, 1876-01-25

OuI washington u18pltcnea OF this morn.
ing contaiu letter from Gov. CuAnnEntA1a.
of South Carolina, to Senator MoRroH, which
is very significant political document. Over
looking the possible personal reagons for the
composition and publication Of tho opiBtlo,
wo find 1t OF unique interest in what it says
Of tho roal state Of afrnirs in the Palmetto
state and tho political probabilities thorc.
For some time, tho National Republican of
Washington has been rivaling tho New York
Sun III its denunciations Of CHAMBERLAIN.
It Inns called him "thief," mentioned him
IA e1ninently fit for the Penitcntiary,
and denounced him as Do1nocrat i!
Some friend Of his, writing from
Washington, told him that Mon7ox, too, con-
sidorcd him as practically identified with
tho Democrats" and had no hopo OF South
Carolina's going Republican. Uine lilo cer6a.
Tho letter Ia not ono Of remarkable modeaty,
but 1t seems TO stnto facts, md to do 50 with
fairness.
After ai1 years Of constant peoulation and
theft in public places, the South Caroliua
community began to demand something
botter. DANIEL Fl. CHAMBERLAIN WAS uomi.
nated for Governor in 1874, by tho Ucpub-
licans, as Reform candidate. His ability
was unqueationablo; bis character at tho time
WIS not. The 1atter had suffered on
account Of his notions as Atsorney-G General
from 1858 to 1879. TbAa. Actous havo
never been satisfactorily explained, though
thoy perhaps may DO some day. Ho was dis
trusted by thousands OF Republicans.
There was bolt, A candidate waa nomi-
natcl by part Of tho regular Republicans, tho
Liberals, and tho Domoc1ats. CHAMBERLAIN
was eloctod, however, by 1000 majority,--a
loss Of $4,000 Republican majority In two
years. Ho was sworn in Dec. /, 1874, and
has been vigorously at work reforming ever
since. He haa dono SO vol that ha may
fairly be said to hare atoned for tho mis-
takes-proviled they woru misiakes-of his
earlier career. But ho las had to meet florco
opposition inside Lis own party. The
mon who had talked reform wore
nghast at tho iaea OF doing any,
thing or having anything done in tho
why Of reform. The Governors policy, how
over, was successfully carried through. Ho
stopped stealing, The masscs Of tho COM
munity, among whom, Of course, wero q
number OF Democrats, heartily praised him.
At onco tho thieves began to yell: "ue is
going ovor to tho Democrats and "Ho
wants socia recognition fruln tho Hobols :"
But meanwhile the Do1nocrado party had
been Boothed into q moribunl condition. It
could lind no fault with tho powers that be,
and WAS dissolying for want Of = '.cry."
There WAS no party organization, no party
spirit, "On the 18th day Of Lost
Decembor, tie Democracy Of South
Caroljna was in perfect collapse; no
State issues could haya givon them Ifc or
activity it Is doubtful whether eyon nation
al Issues would havs had forco enough to
havo induced canvass OF tho Ssate for tho
Democratic candidates in tho coming Presl-
dental campaign, under the circumstances
thon existing" 4 day, barely moro than an
hour, changed oil this. Ths Legislature
elected +, J.. A1oAEs, Jr., and ". ]. W1uprEa
10 scats upon tho Circuit Bench. Wu1prka
was given tho Charleston Circuit, tho uost
important in the ssate. Tho Governor draws
the following pleasing pan-picturea Of thess
men:
Mo2Es VII my pssdeceasof ~ uoyhfnof. Cn!o4a tho
unverhl beaef smoag I'll classes Of peopla in this
State u mistaken, hs u infamous cha.zcsr ~ sves
in any sga dsgrsesd sud psossltutsd public roaittoa
4, . Thass Il not = snsQ u Bouth Carolina who
would trust MosEs with 80,
Or Wu1rFAx II can bo ssid that h nssus 10 hnrs
lacked only opportunity to psoss hi1asl thu equal Of
Mos44 in nfsny. 1gnoFnnt Of law, ignorant OF loras
sslnblss tu opsn practice, IN smLsazlez Of public
fund.-. he u u unnt for judicial posiuoa Any mAn
whom by possibility you could mama,
The election of these men split the Repub-
Lean party of tha Stale iato two fragments
aAid gave nev life to tho dying Democracy,
The one chance Of maintaining Republican
supremacy wss to promptly do the one right
thing,-disown Wa1rrKa and MOSES. This
ws done. On account Of It, CuAABkalA1,s
has b&ea ehAxRsd viii nlAriaQ into !l,s hAuls