The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-07-02
A Den Of Thieves.

Some of the Administration papers are wax
ing up to the necessity of doing something for
South Carolina. They have suddenly discov-
cred (what all the independent and opposition
journals have been DINING in the public ear
for many months) that South Carolina presents
the "worst government in the world" as we
long ago called it in these columns 1t is
cheering to observe that editors who speak for
the powers that be" are willing no longer to
cloak the unparalleled vilanies of the South
Carolina rulers; but we cannot permit them to
fitch the honor of being the first to expose
those crimes. That credit wholly belongs to
Others From the administration and from it's
paid apologists hitherto we have only met scorn
or frigid indifference when we have urged the
need of saving poor South Carolina from the
ruin now nearly complete. But better late
than never and to the dominant party shall
be the glory of the reform, if it will now man
fully take hold and purge that afflicted State
of its official perjurers, forgers and thieves.
The taxpayers of South Carolina who visited
Washington on mission of relief, and were
only snubbed for their pains, pointed out the
remedy in April last. They said that, as Con-
gress imposed the present State constitution
upon them, Congress should also, in logic and
common justice, exercise the power of rectify-
ing that wretched mistake. They asked for
one of two things-either system of cumula-
chance with the robbers, or else the establish
ment of an educational or property qualiica
ton for voters. Without some such measure
Of amelioration, South Carolina will become a
viler place than ever was that old Texas border
in its earlier days. For this decadence the
Republican party will be responsible if it does
not apply the correction, and this must be done
very soon, before all the decent people have
been driven from their homes by the black and
white tyrants. Thanks to Providence, the
State has not yet wholly gone to the dogs
Three or four thieving county commissioners
and treasurers have been found guilty, and are
now taking their first taste of hard work in
prison. These are the only signs of light that
break through the general gloom overhangins
the State, but we cannot expect the integrity of
judges and juries long to survive while the
knaves and vagabonds hold the State by their
great majority. This terrible shame and dis
grace-the foulest blot on the Republican
'scutcheon-should not be tolerated a week
longer Congress should act Immediately,
adopting one or both of the expedents recon-
mended. If this cannot be DONE Congress
should at least appoint committee, made up
of both parties, to investigate during the re-
cess, and be ready to adopt their advice on re-
assembling Now that it has become apparent
that the Republican party, and particularly
the Administration, will suffer seriously for
their longer continued toleration of the mon
grel misrule in South Carolina, we may hope
to see it abolished through Congressional aid
1t would be pleasanter to feel that this were to
be done from a sense of justice and not from
motives of expediency but, whatever the i'm
pelling reasons, the country will be profoundly
thankful for any remedy applied that will ex-
tirpate the disease.-Ne0 York Journal Of
Commerce.