New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-31
DEMOCRATIC FAITH.

1t has not been many months since
Governor Chamberlain, Of South Carolina,
was lauded throughout the South for his
resolute determination to purify the poll
tics of South Carolina. He cast out GER
tain dishonest impostors on Republican
ism, and denied to Messrs. Moses and
Whipper commissions for the Judicial
offices to which they claimed an election,
upon the broad ground that they were
morally incompetent to fill the Offices.
All this time Governor Chamberlain was
acting upon the dictates Of good faith,
and regard for the reputation of the
State and the Republican administration.
The whole State Of South Carolina re-
sounded with his commentator, and the
assurances of Democratic support which
he received would have convinced any one
unacquainted with the treschery of
Southern Democracy that the minority
would bury the tomahawk and rally to
the support of an honest official, against
men who would pervert the purposes and
tarnish the character of the party to which
that official belonged. Such superficial
observers would have been mistaken. No
sooner had Governor Chamberlain en-
barked in the duty of reforming abuses;
no sooner was he supposed to have ex-
asperated the cupidity or Gained the zeal
Of any portion of his own party; no
sooner had he displayed the executive
energy necessary to bring to justice the
domestic invaders of the State, than
Democracy supposed the time had
arrived for Democratic rising.
The exhortations to reform, the
implicit pledges of support were for
gotten, and the Democracy of South
Carolina terminated the truce by nomi-
mating q Democratic ticket We have
noted that Mr.. Hampton, man Of noted
conservatism, has been put at the head Of
the ticket in South Carolina, as the modest
and reticent Mr.. Nichols has been here.
Yet in both cases has a regency of the
most ultra character taken the nomi-
nee into custody. In his name they pre-.
pare the most conservative documents,
and WOO the colored malcontents with the
mildest assurance of patronage and o.
brotherhood. Hampton and Nichols once
elected, the persecution and exclusion Of
Republicans would commence, nor would
it be intermitted so long as white Re.
publican remained in either State, or q
colored voter refused to take his protec.
ton papers and ballot at the hands of a
White League central committee.
Governor Chamberlain has acted with
entire propriety. He has set his face
bravely against any disreputable poll.
ticians who have brought reproach upon
the Republican party. He knows, as We
know, that all such cases are alleged as
proof of Republican incompetency. He
has done we'll to demand reform at any
risk or consequence. What, however
must be the standard of political faith OF
wisdom on the part of the nullifers o.
South Carolina? They seize upon thu
supposed discussions Of the Republican
party as means Of regaining control o.
the State. They disregard and per
haps check the honest efforts of Re
publicans to correct any disorder il
the Republican party. The Democrats
may thus become responsible for any ar
rest or even reaction in the reformatory
policy Of the Republican administration.
This episode in the nomination of con.
sentative candidates by bulldozers and
nullifers, with the intent to grab the State
governments, will tend to show the good
faith of the Democracy. We are satisfied
that not only the colored people of the
Southern States, but all impartial men
throughout the Union, see throug h these
insidious and insincere attempts at de.
ception, and that Democratic faith will
be classed with that of the Carthaginians,
who never kept pledge that it was their
interest to violate.
WIRE Cloth SCREENS.