The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-15
AN EyoL1sn yfBw or THE CRISIS.
Depictins the Course Pprsued by Republicans
In the southern states.


II must be admitted that TO foreign OBJ
servers the conduct OF the Republicans In South
Carolina seems greatly to need Justification.
The interference Of the Federal troops, granted
by the President at the request of Gov. Cham
berlain, might be necessary for the preserva-
ton OF order. md possibly quite as much for the
the negroes ms for that OF the Republicans,
black OF white, from their opponents. But this
used for an altogether different purpose. Gov.
Chamberlain has been supported by Cen Grant
IN south C.rolina precisely as Gov. Kellogg was
sustained two years ago IN Louisiana. In the
latter G Sc the Democrats claimed to have MA
iority In the state l. gislature, which the Rcpub-
lican returning officers refused to recognize the
Democratic mem oers, or those who pretend to
be such, were prevented from taking their seats
by the Federal troops, aud retired protest.
ing. This Ia precisely what occurred again
~ South Caront yesterday. The Leg
islaiure had n Democratic majority ac,-
cording to tho votes actually enumerated.
but in two counties the Returning Board refused
to give certificates Of election to eight Demo-
aud intimidation N. The Democrats applied to
the supreme Court II the the Judses Of
" ten; 1t shout be stated havea person quar-;
rel II long 81 lnding with Gov Chamberlain, aud
are o. very doubtful repute ana obtained "A
nhndaiuus ordering the luafd To cerilfy 70 tue
elections In the counties thrown ont. The board
refused, and were nj once committed by the
Court for contempt but on application to tho
/ Federal circuit Court, TIL were released on
haOeis curpu-. lu tins conflict the victory TO-
are IN possession Of the spoils. for the " or
rnniz ,tion" OF the LEGISLATURE yesterday was
| effected ~ virtue Of the elections certified by
the board, ana In di, reg ri of the cetufc ties
| which the members from the disiranchisod
! DEM cratic counties had obi ainel from the Su-
| enforced bv the i, der. soldery which guarded
| the state House; tho Democrats, having once
~ re protested. Withdrew, and the r. publicdns,
| though having less ilhn the legal quorum. pro-
cceded TO " OrgHi.izc" the Legislature. "A more
ex.ct parallel to the events AT New Orleans In
| 1874 could not be imagined. In that case Con-
Eicsstunal inquiry revealed Y oss abuses on tue
| part OF the Republicans. The Intervention Of
the Federal power was generally condemned,
| aud the feeling aroused both ut home aud
abroad BAD no. lItIe to do T',n t9s decadsp n,
ambition for a third term.
We can hardly believe that the interests of the
Republican party will he served by such pro-
| ceedings IA those which our correspondent de-
| scrbes IN detail. the hold upon the State Lagis-
| lature OF South Carolina obtained by the sue
with the issue of the Presidential cOntes . but
| it will doubtless he cited 10y the Democrats as u
! tyne Of Republican unscfupul BUSINESS. In Louis
lana. whero tho counting Of the votes Is still n-
complete, II IL admitted that the Returning
| that state by throwing out Democritic m Jori-
tiles la districts prom ounced to be corrupted or
| intmldated. In Florida the counting began
yesterday. and here, Nv the ad mission OF both
! parties. the contest was exceedingly close. the
Republican and democratic estimates, though
| giving different results. being only some two
! hundred votes Dari. Mr.. Tllden, perhaps, cam
not hole to OBTAIN a rec lgniilon Of his cAins IN
Florida where his mrIorty is very nArr NV, sine 20
crsts have &c sed to hope.
| the Democrats assert that their majority in
| the southern states IL genuine and substsutial,
| ana That they have gained II by bringing round
| to their side large numbers Of the negroes,
wearied OF the shortcomings ~ Republican ad-
! ministr ton. In South Carolina II W reported
some time ago TINT every white Democrat set
! t. work to convince at 10 ST one n gro that "A
| Democratic policy would be better for Caro-
| lui II interests than Republican policy an II
this plan had any measure OF success, II IL clear
! that 1t woulI invilidate estimates OF Republi-
can mHJorities founded upon the census. As
| for the alleged intimidation Of negroes. the
| Democrats Of South Carolina point to the fact
| that their largest maj jrities were obtained In
| counties which were completely contrultd
| curing the election by the Federal troops.
| In Louisiana they nave offered II
more curious piece Of evidence IN support
| OF their claim to popular majority, not
| exclusively composed Of any single caste or
I. ce: they have collected tfidavts from
several hundred negroes VINO swear that they
voted for the DeUOcr tic ticket or course
the ueieuces pleaded by the H. mocrats may be
! found unsupported by facts. hut they are sufii
| cientiy strong to overthrow the assumption that
| there must lie "A Republican III jirity there.
| As-uredly, the record - the southern Democrats
I, not - Unless but II Is unfortunate that the
duty - examining the charges against them
durin. The present critical struggle should rest
with IOlifiria OF suspected CT aracter and r
/ ti-lu connections IL the Returning boards ia
| thu contested states at all fesemUled the BOARD
| witch counted II" the Republican L gisl ltuTe
| two years 40 IN LOUISIANA. no one Cin feel any
respect for their decisions, al hOugh II NAY be
found ZAP -sib!e ~ reverse VI override them by