The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-05-24
EX-GOVERNOR CHAMBERLAIN ON
80 THE SITUATION

Governor Chamberlain in Columbia yester-
| day morning the New York Herald brings
an interview with him on the existing polit-
ical condition in South Carolina, in which
| he freelyle1presses the opinion that the ma
| terial and financial interests of the State are
safer in the control of the Democrats than
under recent administrations, including his
own miserable failure to bring peace and
prosperity to the State The interview is
quite. lengthy and we can only furnish ex-
tracts to show, the general tenor of his
views. lt't
In answer to the question what would
! fully by tba Legislature and the general gov
eminent, Chamberlain says:
| THE contest is now over. and lido not
care to pascel out the blame for present
results or to appear to reflect upon particu-
lar individuals or departments Of govern
ment. This, however, I can say with con-
fidence, that if had been enabled to carry
out the pla3as and purposes I expressed in
my inaugural message of December l. 1874,
| Ishould hare achieved all that Gen. Hamp-
ton has .done. Probably his full term Of
| Office will ha required to develop his plans.
Had the same time, I should have effected
the same results. My prime object was the
restoration OF good government and an hon
est administration, and think tits general
| ly admitted chat what proposed to this end
was sympathetic with the wishes of, the in
| teligent community. believe that pur-.
sued those plans consistently and with some
degree of firmness and courage It is true
that was not successful, but those who
have watched the course of events in the
State are perhaps better qualified than I am
to see who is responsible for the failure I
certainly do not feel that am. am still
of the opinion that better condition of af-
fairs would have been reached under my
administration than under that of General
Hampton, because no mans civil or politi-
cal rights would have been abridged or
denied. AS have already intimated, re-
gard the present supremacy of the Demo
critic party as due to methods which disre-
garded the political rights of a great number
of the citizens Of a State. There was large
majority of the people of South Carolina
entitled to vohe who desireda q continuance
not think that General Hampton represents
this element. Still believe he will endeav-
or to make good and honest government
so far as its financial and practical depart
ments are concerned.
regarded the ignorance and inexperience
of the masses Of the Republican party in
South Caro-. ne as one Of the inherent and
great difficulties in the political problem.
was under the political necessity of making
political appointments to Offices from par
ty which as a x;lle, was not able to furnish
competent officers to represent the govern
ment.
The majority of the Republicans in the
Legislature were; never heartily In sympathy
with me during my first term of office.
Nearly all the public measures in which L
ties of Republicans and Democrats. The
reduction Of taxes and q more economical
expenditure of public funds were naturally
the leading objats which had in view; and
here it is but j tice to say that ]. met with
almost entire opposition within the ranks of
the Republican. party. had to extend the
greater part of my strength in resisting what
regarded as bsd legislation, and had very
little time or strength left to devote to the
Inauguration CT better methods or the en-
actment of betttr LAWS. OF course my idea
of the way in which reformation must be
brought about was through the Republican
party, because knew that q majority Of the
people of the State were attached to that
party, and that there was no hopes of in
ducing them to Join any other organization,
even for local State purposes. But the
habits of the legislation which had grown
me, and the result was that I was overcome
and my policy only partially carried out,
A great deal of evil was prevented and some
positive good YVES done, but only small
fraction Of the results which were within
the power of. the Republican party, had it
co-operated with me, was made evident.
feel bound to say that if had been heartily
supported from 1874 to 1876 the state of feel
| ing which preceded the nomiantion of Gen
eral Hampton would not have existed. In
brief, if my administration had been sup
ported by the whole Republican party, it
would have deprived the Democrats oftheir
grievances and u.ade them acquiesce in the
Supremacy of the Republican party for q
long series of years"
He declares that no change Of circum-
stances in political fortunes will ever lead
him to deny or daprecate the generous and
hearty support watch the best men of South
Carolina and the Democratic party gave him
| from 1874 down to the nomination of Hamp-
ton, and that no public man was ever more
heartily or unselfshly supported by politi-
cal opponents than he was during that
period AS to THE ability of the colored
race to administer The affairs OF government,
he says: m
81, think the colcsed people are Just as COM
petent to 1egislate and conducta government
as any other people who have had as little
education and experience. They only want
brains. It is idle TO! expect under any cir
cumstances q good government without a
large -preponderance of intelligence. The
strength of every community in the Union:
is measured by this fact. While therefore,
| I not reflect on the colored race in saying
| they assumed, still contend that successful
self,government, under the law of universal
suffrage, requires education, intellectual
training and large amount Of accumulated
political experiencs-in short, an under
standing of the duties of citizenship. Con-
cerning the Intentions of the masses of the
colored people of south Carolina, I think
they are honest. Their misfortune has been
that they were not sure to anticipate or fol-
| low the effects of measures that were enacted
by their representatives until these measures
had taken root and wrought their evil results.
And then they were too ready to be led by
designing and unpYincipled men, who be-
came by force of superior opportunities their
leaders. When say this, desire particu-
larly to add that I do not cast more blame
upon the colored than upon the white lead
ers of the Republican, party in South Caro-.
lima. Upon the Whole, think my own race
has as much to answer for any connection
WILL LA thS&V 1tctO % ul4CSO2-
ored race. The result is the same Bad
leaders and ignoran. 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 over
throw.
"The difficulty was Chat a majority of those
who undertook to lead the Republican party
in South Carolina made a profession of pol
itics and lived accordingly. Now, I don't
think any man is qualified to lead in politi-
cal life unless he has such substantial inter-
ests in the community to which he belongs
as will put him in complete sympathy with
the permanent institutions of that cOmmu-
nifty. It is not always necessary that man
shall be born on the sil where he lives, nor
that he shall be q property holder; butt in
my judgment, it is necessary that he should
have something besides what he may gain
by mere political effort, to the end that he
,,rcoooo f,of CON qorvotiSr,o and a