, 1876-12-28

anything like sensc Of public duty or political
wisdom bad prevailed among the white people
h sont &C. Garel!ns +. they wouIa Ih aye , exhibited
on the Constitution of 186s Instead Of this,
they not only su!Icnly stood aloof f!on atf par
t!ii t!etpation n the Framing Of the, consti-
South Carolina was In this instance t1se
eaincf by their follyl, but when IL came to the
practical work Of carryinR on their Government
through that Constitution, there was great lat.
itudc SLOWED them, whicll, trom the nature Of
white people Of .}4e State.
LIT 1ne mention IN passing that in the Con.
single Democratic, member, although, at that
time, and at tho first election held under that
Constitution, no lcss than thirteen counties OF
the State we're clearly Democratic. Tl,Is shows
how htriklngly voluntary and sclf.imposed waa
their exclusion from TINT Convention.
lowing to this cause more largely than any
other, sofl,o mcn carelcEs OF the public good, ur
Ignorant OF the effects Of unwlsc legislation, A.
tempted tn gain too great an ascendency In the
Republican party, and brought about tho evils
BKNEFiCENT RESULTS or "CARPRT-BAG nULE.h
but, still, over an! above all tllese evils, VIC
have tills 10 shuw for. Republican rule III South
which, 80 far as the organic law can effect it,
the rights Of all the people Of South Carolina
arc secured; just distribution Of the political
power Of the State between both the races and
%e sSa ~ 1 e1ps 9. 'yste% fe q ia. ssfen See
Devised in any State In the Union; systeu, of
local affairs mid local administration which fs
simple, convenient, and as unexccptiollable -
VT whe asSs exena. St sf % M tie psts
Of the statc alike; and now, after the lrst eight
years' experience Under that Constitution, a
habit Of sc)f-goyGrnmcnt, aud TO the excrc1Bc Of
political power on the pa1t of ail the people Of
upon tue state except under Republican rule,
and under what, a. ilavc said, Is 80 universally
called the carpct-bag administration
Nov, put IN t'ne scale the virtual stagna-
md In the other seale the free and open pros
pcct, and the actual progress In all tie habits
md methods Of self-gOvernnlcut, which We have
seen since 1913, and aloug with It the great abuses
snau who values political freedom, ur who Is
capable Ut striking Just balance between tho
two systcms, will hesitate to say that at the end
Of c1gnr years more OF experience under the
confess, what few Of US are a1le to aee to-day,
namely, that Repub}lcafisu, with all It's faults
has made South Carolina Its debtor In sunl
greater than that carned by any other political
saying this today for the first time, nor am /
influenced by tcctnt cgcnts fn now saying II,
but simply becnuse, when the enemies Of the
Republican party aaunt iu the face Of the
6ll3 Vi LtlE GaFHEt-OnR govern
cnta Of South Carolina, II Is proper that some
body should tell them that along With these
abuses suuth Carolina has In faet been making
the greatcat progress that she Inns ever nude ID
tue saGne uutnber 0f ycars.f
In CoHcLrs1oH.
In othcr worts, Governor, while you
considered It your duty to net tic part Of ST.
Patrck in killing the little bIack snakes in
yomE own a. p9rt yo q; DO mot! not tnk that ths
be hastencd BY putting It under tho care OF the
wild Beast Butlcs,' of Edgelleldi have no
tcel tllat true r,for1ncrs differ from the sham
reformcrs III this respect: that the sham re-
former inssts that u su.all-tooth comb Is tie
only symbol of reformation, while lc considers
1t nll right to lay down the rlau when the wolves
arc at the door-ana 'deprecatc any reference
to thcir ilowls. Was there any general system
Of free education In South Carolina before the
War-ctther for whites or blaeks!H
Cos. C.-"No, sir; there was 1,o,1< At an."
This conversation was reported by stenog-
raphcr, word for word, as It occurred, and II Is
now given without amendment or revision.
JAMES REppATH