The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-27

tnei reIOIm eH0ru6 CT CfOY. CIlamUerlali
satisfactorily HIS taxation been re-
duced in point of fact? True; the veto
message of the Governor last winter
upset an infamous tax bill, and in its
stead we have reduction of the levy
and a change of objects for which the
money is raised. But part of this re-
duction only distributes taxation over a
series of years, and the consequence of
reducing the past levy is to carry it for
ward to the next year, for there is a
large deficiency to be made good, just as
in previous years. One-half the salaries
of officials and large portion of the
sums appropriated for penal and charit-
able institutions will not be paid out OF
the present years taxes, which have to
be met at another time. We cannot
perceive the benefit to be derived from
such reform, which temporarily reduces
taxation, in view of the pending cam
paign. Even Gov Scott was cunning
enough to perform this trick in the cam
paign of 1870, and his adherents then
claimed for him great merit on the score
of economy, when the fact remains that
the people are not yet through with
liguidating the deficiencies of his admin
istration. Where,is the school appropri-
alton for the present year? Will Ander-
son County receive more than two-thirds
of the apportionment3 Where is the
Solomon Bank swindle, by which the
State was defrauded of Two Hundred
Thousand Dollars, which WAS made pos
sible by Gov. Chamberlain trusting SO
implicitly in his party friends?
This hasty glance at the financial re-
form effected by Gov. Chamberlain must
suffice for the present. 1t is not in keep
ing with "the pledges that be so earnestly
made before his election" nor is it in
consonance with the condition of the
people, who are made to groan from year
to year for the benefit of "the
party" Genuine reform is failure, 80
long as the Governor depends upon the
material afforded by his political asso-
ciates to effect that reform, and he has
openly boasted in regard to keeping
Democrats out of Office in this State.
Yet, it is undemiably true, that in every
measure of importance he was dependent
upon the: Democratic members of the
Legislature for support and he has never
exhibited the psltry gratitude to ac-
knowledge their services, for confession
of his reliance upon their endeayors
would be accepted by the country as
proof conclusive that the Democrats were
working unselfshly for the good of the
State, and reveal the fact that majority
of his own party were seeking personal
and selfish ends.
Gov. Chamberlain is weakening in his
own party, and recent events make it
clear that he cannot control the machine
ry for any permanent good to the State.
Even admitting all that our correspon-
dent claims for his administration, we
fail to perceive that there is any reason
to induce an alliance with him. He has
not asked for it, nor intimated that there
is any probability of his making fight
for good government, outside Of party
lines. When the time arrives and the
opportunity is presented, it will be soon
enough to arrange such programme as
was indicated some time ago by Ex-Goy.
Perry. But purblind Democrats will
insist upon pledging in advance the
strength and support of the Democratic
party, without knowing whether or not
the Governor is to remain associated in
his reform character with the recognized
thieves and plunderers, whose potent
control has manipulated every movement
of the party so far When he comes out
from amongst them, and ceases to pledge
his fealty to the corrupt organization
known as the Republican party in South
Carolina, it will be an evidence of his
patriotism rising above the strife of party,
and give encouragement to the idea that
he is earnestly striving to make "a con-
test, not for party, but for honesty"
Until that is done, we cannot avoid the
conviction that as Democrats we have
neither part or parcel in the plans, pur-
poses and aspirations of Gov. Chamber
lain, who is seeking to build up and
maintain responsibility as Republican.
Others may imagine it duty to praise
and aatter political opponent, whose
whole record is antagonistic to their own
feelings, but we have had enough of con-
cession, conciliation and compromise
within the last few years, in the pursuit
of unfruitful policy and unmanly self
degradation. There is neither wisdom
nor sagaciy in pressing this illusory
phantom any longer to our hearts, and
not until we perceive that Gov. Cham
berlain has determined to sink the parti-
san in the statesman, to repress his politi-
cal prejudices for the welfare of the entire
people, will we consent to an alliance
with him in the contest before us, or
abate one jot or title of our opposition
to his pretended and unsatisfyiDg reform.
A CARD.
The action of the Brushy Creek Demo-
cratic Club, in proposing my name
among others as q suitable one to be con-