Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-24
EX-GOVERNOR CHAMBERLAIN.

resignation as trustee. QUI.
EX-GOVERNOR CHAMBERLAIN.
Ex-Governor Chamberlain has been recent
ly interviewed by the New York Herald, in
which he gives expression to his views of af.
fairs in South Carolina. He claims to have
desired to accomplish precisely what Cover
nor Hampton is doing, but ascribes his fail.
ure to the ignorance and inexperience of the
masses of the Republican party in South
Carolina He declares that no change of cir
cumstances in his political fortunes will lead
him to deny or deprecate the generous and
hearty support which the best men of South
Carolina and the Democratic party gave him
from 1874 down to the nomination of Hamp.
ton, and that 10 public man was ever more
heartily or unselfshly supported by political
opponents than be was during that period.
AS to the ability of the colored race to ad.
minister the affairs of government, he says:
I think the colored people are just as COM
petent to legislate and conduct government
as any other people who have had as little
education and experience. They only want
brains. 1t is idle to expect, under any cir
cumstances,a a good government without large
preponderance of intelligence. The strength
of every community in the Union is measur-
ed by this fact. While, therefore, l do not
reflect on the colored race in saying that they
we're badly prepared for the task they assum-
ed, still contend that successful selfgovern-
ment, under the law of universal suffrage, re-
quires education, intellectual training and
large amount of accumulated political expe.
rience-in short, an understanding of the du-
ties of citizenship. Concerning the intentions
of the masses of the colored people of South
Carolina, | think they are honest. Their mis-
fortune has been that they were not sure to
anticipate or follow the effects of measures
that were enacted by their representatives un-
til these measures had taken root and wrought
their evil results. And then they were too
ready to be led by designing and unprincipled
men, who became, by force ofsuperior oppor.
tunites, their leaders. When l say this,
desire particularly to add that do not cast
more blame upon the colored than upon the
white leaders of, the Republican party in
South Carolina. Upon the whole, think
my own race has as much to answer for any
connection with bad leadership in that State
as the colored race The result is the same.
Bad leaders and ignorant followers could not
work out the problem of good government.
This has been the great obstacle and him
drance to the success of the Republican party
in the Southern States, and it may be set
down as the principal cause of our overthrow.
In the resources and financial ability of
South Carolina, the Ex-Governor has un.
bounded confidence, characterizing the State
as Massachusetts, Alabama and Iowa rolled
into one With tractable and adaptive la.
boring population, and with good govern
ment, self:reliance and the disappearance of
political dissensions, be says her future seems
to be as clear and promising as her most en-
thusiastic son could DESIRE
On being delicately asked if be would give
his views of President Hayes Southern policy,
Mr.. Chamberlain replied: ..-...,..
consider myself withdrawn from politics
in South Carolina, and from politics general
ly, and, therefore, have no objection. You
are, of course, aware that I did not approve
of the action which President Hayes took
with reference to South Carolina 1t was an
experiment, end time alone can vindicate his
Judgment l think that as prime result he
will find that the Democratic party will de-
rive all the profit and that the Republicans,
in South Carolina at least, will remain in a
permanent minority, having little or no in
fuence on public affairs in that State. So far
as the material and political interests are con.
cerned, the Democratic party brings more wis
dom, more experience and more representa-.
tive character to the discharge of the duties
Of the administration, and can readily be-
lieve that under these conditions of General
Hamptons administration; the people will be
satisfied. He is only doing what / could and
should have done with the same influences
around me, and, therefore, shall heartily re-
joice in his success. 1t is but natural for me
to wish that along with material prosperity
might have come what l regard as political
prosperity, and by that I mean the perpetua-
tion of the Republican party, which to me
means equal rights and the protection of the
humblest citizen in the enjoyment of the free
and untrammeled exercise of his political
principles.
hope you will allow me to say further,
without suggestion from yourself, that hold
to my views of events in the past as we'll as
the present, with entire Difference to those who
are known to differ with me. I have the
profoundest respect and admiration for the
conduct and character, in the main. of the
masses of the Republican party of South
Carolina. The difficulties in the way Of their
success have been inherent. My connection
with the colored people has inspired me, not
only with kind, but with respectful feelings,
and hope there is happy and safe future
before them. For the white people, notwith.
standing our autagonisn, I also entertain a
high degree of respect. make large al
lowance for the difference of training and ed
ucation, and I am willing to concede that
they have acted, for the most part, in obe-
dience to what they have regarded as the best
interests of the State. have no pride of feel
ing that will ever prevent me from rejoicing
in any degree of peace, prosperity and har-
mony which may be wrought out under Dem.
ocratic rule in South Carolina. "a ,.'..".-.@