The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-19
Letter from Hon. W. w. Harllee.
MARION G. H., April II, 1877.

Letter from Hon. W. W. Harllee.
MARION G. H., April II, 1877.
Editors hatelHgeacer, anderson S. c.:
GENTLEMEN-Your esteemed favor of
the 7th inst, asking my views as to the
matters referred to has been duly re-
ceived.
First. AS to President Hayes Southern
policy, &c. The principles announced
by President Hayes in his inaugural, if
practically carried out in his administra-
ton, in relation to the Southern States is
simply one of non-intervention by the
Federal government in the local affairs
of the States, by military interference or
otherwise, is in my judgment the true
constitutional doctrine, as it strikes me
all that the most scrupulous State Rights
man could demand, and for one will meet
my hearty endorsement. It is certainly
all we could have demanded of Mr..
Greeley or Mr.. Tilden if they had been
elected, and as much as we in South
Carolina have contended for, as it simply
recognizes the equality of all the States
of the Union and their right to settle all
local questions according to their laws
and constitutions.
Second. You ask my views as to the
seeking or accepting Office by our people:
If we are a part of the government and
equal in the Union, I can see no reason
why we should not participate in its ad-
ministration. To refuse to do SO would
have the effect of putting all the Federal
Offices in the State in the hands of the
Republican partisans or of strangers,
when the public service could be quite if
not more efficiently promoted by our own
citizens. But do not think any such
positions should be sought Or accepted
with any pledges to support any political
party or any of their measures further
than the performance of official duty
would require. To accept Office from
any political party implies that while in
Office the laws as construed by the gov
eminent shall be faithfully obeyed and
executed. When this duty cannot be
conscientiously performed no honest man,
I think, would consent to hold it any
longer. "To the victor belong the spoils"
is remark attributed to a prominent
Democrat many years since. 1t has been
practiced until it has almost become. "a
political axiom, and I think is as mis-
chievous in practice as it is wrong in
theory. 1t is neither more or less than a
wholesale prescription of a portion of the
citizens from the participation of the
administration Of the government, unless
they agree in politics with the dominant
party, thus excluding merit, experience
and qualification, and substituting there
for partisans often of no character, and
who work and prostitute their positions
to all kinds of political trickery, corrup-
tion, bribery and fraud to insure their
retention in Office. The melancholy evi-
dences of this fact are too patent in the
recent and former elections to require
proof or comment.
Third. What will probably be the re.
suit upon the destiny of the two national
parties from this change of policy of the
Republican party?
It is now too early, in my judgment, to
anticipate the result of this change Of
policy. Much will depend upon the good
faith and manner in which the policy
will be carried out. If the policy indi-
Gated should result in giving us a good
government in the faithful execution of
the laws, the reform in the civil service
promised in the expulsion from Office of
corrupt and incompetent officials and the
substitution of honest capable and faith
full officers, just legislation in imposing
the necessary taxes to support the gov
ernment, and sound financial policy, it
is all that we of South Carolina have
heretofore demanded, or which any have
just right to claim; and, practically, it
matters little to us Of the South by what
party agency these benefits are secured.
'Measures not men" should be our motto,
if we hope to prosper. The strifes and
sacrifices of the last fifteen years, entailed
by misrule, have exhausted our resources
and impoverished our people, and what
we now require is the opportunity through
wholesome laws to recuperate and to re-
store our lost prosperity, which we can
do if let alone. To accomplish this we
must by every just and patriotic means
harmonic all of the necessary elements
to the successful prosecution and develop
ment of our Industrial pursuits. This
we cannot reasonably hope for under the
continued disturbance and excitement
engendered by and and attendant upon
political and party strife.
The triumph of our last election in
securing Gov. Hampton, our State ticket
and a large portion of the Legislature,
when fully effected and realized, is the
dawning Of brighter day for us all, and
its effects are already being felt in the
exhibition of confidence in our public
securities, which will ere long extend to
all our material resources, as confidence
will continue to ripen in the stable, faith
full and just administration of our State
government To the Democratic party
Of the Union, with which we have battled
in common, we owe much for the prom
ised blessings which I believe are before
us. But it is to the principle embodied IN
their creed and exemplified in their prac-
tice we are indebted and not the name.
The names of parties and party associa-
tions have changed and varied in the last
thirty years like the winds and the sea-
sons, but it is to principle at last we owe
the present partial redemption and re-
generation Of the government, and it is
nneedless for me to say that under what
ever name good government is admins
tered, the principles we have heretofore
professed and practiced will be the same.
Time alone can develop the fruits of
what is indicated, and until we have the
evidence of its fulfllment, we should not
neglect our organizations or a complete