The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-23
The South Carolina Situation.

ANU oVNsA OaA Ouha bltua blUus
Three months ago South Carolina was at
peace. The administration of Gov. Cham
berlain had won the approval of the best men
of all parties. The opposition be encoun-
tered came only from corrupt men and from
zealots who could not bring themselves to
acquiesce in the new condition of things
brought about by the war. He was fast
bringing the State out of its difficulties, re-
storing order, Kidding the government of
rogues, putting honest men to the front, and
In everything showing an earnest purpose to
dc his best. 1t became the duty of all friends
of good government to unite in his support
and against the rogues and fanatics who
we're trying to break him down.
To-day South Carolina is in state of con-
fusion and violence. Why? Because the
Democratic managers in pursuance of their
plan of giving Tiden 'solid South have
found it necessary to overcome the legitimate
Republican majority in that State, to defraud
the people of the expression of their choice.
As it was impossible to carry the State for
Tilden by fair means, violence and fraud
were resorted to, the peace was broken, and
the State thrown back into its old troubled
condition. The Southern leaders who pre-
tend to love their State so well did not for a
moment hesitate in order TO carry their ends
to plunge it into discord, to murder its peo-
pie, to overthrow the man who had given it
good government and had done so much for
its welfare in many other ways. The only
objection they brought forward against Gov.
Chamberlain was that he was determined to
have an honest vote. This determination
aroused bitter hatred against him, and they
allied themselves with the infamous Moses
and his attendant band of scoundrels to de-
feat the Governor.
action. South Carolina had not been so
well governed, so prosperous, at any time
since the war as it was when the rifle clubs
began their work ofstrife. The negro vote was
coming to be divided. The Governor needeu
only the support of the honest men of the
State to complete his victory over the scoun-
drels. But the electoral vote of South Caro-
lima was deemed necessary to the success of
Tilden, and in order to secure that vote the
State was plunged into violence and blood
shed and war of races. The policy of
prescription was put in force, intimidation of
voters was openly practiced, the negro was
shot down. At last in the desperation of
selfdefense he turned upon his prosecutors,
and converted the massacre into battle.
Then, the State government having INSULT
cient power to suppress the armed bodies
which were patrolling the State, the Cover
nor called, as is provided by law, upon the
President to interfere; and troops have been
sent there to preserve order and to see that a
fair ballot is permitted. The necessity for
this action is made by the Democrats, and
upon them rests the responsibility. 1t is not
in their mouths to protest against condition
OF affairs which they have brought about
themselves. The.troops are there to inter-
fere with the rights of no man, to protect
Republican ard Democrat alike. If their
presence is disagreeable to the Democrat he
must reflect that his acts of violence have
rendered it necessary.