Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-29
A Pr0strate State.

The condition of South Carolina
under negro Government, described in
the volume with the above title, is one
in which the pitiable reality far ex-
ceeds the widest fights of the North
ern imagination. Hon. James S. Pike
of Maine, presents in this work the
fruit of close observation at Columbia
during two OF the earlier months of
the current year, while the Legisla-
turc was in session; and while it can
not be charged that he has drawn the
scene with too vived pen, the force of
the description is such as to bring
more closely within comprehension
the monstrous evils that have accom-
panied and are now perpetuated by
reconstruction. In South Carolina
the ratio Of population is four blacks
to three whites, a numerical majority
which, under the corrupt aud debas-
ing influences prevalent in its politics.
insures the continuous and hostile rule
of the African race. The negroes op-
pose immigration, for they now hold
the power which that would endan
er and they-have learned how profit
able power is. Under the carpet
baggers, sustained by the Federal
Government, they have established
what Mr. Pike calls, not Govern
mont, but 'hugo system Of the brig
andage." 1t is not ignorance so much
as utter corruption that maintains this
condition of affairs; for Mr.. Pike in
sists that the bad negro is no worse
than the bad white man, but so
thorough is this badness that the
State is "a mOrass, in which there is
neither standing nor holding ground"
for q retormer or an honest man. Of
the twenty-three white men in the
Legislature, those who have not allied
themselves for plunder with the black
majority sit in silence, seeing no way
of escape" ; they struggle only against
complete confscation; they endure
and wait for the right"
In relating the process by which
South Carolina has been thus prostra-
ted and its new rulers educated to
consider the State only the source of
official plumber, Mr. Pike presents in
detail the frauds that have been per-
petrated within the past five years.
At that time the public debt was
about S5,OOO,OOO. BY theft of the
boldest sort. in which alien white men
joined with the negro majority which
they led, this Indebtedness has since
been increased to S24,O0O,O00, which
may vary according to the unknown
amount of fraudulent bonds put in
circulation. One fertile method of
peculation was the purchase and sub
vention of railroads. Another was
the purchase of lands for freedmen;
others in the census. in furnishing the
legislative chambers. in the elections.
In short, the sole purpose of the legis-
laton of South Carolina for five years
has been, according to Mr.. Pike,
to gorge the individual with public
plunder' The newspapers are sub
sidized; the stationary bill of the
Legislature. which before the war
averaged S4O0, is $4,000, and the
Governor spends $4,000 year on a
salary of S35O0. In 1860 the valua-
ton of the State was S490,0O0,000,
and the taxes 1892, 900; now the valu-
alton has sunk to S1S4,OOO,OOO, and
the taxes reach S2,OOO,OO0. The
Treasury is empty, the note of hand
of any negro is worth as much as
State bond, and carpet-baggers have
generally left because there is no more
to steal. South Carolina has been
stripped and handed over to the mercy
of black majority whose political
education has been only that of crime.
For this state of affairs and for its
continuance Mr. Pike justly holds the
Administration responsible, since NTH
er in the past nor at present is its in.
huence used in favor of morality and
honesty, but in all its appointments it
strengthens corruption and villainy.