Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-21
WILLIAM A. WHEELER,
OF NEW YORK.
South Carolina.

There is great outcry by democrats be-
cause the President has ordered troops to
South Carolina. Gov. Chamberlain an
nounced in formal manner that domes-
tic violence existed in the State which he
was unable to control, and called upon the
President for assistance. The President
as In duty bound under the Constitution
has ordered troops to the State to keep
the peace. 1t would scarcely seem posi-
BILE at first glance that anybody would OBJ
iect to this, but when it it is I'M
dcrstood that the preservation of
peace in the State. the suppression ofiIle-
gal rifle clubs which have been carrying
terror among the peaceful inhabitants
will probably secure fair election Nov.
7th, the cause of democratic objection
Is plainly revealed. If the shotgun poll
cy OF Wade Hampton, the first trial of
which In South Carolina was the Ham
burg massacre, could have unobstructed
course two weeks longer the State would
be declared for Tiden; but fpeace and an
honest vote prevail Hayes and Wheeler
will have the majority.
II must be remembered that ". Cham
berlain was elected to Office as reform
er and that he has faithfully lived up TO
the idea upon which he was elected. He
has striven to do justice 10 all parties
in South Carolina. He has opposed re-
publican thievery as much as he now op-
poses democratic violence. bloodshed and
terrorism. He was sustained by the dem
ocrats until they inaugurated the "Mssis-
sIppi plan" 20 carry the State for Wade
Hampton and Tilden. In an article upon
South Carolina, the New York Tribune
says:
''Of all the Southern Republican Cover
the name of a genuine reformer. His
brave battle against republican scoundrels
won admiration throughout the land.
The democrats OF South Carolina shower
ed praises upon him. Commercial bod
les formally thanked him and pledged him
their support. Leading democratic jour
mails declared that there ought to be no
other candidate nominated by the honest
taxpayers of the State than this Governor
who had defed his own party in the t fort
to suppress corruption and protect the
people. 1t did not seem possible that he
could prevail within his party He had to
deal. not with an intelligent Northern
constituency, composed Of property own
ers and tax payers, but with comparative
~ ignorant colored men. of whom the
great majority pay no taxes. own no prop
erty, and have little understanding of the
consequences Of corrupt government
Nevertheless this brave man persisted and
triumphed. After a prolonged struggle
bis own party renominated him.
Honest men all over the land were glad.
Republican knaves in South Carolina be-
gan TO conspire with democrats for his de-
feat. To-day the same democrats who de-
clared Judge Moses thief are sending all
over the country his certificate that the
democrats are law abiding and peaceable
But are there no honest democrats in South
Carolina? Do none of them remember.
do not the merchants of Charleston re-
member their pledges to this Governor to
stand by him. if he stood by the tax-pay
ers and defended them
Facts must answer. The democratic
party nominated Wade Hampton. When
Gov. Chamberlain was nominated by the
republicans. he was thenceforth denounc
ed rs if he had been the most rascally OF
all the carpet baggers. The cry went out
that South Carolina must vote for Til
den, and to that end, that the reforming
Governor must be beaten. Howp BY an
alliance with Moses and other knaycs :
That was not all. nor the worst. It's nc
longer denied by democratic papers that
armed democratic clubs exist. The Ham.
burg massacre was the beginning; he who
denies that there have been assasinations
and whippings, brutalities innumerable
prescriptions without shame or limit, and
systematic presence of armed rifle clubs
at republican meetings. might as well de-
nv that Custer and his men were killed
The colored voters have been SO alarmed
that sober and truthful men believe, unes.
something is done to secure the free ant
and safe enjoyment of the suffrage, not 8
single man will dare to vote republican
ticket 10 some of the counties in which
that vote is largest. Gov. Chamberlain,
whose conduc, and character canse him to
be believed just as the conduct and char
acter of Gov. Ames caused him to be dis