The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-12-16
Ex:GoY. Perry's Letter. i.

Z
the Ne.rs and Courser, and urges the
Conservatives of the State to stand by
and support Cor. Chamberlain, in whom
the Ex-Governor seems to place implicit
confidence. This letter; emanating from
SO distinguished aisource, deserves the
careful and dispassionate consideration
Of our readers, and we propose to snalyze
it as. far as we may be able to show the
inconsistency in which the people of
South Carolina must involve themselves
to adopt the line of policy urged in it.
With oil due respect fortthe writer, we
must say, ,that;there is not asingle reason
urged for the policy advised which would
require an answer, except for the infu-
ence given them by being over tho sigma
ture of Governor Perry, who has usually
been very sagacious in his political views.
This, however, has not. been without ex-
ception, for it must be remembered that
the Governor has shown, himself to- pos.
sess the. common heritage Of humanity,
faIlibiiity, IN q most noted and impor.
tant iunctnre .of political affairs in our
State. He, was one Of the oid-tine lead:
erswho urged our people not to vote upon
y the subject Of convention during recon.
strruction, and thereby advised a course
which has done much to bring orlr State
to its present deplorabls condition Of
affairs. The policy of inaction then re-
suited greatly to our ,dstriment; and will
to-day result in: the same If it is persis.2
: led in. There has not been an election
in South Carolina since reconstruction
in which the policy Of either coalition or
inactivity, or both, has not been tried.
The first election after the adoption of
the present constitution was conducted
Under the policy Of Governor Perry,
which was 10 stand aloof from politics
and let the fabric Of republicaniam fall
of its own weight. !, Governor Scott waa
elected; and With Governor Chamberlain
at the head of the legal department Of
the government, his administration was
marked with great disaster to the inter
ests of our State. ys.soi,....;, ,..
Then followed the compromise to se-;
cure 8 portion of the republican vote
which presented Judge Carpenter as the
opponent of Scotes reelection. In this
election numbers of Democrats would
not vote, and Governor Perry himself,
if eur memory is correct. was by no
means hearty in his support of Carpen-
ter. Scott was reelected. Next came
the coalition with tho bolting Repubi-
cans, which was bitterly opposed by
many Democrats, and was even strongly
opposed in negative way by the Nsscs
and Courier, which Is now SO strongly
advocating coalition. The result Of this
movement was the election of F. J.
Moses as Governor. Lastly, the Demo-
Gratis united with the Independent Re-
publicans, and ran Green against Cham
berlain. This ticket received all the
Republican vote which can be polled
against regular nominee, and all the
Democratic vote that can be induced
to support compromise ticket, and yet
it was defeated by about eleven thousand
majority. There we're vast numbers Of
white people who would not vote the
ticket at that time, and to-day many who
then voted it would not do SO again.
This il briefly history of the policy
of coalition and inactivity, and Gov.
Perry urges the people to continue in the
eoarse which has 30 often brought disas-
ter In the past. In his letter, the Ex-
Gov. says: -. -'',.s7s-
'aThs OILY question at issue now in |
South Carolina Is reform and an honest
administration Of ths goyefnment.-
There is nothing else worthy Of entering
into the canvass next fall for Stats Off
GERS, county officers and members Of the
Legislature. If / Thought a Republican,
white or colored, more honest and moro
competent than Democrat, ] should
certainly vote for him, notwithstanding |
my strong lifelong Democratic feelings
and principles"
We are disposed to, differ from him
upon this point, for there is certainly
seven electoral votes for Democrat or
Republican President to be cast, and
there are the same fundamental princi-
pies of the Democratic party to be sought
for which have always given it support
from the people Of our State. But even
if honesty and economy is all for which
we are battling, is it at all likely NO will
secure these results by not organhang7
There is full ticket of State officers to
be elected next year, and is it probable
the Republicans will give us an honest
man for Governor, Ieutsnant Governor,
Attorney and Comptroller Generals, and
treasurer If Gov. Perry has sufficient
confidence in the Republicans to believe
this, his faith is much stronger than most
persons, and yet he advocates a course
which ensures the election Of just such
men as they may choose to select. His
remarks about his willingness to vote for
colored men show that II his reconstruc-
ton has been slow it has nevertheless
been thorough, but he has happily coupled
it with a contingency which WOULD not
likely arise, and, therefore, he will prob
ably never be called upon to put his pro-
fessions into practice.
He thinks the Democrats under obli-
CATION to support the Governor because,
we suppose, he has done his duty accord
ing to the writer's views. Well, this