The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-01-28
THE DESOLATED SOUTH.
GOV. CHAMBRRLkIN's PROTEST.
THE FRUITS OF THE EoARPET-BAGGERs' INFA-
NOUS RULE-REPUBLICANIsM MUST UN-
LOAD OR DIE IN DIsHoNoR.

LOAD OR DIE IN DIsHoNoR.
Governor Chamberlain, of South Carolina,
has addressed an important letter to prom
incnt Republican Senator in Washington,
from which we print the following ex-
| tracts
took my seat as Governor December !,
1874, and l addressed myself earnestly to
the work of keeping the pledges had made
and the pledges made for me by all my
friends and by our platform in the cam
paign. soon found that many of those
who supported me in the campaign and had
talked reform did not want reform but
persevered, determined, as matter of right
and of good policy, to adhere to my party
platform and pledges. OF course those who
disliked practical reform cried out: "He is
going oper 10 the Democrats. He wants social
recognition from the rebels" and all the rest
of those senseless cries such as you now hear
about me. Still persevercd, and when our
Legislature met in November last there was
apparent harmony between me and party
and complete acquescence in the
wisdom Of the policy of reform as
carried out by me. What, then, is the mat
ter with me Why was l disliked and de-
nounced by some members of my own party2
Simply for this: l insisted on reasonable
taxes, competent officers, honest expendi-
lures, fair legislation and no stealing, and the
Democrats praised me for IL. The twolast
things are my offense. I did not sanction
schemes of public plunder, such as our
printing ring, for instance, but the cost of
public printing per year was cut down from
$lS0,000 to $4,000, and contingent funds
from $4,000 to $4,000, and repeat, the
Dem ocrat, praised me, Such was the condi-
tion of affairs here on the 10Th day of last
December. The Democracy of South Caro-
lima was in perfect collapse. No State issues
could have given them life or activity. 1t
is doubtful whether even national issues
would have had force enough to have in
duced canvass of the State for the Demo-
cratic candidates In the coming Presidential
campaign under the circumstances then ex
isting. On the 10th of December last, the
General Assembly. under influence which it
is impossible now to State fully, elected F.
j. Moses, Jr.,and w. j. Whipper as Judges
Of the Circuit Court of this state, the latter
for the circuit which embraces lhe city of
Charleston and constitutes the most impor-
tant circuit of the State in point Of popula-
tiion, wealth and business. Are you aware
who these men are? Moses was my pre-
docessor as Governor Unless the universal
belief among all classes Of people in this
State is mistaken, he is rs infamous a
character as ever in any age disgraced and
prostituted public position. Disappointed in
not being renominated for Governor, he
entered into conspiracy with some of the
leaders Of the Democracy and Independent
Republicans to elect my opponent, and
actually sold out the Commissioners of
Elections, of whom he had the sole appoint
ment, to my opponents for $50, 900, ofwhich
$4,000 was paid to him in cash, and the
rest made contingent on the election of my
opponent Of Whipper it. can be said that
he seems to have lacked only opportunity to
prove himself the equal of Moses in infamy.
Ignorant of law, ignorant of morals,
gambler by open practice, an embezzler of
public funds, he is 'as unfit for judicial po-
sition as any man whom by possibility you
could name. Neither of these men have
even the poor qualifications, which the in
famous Democratic Judges of New York
had, of such degree of legal knowledge rs
to qualify them for the intelligent discharge
of any judicial duty. What has been the
result? Their election has sent thrill of
horror through the whole State. 1t has split
the Republicans in twain. The moribund
Democracy have awakened to new life and
new hopes. No man who respects civiliza-
tion and public decency can do less than de-
nounce these elections without measure. No
decent man can do less than oppose them, can
do less than fight against those who elected
them or who acquesce in them. Doyouexpect
us to do in South Carolina what you would
sooner lose your right arm than do in your own
State? Such a test, indeed, could never
arise in the latter, but it has arisen here, ,and
you err wholly if you imagine that you, liv-
ing here, would for one moment think of toll
Grating these elections. You could not do
it, and you would spurn as an insult the
suggestion of supporting or acquiescing in
them. And here let me speak plainly. To
cry democrat" at me is to support Noses
and Whpper. am Republican of just as
many years standing as have seen years of
discretion. have no tendency to any other
party-no association, no sympathy with any
other party. l want to see South Carolina
remain Republican State, but tell you
no party can rule this State that supports
Whipper and Moses, and to denounce us
who are to-day denouncing the election of
these men is to support them. There is but
one way to save the Republican party in
South Carolina, and that way is, repeat, to
unload Noses and Whipper and all who go
with them. 1t will be difficult to restore
con fidence in party whose members were
once capable of such an act as their election,
but if our action is prompt and decided, if
you and the Republicans at Washington will
put your feet upon such things and stamp
them out, we can yet make South Carolina
and keep her as safely Republican as Yer
mont or Iowa. If this is not done, we go
down here as party to hopeless and deserv-
ed defeat and infamy. Neither the admins
tration at Washington, with all its appli-
ances, civil and military, nor all the denun-
Citations of the world heaped upon me can
save the Republican party here from over
whelming defeat during this year, unless we
can persuade the people of this State that
such things as these judicial elections will be
undone, and never, by any possibility, be
repeated d-Phild. Times
Just as we Expected.
On, Molnnrln.r nf Loot .ronk durinh Chr