The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-07-14
The President Comes Out Asa,a., the

l 4uo \|udFiestUu NetOS ana COUT1er, q
Saturday. contains au. interesting 70
port OF an interview held with Senator
Robertson, IN which the attitude o
the President aud Congress toward,
tho acorruptionists OF this State is fully
exhibited. Ths views and purpose.
attributed to the President are well
calculated to engage the attention oi
our people and to oonfirm. them in the
determination to relax no eTToris 10 rid
themselves Of the vulgar and despica-
BILE tyranny which lords it over them.
We give the material portion of this
interview below:
Reporter-Did the President indi-
Gate what he proposed doing to holp
the party to purify itself7
Mr. Robertson-The President eau
do nothing. said to him that the
mass OF the people in this State, black
as we'll as white, the intelligent and
nneducated alike, believed that tue
United States troops were kept here
Tor the purpose of sustaining the
State Government. President Grant
replied that the people had no right to
believe aDy such thing; that the troops
we're not sent here Tor any such por-
pose; they we're only here to enforce
the laws Of the General Government.
He also said to me that he would
infinitely rather see the State Govern.
ment pass into the hands Of the Demo.
kp ho ffe
in the hands Of the corrupt crew who
have brought things to the present
pass. Now, I call that pretty square
thing for the President to say. He
wouldn't have said it six months ngo.
It certainly shows what he thinks of
the condition of affairs in the State.
And there is Judge Bond You know
what were his sentiments towards the
South when he first came here. Well.
two weeke ago he expressed the same
sentiments as those uttered by the
President-that the reign of corrup-
ton in South Carolina onght to be
stopped as once.
Rspostsr-But what do General
Grant and Judge Bond propose to do
to help Us to reform the existing
abuses?
Mr.. Robertson-The General Go
can do nothing itself. Mel
ther can the President or Judge Bond.
The people OF the State-the voters
must redress their wrongs at the bal
lot-box. I have heard that Attorney
General Williams said, some time ago,
that. in the event OF the continuance
OF the present corrupt Government in
power, should the taxpayers of the
State refuse to pay the taxes. the
United States would not lend its assist
anoe to enforce their collection; and I
fully believe that the President would
not permit the United States troops to
interfere. The Government must pro.
teot its citizens in the enjoyment Of all
their rights. and will do SO; bat am
ooofident that it will not give its pro.
teotiou aud support 10 bad men who
rob the people aud squander the pub
lie funds.
Reporter-Whas DO you think Of the
chances OF reform iuside the party
lines?
MIR. r ,bertson-I told the President
that there we're good aud honest men
in the Republican party in this State.
who. If they could be elected, would
ill tho Offices 10 the satisfaction of the
people aud administer public affairs in
an honest and straightforward man
nsr; but don't think that they eau be
elected. They don't possess tue
strength, aud I honestly believe that
none OF them could secure the nomi-
nation.
Reporter these circum-
stances, what policy do you think the
Conservative voters should edopt7
hlr. Robertson--I believe the best
policy for the Conservative voters to
adopt, is to vote for an honest man, no
matter who is nominated. I have
heard. since / have been here, that
many of the white voters intend to
vote for Moses. because they think
that the struggle will be hopeless
one anyhow, and that it will be best to
perpetuate the present administration
in power-for the reason that it is 80
notoriously corrupt that it must soon
come to an end. This is mistaken
policy. If you do this. how Gun yon
go to the General Government and ask
it to depose the very men whom you
have yourselves helped to put into
power2 Such policy, besides, would
tend in great measure to check tho
current of public sentiment at the
North. which is now very much in
censed against the corruptionists in
this and several other Southern States.