New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-16
WHIYE sUBJECZoy IN SOUTH CAROLINA

THE EFFORTS or NEGRO LEADERS SAID TO De b.
RECTED TO THE RUIN or THE wHTTEs-UrTER-
ANCEs OF PROMINENT COLoRED POLITICIANS.
To the EdttOr OF The Tribune
SIR: In the numerous newspaper discussions
OF the misgoyernment in the South. especially that %
South Carolina much has been said upon the character
OF the State officers, their venay and general utter
want honesty honor and decency; and the country
to have reached sound conclusion on that sub
ject. Both carpet-bagger and scalawag have been
weighed in the balance OF public opinion aud found 10
be thieves and plunderers. THE TRIBUNE has
done the cause OF truth and honesty good
this direction and the South appreciates the service
But there is feature in the OF South Carolina
to which public attention. far have seen, has not
been adequately called; and this point appears INST
with definite cearness in the minority report Of tho
Judiciary Committee, submitted May in the House
by Mr. Edredge; and here it appears IN such brief
terms that it Is likely to be regarded merely piece
OF rhetoric Mr. EdredSes report The complaint Of
the memoriasts is that the rulers OF the people havs
usurped the power property owners, not for
legislative purposes not to support the Government OF
the state but Tor the purpose mpovershing the
payers and enrching themselves for the purpose OF
taxing the white people down TO the level oi the negro
1t has generally been assumed that enrching them.
selves the entire motive and 30 far r.. the adgen-
themselves related TO the results. that
motive 4, probably the sole one IN most eases These
adyenturers, however. lend themselves to whateyer
motives lead to their desired end-plunder. scott.
Moses, Parker, Eeage, Eimpton, WhiltemOre Dennis,
Crews and the rest, accept new drection--thatof
making the OF the whites TO be end, because
helps them in their plundering; and such men CO.
operate with the negroes IN accomplishing this
emu for the further reason that IL extends ana
tends to perpetuate their rule Of rum STILL the country
IL not prepared to accept tho astounding fact which he
Southern resident and hears IN numberess ways
that the ruin aud degradation OF the white there
aimed at and worked for as settled policy OF the
jOrty That majority Is ia general too polite 10 utter
the policy but IL utters Itself IN various ] my
self heard one Purvls, member OF the South Carona
Legislature some years speaking 20 his negro
sttuents, clearly fOTeshadOw the policy which later
have proved. With increased and assured strength
the rule-and-ruin rulers have become holder; and
Representative Joseph H. Rainey lac that presided over
the House "A few days ago, III n speech at Hartford
Conn. some time since, gave uterance 10 this rather
unrepubican guage: We shall try TO put the negro
in high Office, and make the white man recognize MS
black face. and know ne has met his equal" Now, un
less he prove the superior fitness for office Of the black
the white man, this implies discrimination on
account or color and previous condition of seryl
tude against the white and l. in far unrepubl-
can. And Mr. Raney adds these fatal words which
point to the policy mentioned in Mr.. Eldredgos report
quoted above: Land Is cheap We Ike TO put ON tho
taxes TO make 1t cheap"
But regard, the country will regard, the utterance
OF the policy. and the proof It's existence, unln
pOrtant, compared with the fact which events have
proved the world now, that the eec-the result-of
the present Government there Is the rum OF the wLit
mans prosperity That the black man Is farng
better only adds to the melancholy picture Misgoyern
has separated the fortunes Of the two and
both going TO rum. CAROLINA.
Set1- York, May !, 1874