New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-28

from South Carolina has taken his seat since the
war with his hands absolutely clean of bribery and
the place has always been for sale to the highest bid
der All this knavey cannot be charged to the colored
carpet-b aggers Though class their guilt is great
because there have been from the beginning about
three natives to one Northern man in the Assembly,
nor can 1t be charged to the whites alone for the
preponderance is in about the same proportion The
negroes have been apt scholars in the school of Pub
lie Plumber and not few have grown rich by rob
berry, while many more have stolen only to lose by
gambling or extravaganza. The character of the
Legislature is the worst feature of the sad plight of
South Carolina Better things are hoped for but it
is hoping against hope.
EDUCATION.
cannot run through the catalogue of crimes COM
mitted by petty officers of every class throughout
the State suffice it to say that the example of the
Governors and Legislators has been followed but too
closely There is another matter however, which
should be noticed in this letter. and that is the I'M
satisfactory condition of the educational interests
of the State. / had been led to believe that in
whatever else the negro might fall short, his love
for knowledge born with his emancipation could
not suffer eclipse. No doubt this is true in many
cases, but the negroes who have become Office
holders in South Carolina are as fairly chargeable
with keeping their fellows in ignorance as the
Shareholders themselves, whose laws indeed pro-
hbted schools for the slaves, but who nevertheless
did sometimes give them instr uctOn at home. Am
pie provision is made in the Constitution and stat
ues for funds sufficient to instruct all the children
of the State; taxes levied and collected for that
specific purpose; but large part of the fund
is Systematically stolen by the Executive
and Legislative Departments, and the rest
is so misapphed that little good is done.
There are twenty-five School Commissioners with
a salary of $1,000 each; few of whom give any
attention to the office beyond drawing their salaries
when the money happens to be in the State Treas
ury and appointing unworthy favOrites to positions
and several of whom cannot read and write. In
many instances the natural result follows; the
teachers ignorant, unprncipled and brutal, and
the Sums Paid for instruction are thrown away.
Frauds of the most alarming character have grown
up IL. the management of the schools certificates OF
service have been given without schools having
been taught, and duplicate certificates given almost
often. 1t is impossible to estimate the amount of
the spurious claims now outstanding against the
State. They probably reach 100000 OF 100000.
The State Superintendent DR.. Jilson, is man of
learning and honesty but he do little with such
a mass of stupidity and corruption as the Com
missioners appointed by the Governor.
THE PROSPECT FOR REFORM
True reform in the State Government is a contin-
gency so remote that il is hard to contemplate 1t as
practicable matter. Honest men in either party
have such fearful odds against them! In both par
ties there preudices which seems impossible to
overcome Some of the Republicans who JOIN III the
cry of " Down with the thieves" are as knavish as
any thief in the lot; of the Conservatives have
touched the accused thing" and Others are eager
for a chance to lay their own hands upon it. With
a great many both parties the object IN view is
not so much change OF government as change OF
men. The mass of the voters one side would
give Moses the Governorshp perpetually rather than
trust an old STAKEHOLDER or ex-Rebel in his place.
and on the other side thousands have no faith what
ever in the honesty of any prominent South Carolina
Republican, and would not support one whom they
cannot expect to turn the Government over to them
The honest negroes in the late Columbia Convention
were not those who were lOudest III the
denunciation of Chamberlain the voices OF
such were hardly heard at all. Nor is honest gov
eminent the paramount aim of the Reform Repub-
licans who are about to hold mass meeting in the
interest of John p. Green. Personal feeling IS at
the bottom of the Republican opposition TO Cham
berlain, and Judge Green is the candidate of that
opposition merely because they think they Will ind
in him stick to break the head of the Columbia
nominee. l believe Chamberlain is as honest as
GTeeD and / know as many honest RepuDhcahs
support the one the other while the superior
ability Of Chamberlain must be generally conceded
But Chamberain's past associations are against
him, and the Conservatives of South Caro-
lima cannot be induced to acqult HIM
of share in the crimes of his associates nor TO be-
ieve that he viii free himself from their influence
Hence they are no doubt right in nursing the move
ment i'm favor of Green Better than the election of
either Chamberlain or Green would be that of Cen
j. b. Kershaw--a man above repIoach, honest high
minded, liberal, progressive, and acknowledged by
all to be such but the Republicans Will not touch
him because of his associations with the old regime
and some Conservatives whisper that they fear " he
is a little too liberal" So, from the present outlook
the people are likely to have choose between Cham
berlain and Green. Either will be an Improvement
upon Scott and Moses; but whether either can make
any progress towards reform with snch Leglsla-
tuTe as will he returned is a question involving
much doubt. The South Carolinians cannot do bet,
ter in the approaching campaign than devote all
their energies TO the nomination aud election OF
honest men to the General Assembly; with proper
efforts if not majority number sufficient to suS-
tain the veto of an honest Governor can be secureG
and here lies for the present the best field for the
eXertions of a union OF good men for good govern
ment in the ProstTate State.
A GR4NGER'S NOTIONS OF BLINKING.