Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-07-02

u. Porter, ESQ.,, June ZUtn, 1914, Dy WIN.
w. BeIknap, secretary Of war;" Incidents of
this kind are in themselves especially pleasing,
as they convey an evident desire and willing
ness to revive and restore pleasant feelings
and relations between the two sections Of the
country. Charleston Ne,us and Courier.
STATE OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED.
A correspondent of the New York Times
has recently interviewed" Governor Moses,
Ex-Governor Scott, Treasurer Cardozo and
other prominent citizens, an account of which
is published in late issues Of the Times We
make the following extracts:
During the course of long conversation
with Gov Moses, it was impossible to discover
what excuse he had to advance for the many
corrupt acts of his administration. During
an interview of two hours duration he was
continually assuring your correspondent that
he was much injured man, and that he could
prove that many Of the charges brought
against him were untrue. When asked for
the evidence, however, he failed to produce it.
He admitted that his private character had
been bad, very bad, but denied having taken
part in any official corruption. When ques-
toned as to the civil contingent funds which
have been appropriated for the payment of
State expenditures at his discretion, he replied
excitedly: "Oh, my contingent fund was not
much they gave Gov. Scott $4,000; only
had 100000" He had been private secretary
to Gov. Pickens, he said, and knew how con-
tingent funds had been used before and since
the war. There was no law providing that
Governor should give an account of what he
did with the fund after it CAME into his pos
session. Itwasnot expected, however, that he
would put the money in his own pocket. 1t
was understood that all the secret services of
Government were to be paid out of it. Speak
ing of the next election, Mr.. Moses said that
he was sure of receiving the regular Republi-
can nomination. Newspaper attacks could
not ipjure him, as his constituents were unable
to read. He believed that Mr.. Chamberlain
would be run as boiling candidate, and fhe
developed great deal of strength, and the
Democrats had sense enough to nominate
candidate, it was possible that both wings Of
the Republican party could be defeated. Per.
sonally, Moses is most agreeable in his man.
ners he is quick and impulsve in speech, no
doubt saying many things that he is sorry for
afterward. He is not yet forty years Of age,
yet his face is careworn and wrinkled, and his
long hair almost white.
Ex-Gov. Scott, who is a candidate for re-
election, states that, in his opinion, the troubles
now existing were due chiefly to the bad selec-
tion of office-holders made by the present Elk.
ecutive. He did not give any explanation of
the alarming manner in which the public
debt increased under his administration, and
appeared to be much more anxious to abuse
bis possible opponents than to express his views,
if be had any, on the political condition OF
the State He could suggest no remedy for
the present difficulties.
THE VIEWS OF LEADING coLoRED MAN.
Francis L. Cardozo, the present State Trea-
surer, and one of the most prominent colored
leaders in the South, stated that, in his opin-
ion, the Democrats of the State were eagerly
watching and constantly waiting for an op-
portunity to get control of the State Govern.
ment. This might not be apparent to cas-
ual observer, but to those more intimately &C.
quaiuted with the situation it could not be
doubted that a fierce political contest must
soon take place between the two parties. AS
this was true, it was the duty of the Republi.
cans to do everything possible to reform their
evils and correct their mistakes. At the bien-
nial election to be held this fall Governor,
Lieutenant.G Governor, members of the Assem-
sembly, and one-half of the Senate and some
county officers were to be voted for. For this
election the Democrats had long been prepar-
ing, and recently their efforts at organization
have been redoubled. In 1872 the Republi-
cans, at their convention held in the autumn
of that year, strongly condemned the con-
duct of those who up to that time had been
entrusted with the control Of the party, and
expressed themselves as exceedingly dissatis-
fed with the enactment and administration
of the laws up to that time. Of his personal
knowledge, Mr.. Cardozo knew that there
were none more determined or outspoken in
their condemnation than the colored men.
They felt mortified and humiliated when they
saw that they had been deceived by those
whom they had entrusted with power. 1t
was then that platform was presented to the
people in which the errors of the party we're
acknowledged, and retrenchment and reform
promised. The efforts at better government,
and all others having the same object in view,
we're distasteful to the Democracy, who dis.
approved of them, knowing that if they sue.
ceeded the power Of the colored voters would
be perpetuated. 1t could not be denied that
the party in the minority were opposed to re-
form in the ranks of the Republicans; they
openly declared that corruption was agreeable
to them, as it would hasten the overthrow of
the present rulers. The promises of reform
made by the Republican party had not been
fulfilled in many instances. This was true,
but it was also undoubted that much improve
ment and great progress had been made with
in the past two years. The expenses of the
State had been reduced from an average an.
nual expenditure Of 81, 100000 to 81, 2OO,O 900,
and efforts were being made to reduce it still
further. 1t was true this change for the bet
ter had not been apparent to the general pub.
lie, but it should be remembered that the
present administration had to shoulder the
debts and contracts made by the. preceding
one. The taxes since 1872 had been higher
than ever before. This was accounted for by
the debts and contracts mentioned, which had
to be assumed and provided for, and more es-
pecially by the fact that the Government since
1872 had to rely solely upon its income from
taxes for support, whereas the Governments
previous to that period supplemented their
receipts by the sale Of State bonds at one
third and one-half their face value. Many
reforms had been accomplished in both the
executive and legislative departments. In
the maladministration of the State previous to
1872, the chief difficulties had been Of a fina
cial nature-the large issue of bonds, and the
loose method of collecting taxes, and the still
looser method of disbursing them when COL
lected. In the executive department the re-
forms referred to have taken place in the Comp.