The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-22
A COMM0N SENSE VIEW OF 1T.

President Grant. despite his many short
comings, has way of occasionally blum
dering ON to a very sound and practical
view of public matters. Indeed we be-
ieve his own common sense is greater
than that of his advisers, and that if he
had surrounded himself by the patriots
and honest men of either political party
instead of the Camerons, Belknaps,
Schenks, Robesons ct al, his own mind
would have controlled the affairs of the
nation in such manner as to give credit
to his ability and confidence in his
patriotism. Grant has occasionally risen
above the nature which his public life
has caused men to ascribe 10 ohim, and
performed isolated acts which show that
there is a spark ofgreatness 10 his COM
position, however much it may be sur
rounded and hidden by the littleness
which he has allowed his disreputable
associates to engraft into him. His
course at the surrender was chivalrous
and msgnanimous. His conduct in re.
fusing to send troops to Davis, the Re-
publican Governor of L las, to perpetu-
ate his party in that State, and his recog-
milton of Brooks over Baxter in Arkansas,
have shown to the nation that he knows
how to perform the high trusts imposed
on him as President wheneye- he desires
to do so but these instances are so lew
aad far between that We, lose sight Of
them amidst the multitude of jobs, cor
ruptions and expressions which his last
four years have so fully exhibited to the
public view. Indeed, it has been 80 long
since the President has given US glimpse
at his better nature that we almost forget
the possibility of his having one. The
shameful degradation his administration
has inflicted upon the untaruished honor
of the greatest republic known to history
cannot soou be removed, and he is des-
stined to retire into private life, having
made a record of shame for himself and
disgrace for the government over which
he presided.
In the face of these facts it is agreeable,
both to his friends and foes, even to get
an expression from the President before
he leavesthe White House for the posi-
ton of private obloquy he has 50 richly
earned, which can be remembered as
creditable to the chief magistrate Of
great nation. We have long since ceased
to look for any action worthy Of praise
from President Grant, He is too init
mate with Chandler, Morton, Blaine,
Cameron & Go. for that, and hence we
now appreciate even sensible and calm
words which can be uttered by a man so
junfaForably surrounded. In q recent in
iterview with the Tribune correspondent
lhe has expressed the most intelligent and
sensible views of South Carolina matters
that we have ever read from him. They
are evidently the dictatious of his better
nature and calmer Judgment, which, but
for his subjection to the will of malig-
nant partisans, he would execute, and
thereby give peace andJrestf from political
turmoil to ourilong oppressed and much
. ~.
cursed State. Speaking about South
Carolina to the correspondent The Presi-
dent said: .uoiq ,le.i. ~ .e.s
In South Carolina the contest. has as
sumed snch phasetthat the whole army
! of the United, States would be inadequate
: to ~ enforce the authority of Governor
Chamberlain. The people of that State
.have resolved not to resort TO violence,
but have adopted a mode Of resistance
much more formidable and effective than
armed demonstration; they have refused
to pay their State taxes to Gov. Cham
berlain, and it would be useless to sell
out their property as no one would buy
it. Unless Gov. Chamberlain could COM
pei the collection Of taxes, it would be
utterly useless for. him to expect to main
tain his authority for any length of time.
This state of affairs must inevitably re.
suit in the abandonment Of all effort by
Gov. Chamberlain to maintain himself
in the exercise of the gubernatorial func-
1tions of the State OF South Carolina. '
These views from President Grant are
significant. They simply mean that tho
glorious victory won in Our State on tho
9TH of last November was. too edmplete
to be overthruwn, and that the fact is
knrws and recognized by the haGoa;
Tie r ~''eus ssrsibss tie reason to the