Southern States. Iu-
PEELED by this desire they attempted to per
suade the blacks that white native-Re-
publican, like Moses. was preferable to a
so-called carpet bagger, like Chamberlain.
As we have said they used their money in
his behalf as freely as they would have
done to secure the nomination of a favorite
candidate within the ranks of their own
party: but their schemes were frustrated
Moses ambition to be renominated was de-
feated by the earnest devotion of a major
ity Of the party to the cause Of reform, and
Chamberlain received the nomination
Since then they have studiously endeav-
ored to bolittle and besmirch Chamberlain
character; and, as we have explained. their
endeayors have NOT been without effect
But if fair.nlinded journals either North or
South win take the trouble to examine the
facts Of the case for themselves as they
really are and as we have here presented
them, they viii no longer be misled by the
falsehoods Of Conservative ietter-writers
and telegraphers.
The resolutions adopted by the conven-
ton subsequent to Mr. Chamberlain's
nomination are exceedingly fair, but are,
perhaps. somewhat unfortunate in their
phraseology. For example, they reiterate
the pledges made when Moses was nomi-
mated. and speak Of them as having been
partially realized. We admit that this
language is not only ambiguous, but capa-
bic Of construction which reflects discredit
upon the party. Nevertheless, the pledges
referred to were made in good faith That
they were not carried out was not SO much
the fault Of the rank and file Of the party
as it was Of the man Moses whom they
have now so signally discarded and pun
ishcd for his criminal treachery. That they
we're in large measure fulfilled, as the
resolutions declare, is true and that they
viii be faithfully kept under the admins
tration of Mr.. Chamberlain, as they were
studiously disregarded under Moses is also
true. In short, the prospects Of reform in
South carolina could not be more cheering.
and within the coming six months, after
the next Legislature shall have met, we
feel confident that cur most sanguine hopes
in this regard win be realized.