The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-01-08

| Tho Piostrate Stats'-Iieary Ward
Beechcr on the Fate OF south Caro-.
lima.
| It would be hard to find in the his
tory OF modern nations more sadden-
| Ing or disgusting picture Of the wreck
and desolation OF society, than is pre-
sented at this moment in South Caro-.
lima; and the condition of South Caro-
lima, we suppose. while more pictur-
esque'y miserable, is but type of the
social wretchedness and the polt cuI
shame which attach to the other States
OF the Tar Sonth. These are facts which
concern not alone the States immedi-
ately concerned in this civic chaos. The
nation is partnership in diseases and
disgraces, rs we'll as in benefits; with
the suffering Of one member, all The
members suffer, und whatever il blot
upon Texas or Georgia. stains through
10 Maine. The time has fully arrived
when all citizens who do not believe
that 'onr political system can stand
ything aud defy anything" should
O ,ndescentl to cast some serious glances
upon the hapless circumstances of our
| friends ant! brctlrr. OF tie Southern
States. Of this we may DE sure-that
the present apathy Of Northern people
upon the subject is largely conditioned
on their ignorance Of the real state of
the case; and the difficulty with us has
been tha: wo coal3 not all go to Tie
could NOT thoroughly contitle in the tes.
t'mony of ,hoso who did go. 1t 10
greatly to be desired tnut some North.
ern meu Of real ability and of unques-
tlonable repute among us, could pass
iu f3u
The actual situation, and report to US in
terms which we could altogether trust.
FROM this point Of view, VIC deem it all
event TO be particularly mentioned that
one such citzrn. Mr. james s. Pike, an
old Abolitiouist, journalist of high
standing, nnd. by appointment Of Prcsi-
dent Lincoln. late Minister Of the United
States at the Hague, took the trouble to
go to South Carolina during the last
session Of is L-t stature, and to spend
two months ut its capital in the study Of
nen and things He has now made his
report, and Las embodied it in little
book. just issued by the Appletons. and
bearing the gloomy title that stands at
the heat Of this article. The book is
SO snail thut it can he renl in an even
ing, but it is large enough to give to
every American apz;ous reflection for
Many O day.
Mr. Pike finds society in Sou,, Caro-.
lima bottom side up" The people Of
character and culture. who, in norma!
and righteous state Of affairs, would
give direction anu tone to public pro-
ceedihgs, arc traml!cl under foot by IL
host OF voting barbarians-''the mos,
ignorant Dem ocracy that mankind ever
saw-"thc dregs of the population ha-
bllitated in The robes OF their intelligent
predecessors, and asserting over them
the rule of ignorance and corruption,
through the ine1orable machinery OF u
majority Of numbers" Carpet-bac
rule is at all end in South Carolina, for
tho cafpet-baggers were, on tho outside,
at least, white men. Even negroes,
tainted with white blood. and so unfor-
tunate as to have the noble blackness OF
tho ancestral complexion debiIituted
into some shade Of yellow, are begin
ming TO feel the contempluous antaeo-
nlsm Of the unmixed African, who
means to have things all his own way
there. by sheer forco of superior mum
bers the ignorant and unprincipIed
| classes have taken complete possession
Of the Government Of the State. And
what sort OF Government have they
formed? According to the testimony Of
Mr.. Pike, the rule of South Carolina
should not be dignified with the name
OF Government. II is the installation
Of huge system Of bIigandage. The
nen 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 highwaymen of the State. They
are professional Legislative robbers.
They are men who have studied and
practicea the art Of legalized theft.
They are in no sense different from, or
better than, the men who fill the mi.
sons and penitentiarics Of the world.
They are, in fact. Of precisely that class.
only moro daring and audacious. The
sole. base object is to gorge the indi.
vidual with public plunder. Having
done it, they tirn around and buy i'm
munlty for their acts by sharing their
gains with the ignorant, pauperized, be-
sotted crowd who have chosen them to
the stations they fill. and which enable
thom thus to rob and plunder."
| II il be asked now the corruptions OF
tho South Carolina Government differ
from the exceptional venality of certain
Northern legislatures, this is Mr.. Pike g