Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-22

| event to be particularly mentioned that one
such citizen, Mr.. James S. Pike, an old aboli-
tiouist, a journalist of high standing, and, by
appointment of President Lincoln, late minis
ter of the United States at the Hague, took
the trouble to go to South Carolina during
the last session of its Legislature, and to spend
two months at its capital in the study Of men
and things. He has now made his report, and
has embodied it in little book, just issued by
the Appletons, and bearing the gloomy title
that stands at the head of this article. The
book is so small that it can be read in an
evening, but it is large enough to give to eve
ry American anxious reflection for many a
day.
Mr.. Pike finds society in South Carolina
"bottom side up" The people of character
and culture, who, in normal and righteous
state of affairs, would give direction and tone
to public proceedings, are trampled under foot
by host of voting barbarians most ig-
norant democracy that mankind ever saw
"the dregs of the population habilitated in the
robes of their intelligent predecessors, and as.
serting over them the rule of ignorance and
corruption through the inexorable machinery
of majority of numbers" Carpet-bag rule
is at an end in South Carolina, for the car
pet-baggers were, on the outside at least, white
men. Even negroes tainted with white blood,
and so unfortunate as to have the noble black
ness of the ancestral complexion deblitated
into some shade of yellow, are beginning to
feel the contemptuous antagonism of the un-
mixed African, who means to have things all
his own way there. Bysheer force Of superior
numbers the ignorant and unprincipled class
es have taken complete possession of the gov
ernment of the State. And what sort of q
government have they formed? According
to the testimony of Mr.. Pike, the rule ofSouth
Carolina SHOULD not be dignifed with the
name ola government. 1t is the installation
of huge system of brigandage. The men
who have had it in control, and the men who
now have it in control, are the picked villains
of the community. They are the highway
men of the State. They are professional leg
islative robbers. They are men who have
studied and practiced the cart oflegalized theft.
They are in no sense different from, or better
than, the men who fill the prisons and peni-
tentaries of the world. They are, in fact, of
precisely that class, only more daring and au-
dacious. The sole, base object is to gorge the
individual with public plunder. Having
done it, they turn around and buy immunity
for their acts by sharing their gains with the
ignorant, pauperized, besotted crowd who have
chosen them to the stations they fill, and which
enables them thus to rob and plunder."
If it be asked how the corruptions Of the
South Carolina government differ from the
exceptional venality Of certain Northern Leg
islatures, this is Mr.. Pixies answer: The lat
ter, while less in effrontry and in degree than
the former, and springing from different caus.
es, can also "be promptly remedied by expos.
ure and by an appeal to the intelligence and
virtue of the constituency ; in the other case,
there is no such tribunal to appeal to. 1t is
moral morass, in which there is neither
standing nor holding ground" $50 tainted
is the atmosphere with corruption, so unver-
sally implicated is everybody about the gov
ernment, of such character are the orna-
ments of society at the capital, that there is
no such thing as an influential local opinion
to be brought against the scamps. They
plunder and glory in it. How did you get
your money? was asked of a prominent leg
islator and lobbyist. 4 stole it., was the
prompt reply"
The impression made upon us by Mr.. Pixies
report concerning the PROSTATE State is that
nothing can save society there from utter dis
solution but the speedy achievement of rule
by the classes who ought always to rule. We
regret that Mr. Pike, in announcing an opin
ion substantially the same as this, seems to US
to imply that these classes can be ascertained
by color. We know that this cannot be his
II h,t fbo foro nd of
book are likely to be abated by certain in
discriminate denunciation of black men be-
cause they are black, and an equally indis-
criminate commendation of white men because
they are white. What is wanted to save
South Carolina is not rally Of white people
against black people but of honest men of
all colors against scoundrels Of all colors.
We must not despair of the Republic, even
though that Republic be South Carolina, and
even though it has become den of thieves.
And the specific advice which Mr.. Pike gives
as suggestion of remedy to the people of that
State is, in the main, wise and good. He ad-
vises them to hold on to the faith that the State
can be redeemed to make systematic effort
to attract foreign immigration to the State; to
get rid of their hereditary prejudice against
strangers, and of their old-time intolerance of
opposing opinions. 1t is not war ofraccs or
of colors that should be brought on; but a
calm, resolute, patient increase and combina-
tion of the forces of good in society against
the forces of evil. Society needs to be turned
right side up; and in this effort let all men
help who can, whatever be their color.
LoAFlSG.-We quote the following from
an exchange, and We recommend it to all our
readers:
young man, pay attention. Don't be a
loafer don't keep loafer's company; don't
hang about loa6ng places. Better work than
to sit around day after day, or stand about
corners with your hands i'll your pockets
better for your own health and prospects.
Bustle about, if you have anything to hustle
about for. Many poor physician has ob'