The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-05-11
The Lesson Taught Us.

which recently met in Columbia was
disgrace to the whole country. 1t
was a disgrace to those who partici-
pated, and a disgrace to that party in
the United States that has kept such
worthless in power so long. It is diff
cnltto conceive how party so blatant
with rowdyism and rocking with bill,
lingsgate, as that which recently met
in Columbia, could possibly retain
power if left entirely to itself.
In that Convention were assembled
the men who have ruled South Caros
lima for eight long years. These men
represent the brains and tho animus
OF their party, and their actions, do
ings, and sayings may be taken as
fair and true exponents Of their con-
stituents. What these are it is unec-
essary to recall; they have been pubs
lished to the world and they are not
easily forgotten. They show conclu-
sivoly that there is no hopo of refor-
nation inside tho Republican party.
We may be told, however, that Gov>
ernor Chamberlain is sincere in his
propositions of reform; that he advo-
Gated them boldly in defending his
administration, and that he was chos-
on a delegate to the Cincincinnatti
Convention-~all of which goes to
prove that he can control his party.
1t proves no such thing, and the whole
history of the Convention at Colum-
bia proves just the contrary. Why.
then, was he chosen? Well it is diff.
cult to explain the whim or impulse
that may, for moment, control such
body. Ho had just omasca!atcd
Carpenter, and in doing so, he held
up to view the history of a groat po-
litical campaign and in representing
Carpenter as having sowed the seed
that sprang up into the armed Ku-
hlux, and himself as tho hero who had
battled with and crushed the hydra
headed monster, he made an artificial
appeal to tho passions and prejudices
OF his audience and secured to himself
q momentary victory. 1t matters
little whether this be the true expla-
nation or not-one thing is certain,
Chamberlain was one of hopeless
minority in that body. No man, who
docs not propose to stultify himself,
can construe his election as a delegate
into an approval of tho officer, for he
is met by the crushing fact that a res
olution endorsing Chamberlain's adj
ministration was Dictated by a two
thirds vote of this very body. This of
itself is conclusive on the point, and
IL receives additional strength from
the fact that he was the only one Of
the minority who was chosen.
We are told that fools will learn in
the school of experience, and if expe~
rienoe, politically speaking has taught
us one thing more conlcusively than
another, it is tho utter folly of hoping
for reformation inside Radical ranks.
In 1870 we put forward o mixed tick,
ct in which we hoped that every man
would find seasoning suited to his
palate, and wo selected the Honor
able r. B. Carpenter to lead us to vic.
tory. 1t was our fortune to hear this
high toned, consistent, chivalrous
gentleman, and in all that campaign
we heard no man more brilliant for re.
form, nor ono who spoke in such un-
measured terms of the villainics and
rasoalities of the Radical parry. That
campaign ended in ignominious defeat.
But whore do we now find tho bold
reformer r. B. Carpenter? In less
than the four years we find him in the
ranks OF Bowen and Leslie, and the
friend and alloy of honest John Pat.
terson, who swears that there vet re.
raain five years of good stealing in
South Carolina.
In the campaign of 1870 who led the
hosts of the opposition both on the
field and in tho council chamber?-
The Hon. Daniel Ii. Chamberlain.
In 1872 Moses and the nominees of
the regular Republican party were
elected. Who again led the ranks Of
the'oppositionH The Hon. Daniel Fl.
Ghonn harlo;n a