New-York tribune., 1875-12-22


bottom, tho scoundrel crew may run their
course, secure their places, boast their sue
cesses, as they did the other day In Columbia
when they said, "Here's something Chamber
claim can't vetO,n and to oil remOnstrance or
protest return Boss Tweed's reply, "Well,
"wbat are you going to do about 7" And, in
deed, what are we going to do about it'll What
can wei What can the innocent citizens OF
South Carolina who are lying under this OPP
preston do about itf This is continually
recurring problem in the development OF our
system of popular government 1t runs side
by side with universal suffrage, and waits
occasions to thrust itself forward for an answer.
There have been times in California and In
some of the new States when law and prece-
dent stood still as Joshua's sun on Gideon, and
an angry people gave it sharp and swift re-
ply. 1t was answered here in New-fOrk by
legal process without wrenching OF law or
precedent when Boss Tweed formulated in his
historic taunt the rogaes' defiance. But Cali
fornia's cure is not for South Carolina. 1t Is
no time now to furnish pretexts for outrage
campaigners. Rather than that, her citizens had
much better bear the ills they have,
and be patient under them. The remedy
which New-York availed itself of is not, under
present conditions, open to South Carolina.
The power of Tweed was in the ignorance and
vice which, though strong in the wards and
districts where they were massed, were still
comfortable when the intelligence and honesty
of the people were reused against them. In
South Carolina ignorance and prejudice, and
their accompaniments, corruption and vicious
ness, are in the ascendant, and on them reason,
remonstrance, protest, make no impression.
Gov. Chamberlain has refused to commission
these amazing judges. 1t is a bold thing to do,
and we await with some anxiety the results.
Meantime it is evident that this cannot be
a lasting remedy There is but one way
of escape. The party which Is responsible
for the existing condition must do some
thing for It's cure, or at least its allevil-
ton. The Democratic party was respon-
sible for Tweed and his gang so long as
it held them up and allowed them to carry on
their robberies under its name. 1t flung them
Off late, but at last. and they ceased
to be dangerous. The Oppressors OF
South Carolina are of the Republican party.
In its name they have carried on their
robberies. Republican Administration has
recognized them in the distribution of offices.
Republican conventions have admitted them
to their counsels. Republican newspapers have
defended them. Republican leaders have ati-
ated with them and felt no shame. This has
been one of the strong holds of the managing
scamps upon the ignorant negroes, that
they were all good Republicans. And
the sign of Republicansm is the hold
ing of Government Office The Admin
istration can shake these fellows off if it will.
Moses and Whipper and their kind would be
hamstrung almost as completely by being
stripped of their Republican name as were
Tweed and his fellows when the Democracy
disowned them. And would it not be better
for the party, for the country, for right
and Justice, to say nothing of the bene-
fit. to the people of South Carolina,
if few leaders like Senator Morton should
leave off for q little their unusual efforts to
discover cases where negroes have been
hndered from voting, and briefly consider the
condition of a State in which they are having
their own will and wayl