The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-02-26
Whnt They Think OF U..

WHAT Is ttEpUBLlOAN C1OyERNMENTf-
The history Of the plundering State go.
vernments in the South is so familiar
that repetition OF any part OF it seems
to be superhuous. But, unlike the
ordinary misdemeanors that attend poll
tics in other States, the acts of the
Southern leaders have struck at the very
foundation of the State credit, and they
have forced upon the taxpayers such
burdens that the time appears to then,
not far off when taxation and confisca-
ton shall be Synonymous terms. This
is notably tho cnso of South Caroline,
where the enormous tax levies have we'll
nigh driven the people to desperate
remedies, and where public robbery
'may be said to have been legalized. II
has now been seven years since the re-
construction State Government was
organized in thnt State. During that
time. the expenditures Of the State ul
ministratlon have Increased with fright
full rapidity. Every year, thcre have
been promises of reform aud retrench-
ment, for no matter how confident Of
success and Of immunity the FREQ .bootcr
may bo there is still enough of disure-
ton in him to respsct public opinion.
But these promises have proved to be
the idlest delusions, aud year after yeur
the ingenuity of the ruling cabaI has
been e1erted to invent new pretences
for plundor and new pneuns of torture
for their victims, the taxpayers.
All OF tho expenses, in short, are mon-
strous, and such extravagance could not
bo perpetrated in any except Southern
State. At the last State election, the
promises of reform were freely made,
only to be followed by the longest step
yet taken in any one year towards the
absorption of the States resources by
the vultnres who are preying upon it.
Lately the taxpayers have been holding
a convention iu Columbia; after long
discussion, they conclude that there is
no remedy Mt their command, and they
now memoriulize Congress to come to
their rescne. They ask. in effect. as the
people of Louisiana have asked, that
Congress shall guarantee them O repub-
lican form Of government. iustifyiug
this demand by the belief that the pre-
sent form there is but an oligarchy,
over which the people have no control.
1t is evident that the most serious Ques-
tlons regarding the reconstruction Of
the Southern States have not yet been
settled, for gradually the impression is
forcing itself upon US that the local
quarrels-the election frauds, the vim
lence. the corrupt legislation and the
mercennry Judicial decisions-are of na.
tional consequence, and concern the
welfare Of republican institutions. We
have too hastily concluded thut the
immediate remedy is in the hands of the
ronn1a n fI,n -,
New York. We have said New York
has oyerthrown Tweed, and South Caro-
lima ought to be able to overthrow his
imitator. But the cases are different.
In the Northern States, the greut mujo.
rlty OF tho voters arc taxpayers; in the
Southern States, the property has
always been in comparatively few hunds,
and when suddenly the ballot was given
to largn mass of people who had no
experience Of political affairs, the tax.
payers becama Il helpless minority.
The shrewd and venai men who took
the lead Of this new element aggravated
the class divisions naturally existing
until tho property of the State WAS ut
their meray through thosballot of those
who had only Their pref ndiccs to crafty.
The taxpayers have not been entirely
blameless, because they might have
oonciliated the power that now uncon-
scionsly. ignorantly upholds the rogues
who oppress them. Yet it is difficult to
see what Congress- can do in the matter.
1t Is true. as these memorialists Justly
urge. and US similar bodies in other
States havo urged, that Congress inter
fered to establish these governments
But, if this was wrong, it does not
justify another Interference. With ths
clearest conviction that South Carolina
and Louisiana, and other Southern
Suites. uro the worst governed commu-
mites in the world, it is yet difficult to
find an excuse in the Constitution for
the in reference Of Congress-, and there
appears to be no remedy but tire slow
and tedious one Of gradually educating
the people in their duties. and awaiting
the more general distribution of the
taxable property.
Mc,o York Eucning Post.
REFORM IN SoUTn CARoL1SA. --Thc
members Of the convention, being sen
sible men, versed in public affairs, mnst
surely have known that Congress can
not actively interfere in tho matter. The
President, with the appreciation of the
entire country, has just refu. cd to med :
die in the affairs Of Texac. and the Ex.
ccutive Department OF the Government
is not likely to take different course
now. All the moral support which can