The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-29
The Reform Farce--An lnterlude.

SOIu VI hQSuSo WOuAo NC q oetA'Ss-
BILE time for the meeting.
The Reform Farce--An lnterlude.
The trial of Niles g. Parker ended last
week in a verdict of SIS, 900 for the State,
which is the value Of the coupons traced
directly to his hands. What view the
jury took of Ladd's testimony in regard
to the division Of the spoils has not trans
pired. Perhaps the statement of Parker
to Ladd was regarded as the naked truth,
but the others were not on trial, and
never will be- But what does the verdict
signify, after all this parade and exhaus-
eetfort? Will the State recover sim
gle dollar2 rbe sureties of Parker were
released by the Attorney-General, when
such q brilliant discovery was made as
that one Of them was foreman of the jury.
The Ex-Treasurer languishes yet in du-
rance vile, awaiting the preparation of a
suitable inventory Of his goods and
chattels. He will surely fix things so
that the verdict against him will prove a
nullity. Of what avail is a nero verdict,
when the public robber is turned out of
prison, and his accomplices permitted to
secrete the ill-gotten gains? It may help
to bolster the administration with unso-
phisticated and uninformed persons out
side of the State, but we do not see how
the people of South Carolina can be de-
ceived by this pretence and sham.
Look at the next development of these
farcical proceedings. The remaining
case against Parker was taken up the day
after the verdict in he'coupon trial was
rendered, which is a civil action for the
recovery of $2s, 900 brought by the Sink
ing Fund Commissioners. The money
was paid to Ex-Treasurer Parker on the
18th of May, 1872 and has not been
accounted for, as the law directs. After
spending two days most uselessly, the
action against Parker was formally dis
continued, and the jury congratulated
upon their happy deliverance.
In both cases, the process, was on the
civil side of the Court, for the recovery
of moneys fraudulently misapplied and
embezzled. The criminal law was not
invoked in either case, and there was no
danger of Parker finding his way into
the Penitentiary, where he and his con-
federates belong. Such course might
have resulted in extraordinary develop
ments, duplicating many persons now
regarded as honest reformers! We re-
gard the entire proceedings as mere
farce CT the thinnest material-light,
gauzy and transparent:
1t is vain to suppose that Parker will
be brought to answer for his. crimes un-
der criminal action. If he does not
make good his exit from the State, is he
not protected from further moiestation
by a convenient statute, which debars
such proceedings after the lapse of two
years succeeding his retirement from
Office?
In the meanwhile, what has become of
Gov. Chamberlain? His absence from
the State at this juncture of affairs is not
entirely compatible with that inflexibie
devotion to the duties of his office, which
he can so glibly declare in smoothly
worded messages and letters. More than
month has elapsed since he went away
to instruct the youth of Connecticut, and
he must have ceased to study the finan-
cial problem now affecting the people of
South Carolina. The Parker trial in its
various phases and the failure Of Hardy
Solomon's banking institution are sub
jects for his profound contemplation, yet
he is missing it all. His faithful organ
(see circulars in another column) grinds
the right tune, however, and declares
that substantial JUSTICE is being meted
out to republican ex-otficials. We fail to
perceive that punishment has followed
misSeasance in Office, and that "the party"
has pursued the culprits with any great
vigor. It may be that we are "entirely
PARTISAN yet it does seem that Leslie is
still defiant, that Parker is in fair way
10 he released from confinement, and
that the rogues Of the past tare practically
shielded by the present administration.
1t is a lame and miserable farce! The
real work Of bringing public robbers to
Justice has not yet begun III South Caro-
lima.