Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-23
THE ELECTION OF JUDGES.


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THE ELECTION OF JUDGES.
The action of the dominant party in the
Legislature, on the occasion of the recent ju-
dcial election, exhibits degree of corruption
in that body, which, with all their political
sins and shortcomings, we confess we we're un.
prepared to expect. From the promises made
by Mr.. Chamberlain during the last canvass,
and reiterated by him with solemn emphasis
on assuming the functions Of chief executive
of the State, we had hoped that with his inau
guration, the thieves and plunderers who had
enriched themselves with the peoples money,
if they did not sink from the surface altogeth-
er, would at least, in emulation of their leader,
give some evidences of reformation; especial
ly as it was an oft-repeated maxim, year
ago, that reform must begin inside the party
That Governor Chamberlain, as the head
and front of the Republican party in this
State has done all that it was in his power to
do, to effect reformation in his party, we
are not prepared to gainsay that he has ef-
fected much we will not deny; nor do we
doubt his inclination to accomplish all he can
in the future. But from recent developments
it must be conceded that he has not that con-
troll over his party which it was hoped he
could exert; nor can he, alone and unaided,
bring about the reformation 80 desirable for
the prosperity of our people.
1t may be necessary for reform to "begin
inside the Republican party but if, after one
years trial, the leaders-the legislators elected
by that party-persist in elevating to the
judicial bench such men as Whipper, Moses
and Wiggins, we may we'll doubt the expe'
diency of restricting the experiment to Re-
publican lines.
What, then, can be done? We answer, the
remedy is with the people. Surely, there are
in South Carolina enough honest men, under
proper organization, to control the political
affairs of the State. But they cannot be or
ganized under the banner of the Taxpayers
Union; and equally futile would be the at
tempt to draw the lines either of color or par
ty. Let the issues of party-name, or the race
or color of the citizen be ignored, and let the
honest men of the State deliberate the ques.
ton of the hour, irrespective of the side.issues
which heretofore have been goblin in their
path.
We cannot but believe that there are a
large number of colored men in South Caro-
lima, acting with the Republican party, who
would prefer an honest State government
And we have the same good opinion Of the
larger number of the white voters in the Re-
publican ranks. The Taxpayers, are in the
minority. They are as powerless on the one
hand to check corruption, as is Governor
Chamberlain on the other. But by proper
effort and unity of action they could consti
tute strong and powerful element in the
work of lifting the State from the slough o.
corruption into which she has been sunk.
Under the banner of Reform, with the de
termination that the work shall be accom-
plished, let the Taxpayers and the homes
element of the Republican party unite-fol
surely in this good work they will meet half
way-and the end will have been accomplish
ed. To attain this object, however, there
must be organization, the details Of which i
is unnecessary here to elaborate, further thar
to suggest the propriety, Of at once calling
township meetings in every county of th'
State, in which honest men, irrespective O
party or race may be allowed to participate
Let the townships meet in county conventions
and let the counties send up delegates to {
State convention for the purpose Of adopting
a platform with Honesty as the cornerstone
and taking such steps for thorough organiza
tion as may, after deliberation, be regarded
for the best.