The New York herald., 1876-08-14
Tho "StraiShtout" Policy in South
CarOllna.

The Democratic Convention of South Caro-
lima will meet tomorrow in Columbia.
More than usual interest has been taken out
side of the State in this Convention. South
Carolina has for some years been known as
the "Prostrate State" and the efforts of her
sons to rescue the Commonwealth from the
rule of the bad men who came into power at
the close of the war have been unavailing.
The preponderance of the negro vote, and
the folly of the democratic leaders in alien
ating that vote, have perpetuated the
republican power. There have prob
ably never been such travesties Of
government as were seen in South
Carolina during the administration of
Scott and Moses. The letter Of Mr..
Rhett. which we print to-day, will give a
fair idea of the condition into which these
persons brought the State. The present
Governor, Mr. Chamberlain, deserves the
credit of having attempted to rescue the
State from the worst elements of the repub-
lican party. His war upon Moses and
Whipper-one a white and the other a negro
vagabond who were elected judges by the
Legislature-gave him the support of the
best men In the State. This support took
the shape of a movement to nominate him for
Governor on On independent ticket. 1t was
argued that such nomination would be re-
peating the movement by which Walker
was chosen Governor in Virginia and the
State given to tho democrats. This move
ment was championed by the Ne,os and
Courier, the leading democratic journal of
South Carolina and one Of the most influ-
entail newspapers in the South.
That spirit Of intolerance which drove
South Carolina into the secession move
ment and brought upon her SO many woes
that spirit which. more than any other, has
made her the ''Prostrate State" would not
consent even to IN alliance with the hated
carpet-bagger. no matter how Jealous he may
have been to serve the people. movement
was set on foot which has been called the
no relations whatever with any North
ern or negro element. The contest has
been bitter. Some leaders like Wade
Hampton, while expressing desire
for straightout nomination have ex-
pressed willingness to be governed by
the Convention Others have not been so
patriotic. The result, SO far as we can Judge
from the complexion of the delegates thus
far elected, has been to give the straightouts
decided majority. The party which Mr..
Rhett represents with so much ability in the
HERALD this morning will control the nomi-
nations, and we shall probably have Wade
Hampton as the democratic candidate.
Wade Hampton would make good Cover
nor, and we should like to sec him elected.
But the councils which control to-morrow's
Convention will, if unchecked, give South
way of carrying South Carolina except by
such union as that proposed by the Ners
and Courier. Wherever the old Southern
party can make union, either with honest,
respectables negroes or Northern men who
mean to take their part with them and build
up the States, it is their duty to do SO. The
policy of hatred, ostracism and exclusion,
the denial to the negro of any political con-
sideration, is mad policy. If the leaders
of the Convention which meets tomorrow
are wise they will ponder these things, and
by conciliating all honest elements in the
State give n ticket whose success will be
that of good government, fraternity and
peace.
THE WEATHER. There is no probability