New-York tribune., 1876-12-16
REPUBLICANS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.


uNx1ND cplnCIsM OF NORTHERN REPUBucANs-
cHAMBERLAIN's EFFORT TO GIVE GOOD GOVERN
MENT.
TO the Bditor Of The Tribune.
SIR: / have read your articles entitled
.south Carolina" stop Thief" and "The Lesson OF Flor
ida" Anything better truer than the last TWO aTt
cles has rarely II been written. Yet cannot see
IN what the lesson of Florida differs from that OF south
Carolina inasmuch the South Carolina negro elected
Republican electors in spite Of fraud, intimidation and
violence while in Florida with no such pressure upon
him. he did no more The fact is you do not give the
Republicans OF South Carolina the credit due them Tor
their efforts to save the State and nation Your article
South CarOua) is mainly true, but you seem TO De Gu
tirey too willing since the the face OF the returns give
small majority for Hayes and Wheeler to leave Cham
beran TO defeated by the face count through the cor
rpt machinery Of the rebel Democracy, Which you have
30 severely denounced when 1t Is clear as the noonoay
sun that Hampton Co. count for themselves ID Enge
field County alone 1000 more votes than there are
voters 90 vote them It that do not spare the
Supreme Court but su counsel such action as VIII leave
Moses Co. 70 turn our State Government to the
tender mercies Of Hampton Co. upon the mere count
Of the most glaTingy fraudulent face returns You
further say: "It would not be a bad thing II WadG
Hampton could legally become the Governor OF his own
State and he with the respectable South Carolnians
who are now "champonng the doubtful ju-
dca acts OF MOseswho has been closely connected
with the most Infamous carpetbag theyes-cOuld once
more rule the State they have made prostrate" You
might have added in reference TO thieves-for our
worst ono is carpe bagger-and stealing the vote
of State through fraud and violence Is greater crime
than stealing its money You admit that Chamberlain
has faithfully fought these thieves since he became
Goyernor and is In reality the only rcfOrmer who
truly lay claim to title but you do not seem to know
or care that IL for this alone that Hampton
Co. are making war upon him. Chamberlain has done
all that any could do to lift South Carolina from the
degradation and misrule into which the rebellion and
bloody war had plunged aud his only crime is that he
has been so emncny successful that unless he can now
be kicked out office by the miserable horde Of Demo
cratic and Republican pretenders who are only on scent
of Office their chance for home rule" and plunder Is
You seem TO be greatly enamOred Of Wade Hampton,
aud say that he closely identified with TIE STATE lie
native It is true, and 50 is Franklin j. Moses Jr but
what good he has ever dOne except beggar people
through rebellion and war am at loss TO Know But
have bad no TebeiiOn no rsconstruction carpcbag
government, and 10 "radical stealing" He has Sone
what he could 10 give us the prostrhte condition nc
complains Of aud loyal men do not want any more OF s
eiose az the war he left the for Mississippi and
there planted himself into bankruptcy 10 the tune OF
cratic slang about carpebaggeIs he TO have re-
turned 70 South Carolina pretty much as the NOrlel9
perhaps nothing more. Ths triumph Of Hamp.
ton and the shotgun policy, whch nc i. no'PSo Pi
sivery Words sound dIfTerently-wl be the deathkue
OF Republican freedom this State 1t Will not blng
except as it has brought It together in Georgia.
and viii certainly prevent tbe black man from execls
ing the ballot be chooses The poor whites VIII all go
bach 10 their masters aud remain the toosof Hampons
eocoRspratOrs and with the poor negro will be hurled
against the authority and life Of the nation, when tne
g5ath "a once more solid. and is certain that she can
never more control the Government she so vanly
attempted to destroy. Loyal men OF the south
ara tired OF Northern tOadyng 70 respectable"
red-hsDded rebels. They have periled life In al
most every election 20 save t,e state 70 tbe
thar the respectabiiity" lies on the other side.
tained Hayes and wheeler They SIMPLY welded Snch
tremendous pressure upon the Republican esment,
through their appliances OF intimidation, that lew
OF them voted for Hampton instead OF chamberlain
rather than the risk which they feared might follow
The fact is In sections Republicans were allowed
10 vote for Hayes aud Wheeler they would also vote FOR
Hampton and Il Il 70 be regretted tie worst men or our
party did Less nan that would have lett them under
me van Of the rebel Democracy and perhaps put taem