The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-22
Sensible Conservatives.


The Conservatives in South Carolina have
made up their minds to frank and cordial CO.
operation with the Independent Republicans,
who seem earnestly endeavoring to carry out
something like reform in the State government.
The Tax Unions, which comprise most of the
influential and intelligent property-owners OF
the State, for some time manifested prefer
ence for Gen. Kershaw, an honest and straight
forward man, as candidate for Governor, in
case any conservative nomination was to be
made but they are now convinced that Judge
Green, the Independent candidate, could do
much to improve the present lamentabe con-
dition of affairs if he were fortunate enough to
get seat in the Governors chair. They con-
slider it forlorn hope, but they mean to do
their utmost, and if they fail they will certain
ly be bitterly discouraged. Although the sup
porters of Chamberlain are by no means so
confident as they were shortly after his NOM
ination, it is pretty evident that he will have
very strong following, and it is probable that
he will be elected. With the frightfu exam
plies of the past few years before him, it is fair
to suppose that he will do his best to reform
the glaring evils which have brought South
Carolina to the brink of ruin. But he will be
numbered with greedy army at his back, and
will find it as hard to detect frauds as he seems
to have found it when he was Attorney-Gen-
eral.
When the Independent party, in whose ranks
there are large numbers OF negroes, appealed
to the Conservatives of the State for co-opera-
ton, their appeal met with an instant response
from many quarters Thousands of men who
have suffered for years all the miseries of tax
alton without representation, and who have
been completely at the mercy of the ignorant
and vicious, answered at once that they would
sacrifice partisan politics in the interest of
movement for fair government. They did not
sit sulking in corners refusing affiliatlon and
issuing manifestoes filled with dreary COM
plants, but they stepped frankly forward and
gave their adhesion to party which had nom
mated an earnest advocate of the wiser provis-
ions of the Civil Rights Bill as Governor, and
highly intelligent colored man as Lieutenant
Governor. There were many Conservatives
who hesitated and who still hesitate, to follow
the excellent example afforded them by their
old associates but they will in time accept
decision which is certainly wise, and will be
productive of much good They have seen the
folly and uselessness of any attempt to open a
race issue, and have never seriously contem-
plated it. Their neighbors in Georgia have
now and then sent to the world glowing ac-
counts of race disturbances on the Carolina
borders, but there was never any basis of fact
on which to build the presumption that South
Carolina was to be the scene of actual strife
between whites and blacks
Whatever may be the immediate result of the
independent movement in the State, the final
effects cannot but be good. The negroes are
evidently learning to pay some little attention
to the character as we'll as the political profess
sions, Of candidates; and that is long step
forward The prospects for retrenchment of
the expenses of government, and for appropria-
ton of the revenues to their proper uses, even
if the Independents and Conservatives do not
elect their candidate will be far better than if
they had never made an effort to elect one. If
they do succeed, it is not probable that they
will attempt any other than a liberal policy.
The Conservatives say truly that neither the
Civil Rights Bill nor any of the present causes
of the troubles in the South can perpetuate
dissension in South Carolina, and that there is
no obstacle to harmonious and immediate prog
ress save the dishonest administration of the
State government. Even under the crushing
weight of that government, certain sections OF
the Commonwealth manage to prosper. What
might not be expected if taxes were reduced,
stealings were abolished, and industries were
revived?
Both the regular Republican party and the
Independents would do we'll to pay strict at
teption to measures for an increase ofeducation-
al faculties throughout the State. Either party
will succeed or fail, eventually, very much in
promotion to the amount of attention it be-
stows upon the education of its voters. Until
the majority of the negroes are far better in
structed than at present, they cannot become
useful citizens they will not have the ambi-
tion or the pride necessary to urge them to ac-
cumulate property and to develop the State.
Retrenchment in appropriations for school pur-
poses would be fatal to progress toward reform
in South Caro|ina-NeW York Times.