The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-05
A PRECEDENT.

very culpablc in the course ofthe Demo-
Gratis in some parts of our State because
they choose to give their patronage to
Democrats instead of Republicans, and
prefer letting their lands lie idle rather
than hire or rent to Republican. AS
general thing it is bad policy to allow
politics to make dividing lines in busi-
ness, and under an ordinary condition of
affairs we should condemn the practice,
but as things now stand there is no just
ground for. any such censure, for South
Carolina Republicanism is so corrupt and
infamous, its consequences are so injuri-
GUS both to labor and capital, and its ex-
istence is so utterly destructive of peace
and prosperity that no good man can
lend it any countenance without feeling
that he is nursing a viper which is con-
tinually biting him and his countrymen.
No man of integrity would Intentionally
think of keeping in his employ pro-
fessional set of thieves, nor would he
furnish dwellings to set of tenants who
afford harbor and protection to such
thieves, and yet this is exactly what the
property holders of South Carolina have
been doing in political sense for several
years. The leaders Of the Republican
party are undoubtedly, as set, corrupt,
thievish and seditious, and although We
believe the masses of the Republican
party are politically honest, still, by their
votes, whether Intentionally or not, they
repeatedly foist upon our people the
government of these leaders, and are
therefore responsible for it. Hence,
there can be nothing morally, socially,
politically nor legally improper in a
Democrat deciding to patronize his polit-
cal friends, and declining to afford sup
port to the men who are antagonistic to
his interests and to the welfare of the
State. No sane man would say that
person should employ a servant who,
however honest he might be, would fur
nish thief with a key to his corn crib
to steal his corn. Then, why say that
Democrats should furnish labor to Re-
publicaps, who, by. their votes, put
thieves into positions in which they can
and do squander the exorbitant taxes
they levy and collect from the property
Of the State, nine-tenths of which be-
longs to Democrats?
But whatever may be said of this
course, there is one thing which we wish
the Republicans to remember whenever
they complain oft. 1t is that the same
thing is carried out through the entire
North, East and West, and therefore We
of the South will only be initiating the
example of others if we adopt it here.
In New England the laborers in the fac
tories would not think of voting against
the interests Of their employer, and in
the Middle, States the miner would not
dream of getting employment where he
voted against the interest of his employer.
There is no reason why the farmer should
not exercise the same influence over his
laborers which is done by the manu-
facturer or miner. But moreover, even
the United States government exercises
this control over its employees, the office
holders, for if an officer votes against the
party in power, even if he is clerk, he
loses his position. Therefore, we have
the high sanction of the natioual admin
istration to sustain the position of some
Democrats, that they will only give en-
ployment and patronage to their political
friends.
And last but not least, whether the
position is right or not, Governor Cham
berlain has set the precedent, and it i'll
becomes the paper which he owns to con-
denim others for doing what he has led off
in. During the canvass two years ago he
repeatedly declared upon the stump that
he would appoint none but Republicans
to Office. This was announcing the prin-
ciple for himself which he now condemns
in others. How can the Governor, who
declares he will appoint none but Repub-
licans to Office, complain of the Democrat
who will employ none but Democrats to
work for them? The Governor holds the
Offices in trust for the benefit of all the
people, while the property of the citizen
is his individually; hence, if the Gov
ernor makes partisan use of the Offices
entrusted to his care, is it wrong for a
citizen to employ his property in such a
manner as to advance his interest and
the interest of the whole State? Gov
ernor Chamberlain is the first man who
hoisted the flag of political prescription
in this State, and if he is demolished at
his own game, he and his party must
blame themselves.
EDITORIAL NOTES.