The daily gazette., 1876-09-27
A LIFE OR Death STRUGGLE.

the campaign is not conducted on issues
Of the past. In South Carolina-plun-
dered, PROSTATE South Carolina-the is
sue Is one OF life and death. No talk
there OF the Missouri Compromise or
the terms of Lees surrender, nor of in.
come returns or mileave accounts; no
talk even OF filden or Hayes. A people
for long years depressed in spirit, strip
ped OF worldly goods by thieving officials
ground under the heel of ignorance and
vice, siandered and vilified at home and
abroad, erratic but honest and brave
withal, are making a last desperate ef-
fortt to redeem their State and place it
once more on the high road to prosperi-
" SO long BY them untrodden. "My
God. said General Hampto to the cor
respondent OF a Rspu blican journal, I'VE
cannot stand it! our subsistence is con-
sumed, and the very name of South Car
DINA has become a by-word and re-
proach. We are in the gulf Of despair.
II the Northern people-yes, even the
Northern Republicans-knew our con-
dition; knew it just as it is; knew how We
have suffered and how we have been rob-
bed, their sympathies would be extend
ed TOT in this struggle. What We want
is relief from the robbers" An enthu-
siasm has been born OF this desperation,
and the result seen In a conservative eau
vass which has had no parallel in our
history, unless it be found in the Log
| CABIN and Hard Cider demonstration Of
lo4V. Ihe election 10 nearly two months
away but the camp fire blazes on every
hill. Where hundreds came together in
former political contests, thousands now
gather. Every man who can speak is on
the stump; clubs are active in every
township; torches, fireworks, music, flags
/ and flowers are pressed into servic =, and
J ~vs. l. L =
termed the patriotic revival. A favor
ite device on the transparencies tells the
story. 1t is representation of female
hgure bursting asunder her chains, and
the legend hereunder reads: ''The Pros
trate State Aroused" The campaign is
one OF sentiment, indeed, but Of stern
reality as well.
We have indicated the characteristics
OF the Conservative line of battle. What
OF the array on the other side? Within
the last week the frightened robbers,
realizing the earnestness Of their victims
have patched a peace among themselves
and organized as well to defend their
booty as to perpetuate their power. The
Charlestown papers bring us reports of
the proceedings of the State Republican
Convention, at which nominations were
made in opposition to the Reform tick
ct. 1t was motley gathering, II there
was an honest man in it he does not
seem to have opened his mouth. The
leading spirits were Elliott, the most cor
rupt, though perhaps, the ablest, colored
man in political life; Jones, of George
town, who sold himself thrice in the Re-
publican Convention of 1874; Patterson,
The purchaser OF a seat in the United
States Senate; Whitteman, the Congress-
man expelled for cadetship- p-peddling;
Bowen, the bigamist; MObley, the incen-
diary, and dozen other notorious fell
lGws tarred with the stick of corruption.
The speeches were marked by open as
saults upon the integrity of every can
didate before the convention. One man
openly declared that If the worst man in
the party was nominated he would vote
for him, and said with glee, "that il
there was five years of stealing yet left in
South Carolina he was glad Of it, as it
would serve the Democrats right" At
last the charges and counter charges be-
came so bitter and disgraceful that the
covention went into secret session, and
tor nine hours washed their dirty linen
with closed doors. After such scenes the
ticket presented was such an one as
might have been expected Of such body.
For Governor, they named Chamberlain,
who, having put his hand to the pillow Of
reform, turned back to get nomination
| Atoht thC AhCh Whoii iiC hht PlAlOIlCu ub
the worst that ever cursed free coun-
try; for Treasurer, Cardozo, who escaped
impeachment for malfeasance by spend
ling the fortune stolen from the State in
buying his sworn judges; for Attorney
General, Elliot, who was denounced by
the head of the ticket as thief, and
who in turn spent hours in trying to prove
to the convention that the head of the
ticket is traitor and knave. And this
is the party and the ticket with which
Northern people are expected to sympa-
thize, and for the success of which Chan
dler is to send his money and Taft his
marshals and Cameron his troops to
South Carolina. And this is the work for
which the New York Times thanks God
and which it calls a victory for reform.
Another Hayes organ has said that when
the people of the North have to choose
between an ex-rebel and a thief they
will take the thief. We do not believe
il. The Bympathies of all honest people
North or South, must 80 out towards
the Conservatives of South Caroliua in
their struggle for honest government.
Shame to the party that would have it
otherwise.-Phila,l Times.
1