The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-29
The South Carolina Trickery.

wise counsel of Wade Hampton in
South Carolina are worthy Of the imi
tation of his fellow democrats all over
the country. The South Carolina
democrats appealed to the Supreme
Court of the State consisting of three
Judges, all republicans, to decide the
nroner functions, under the constitu-
ton, of the Returning Board. That
Board consists of five republicans, oil
State officers, and three Candidates for
reelection and therefore sitting as
Judges on their W cases. The Su-
preme Court heard argument and is
sued a temporary Injunction, pending
further argument, by which the Re
turning Board was ordered to count
and report to the Court the actual
votes cast, according to the returns Of
comfy commissioners, and to await
the final decision Of the Court on the
further question whether the Board
had. under the constitution, such ju-
dicial functions as would authorize it
to hear objections or decide generally
nnon the validity of the votes. On
Monday the Board. accordingly re-
norted 10 the Court that the returns
showed the Senate to consist OF elgh-
teen republicans and fifteen demo-
lcrats: the House, of sixty republic
cans and %sixty-four democrats-.one
majority of the democrats on joint
ballot. Thereupon the Court proceed
cd to hear further argument on n
functions of the Board, and while
this was going on, and while the coun-
sci of the Returning Board were ac-
tuallyi in Court and taking part In the
proceedings, the Board met privately,
flung out two democratic counties, on,
as one dissenting member declares in
a written protest, merely ec PGrte evil.
dence: hastily made out certificates OF
election to republican members of the
Legislature and to the Hayes electors
and adjourned sine die. The members
claim that ten daySiwas tile legal limit
of their existence as a Board; but if
they believe this, and il their counsel
one of them %cdriously enough the
United STATES District Attorney, so all
viscd them, why should they not have
notified the Court?r Why did their
counsel attend OH court at the very
time of this action, and thus help TO
deceive the Supreme Judges? Why
should the Board do by Il trick what
they assert to be right? This is what
the country asked yesterday when the
news was read.
Under these grave and exasperating
circumstances, General Wade Hamp-
ton issues an address to the people OF
South Carolina urging the utmost or
der, absolute peace and patience. The
advice is sound and patriotic, and the
North, without respect to party lines,
thanks him for it. The recent atti-
Jude of the democrats in South Carroll
ma has been a model of self-comnand
and loyal submission of their interest
and rights to the proper arbitrament
of the courts. The country has
watched them with anxiety, but with
increasing satisfaction. We hope
they will observe strictly the adlnonl-
ton of their leader and candidate Tor
Governor. We are a free and law
abiding people: and this matter Will be
settled according to law. Irritating,
Justly irritating as such unworthy
ltrickery is, the North. too, must COM
,nand its temper and have patience.
Tile snarl we are in can be untangled
only with patience and by orderly and
lawful methods. Any n who to-day
or at this time counsels or even falls
to condemn violence, any one who
adds by incendiary advice or sugges.
ton to the prevailing and just trrlta-
ton and excitement, does an unpatri-
otto act and deserves the severest con-
domination of the public. We are
glad to find in the most influential
democratic journals here the soundest
advice on this subject. The Journal
of Commerce, which represents very
ably the sentiments of our democratic
merchants, said on Saturday..
"If any Of those who assume TO lead the re-
publican party really desire to perpetrate q
~fiasrant wrong In thwarting the Will Of the
people rs lawfully expressed ut the polls,
they could not be more ably assisted in such
of the Opposition. Loud denunciatlons, in
yectlvcs, organizations for armed resistance
and all that can be represented as betraying
der are proposed violation of popular rights
the easier for those who may nave under.
taken it. The momen that the projectors Of
such q scheme can fire the hearts OF all who
have heretofore acted with the dominant par
ty. so that they will band together again to
carry out whatever leaders suggest, no out
rage will be so great that 1t can be peacefully
resisted. Let but the opposition Degln 10
| OuI III v kbbS trNe tN~
the real safeguard OF popular liberty and JUS
tice will no longer stand IN the way OF the
wrong-doers."
erfuI supporters OF the democratic cause, said
on TUESDAY, "Ectter submttto wrong for the
time. however gross. than appeal to any but
General Hampton urges the same course up
on the people Of South Carolina. In New
Orleans prominent men who have Just been
there saw the attitude OF the democrats is Alb
o,,iof and Or1erlvs thew ayyit in
confidence the justice Of the North.
Let them have patience and confidence.
The North, the Northern republicans party, Is
i si,a sWShen THf H. not % s g m'atter in @h,c 81 the the
democrats can useluiiy act. The initiative
does not belong to them their part Is 10 wait
in patience, In absolute order anu quiet.
The chief duty OF the crisis fails upon the re-
publican masses. they are honest and scnsi-
bic, and t,icy wilnot toIerite wrong or tric"-
cry. or " eli he appearance OF wrong. IN TINS
matter. II Is inl them 70 ucn,hhu. ala VIC
they Will drin;nd. In public meeting.
not on or merely an lIDLes! count, but sue:
mcaSu. eS rs sn:til assure Them ana their ucln-
Ocru;Ic neigilbors anu friends that there Is 10
L:,int Df suSniciOn about II. Unless We great
~ mjstaEe the temper and attitude OF the re-
rubliclu masses they Will maze themselves
heard and their influence felt to this end very
soon, AS We writc we nave nei9fe US u p!i-
cans of Massachusetts, who writes u.s.
What think you Of the result OF the election?
I hope ridden Will get II as the matter stands
That Is what to-day ninc out OF ten OF the
honest republicans think; and we say to the
republican leaders,, plainly, that they have
become within the last week objects or suspii-
cion to their own party and the public, equal
~ with the returning boards In whose pro-
cccdiligs and character they arc lnvoiVed ;
and hat unless they at once and conspicuous.
Il condemn and oppose themselves 10 all
trickery and to everything which bears even
the iaintcst OdOr of intended fraud they Will
See the honest men of their own party rise
up In public meetings all over the country TO
denOuncc them.
The Republican party is not made up Of
rogucs and Tombs lawyers. 1t contains a
great mass Of honest, honorable, patriotic
men. and they will not tolerate what would
make them hang their reads with shame !;
they will not allow their leaders TO resort
to trickery, to base devices, to doubtful
the republican opinion Of the proceedings In
the disputed States Is such that 1t has become
almost impossible decently to %countin Cover
nor Hayes, Already the wisest republicans
say In conversation that for the sake OF til cir
party they hope for Mr.. Tilden's return. AS
yet the honest republican masses are waiting
In silence, but with decreasing patience. But
any further appearance Of trIckcry, any, the
least. continuation OF these attempts In the
legal tcchnicalitics, 10 resort to underhand
and unworthy means. such rs the, recent
hearing OF testimony charging intimidation
on which the Louisiana Returning Board has,
it Is said, determined, will give voice to the
slnothered Indignation OF tho republican. par
ty, who cannot stand silent and see them
selves and the good fame of their party sold
into disgrace.-NcD York Herald.
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