Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-13
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The bulldozers of South Carolina have
taken possession of the State House and
the public offices with demonstrations of
great joy. They are as highly elated with
their victory as they were when the fed
eral troops evacuated Sumpter in 1861.
Wade Hampton's progress from Washing
ton to Columbia was like the triumphal
march of conqueror. His arrival at
home was the signal for Nominations,
salvos of artillery, ringing of bells, bon
fires. and other manifestations of the
qualification which the bulldozers felt at
his success. Outside the circle of his sup
porters, however, among the poor, coored
people Of the State. the men who hew.
dig, plant, SOW and produce with the la
Dor of their hands the wealth of the State,
there was deep gloom and dependency,
as became men who felt that they were
again at the mercy OF an intolerant, AFRO
giant, british class, who would use the
power It had achieved through the usur-
patton of Hampton to render the rights
guaranteed to the freedmen in the consti-
tuition Of the United States nullity. The
Joy of the bulldozers was not more ex-
pressIve of the character and meaning of
Hampton's success than was the despair
manifested by the colored race. To the
former il promised unlimited control over
the blacks; to the latter slavery all but
the name.
With Hampton now installed in undls-
puted power we wat to see what will fol.
low. He has promised that the rights of
all, black as we'll as white. shall be pro-
tected under his administration and hence
forward with'perfect impartialty and fair
ness. The President SO tar placed conf
dence in the promises of Hampton that
he removed the troops from the State
House at the request OF the latter. Now
we shall see il Hampton will keep his
pledge. The spirit Of that pledge as the
people of the North understand is that
there shall be no discrimination under the
laws against the blacks as "a class. or
against the republicans as a party. They
are to be free to testify in the courts, to
serve as jurors, to have equal privileges
10 the schools; and. finally. they shall
have the privilege of discussing politics
and voting as they please without being
subject TO the risk of being shot, beaten.
or driven out of the State, or to starva-
ton. If they happen to express republican
sentiments or vote against the buldozers.
There are tricks which have been prac-
tised In some of the southern States,
whereby under legal forms the negroes
have been deprived of the elective fran
chise. The adoption of such means to
deprive the blacks of their votes is great
wrong done in the interest of the demo-
cratic party. Shall we see those tricks
. tried in South CarolinaP If we do 1t will
be an absolute infraction of the spirit if
not the letter of Hampton's pledge to the
President. We believe this base thing
will be done. Hampton will aid in it
Notwithstanding his pledge lie intends
to do it. 1t was for this he desired the
power he has obtained. The legislature
Of South Carolina will soon meet. One
correspondent writing from that State
says; "Aiready the democratic newspa
pers hace mapped out changes in The Con.
stitutton BY which the republican n,ajoritu
shall be suppressed" Let those who have
bounded on the Matthews. Foster policy in
regard to South Carolina and Louisiana
look to ii. There Is intense feeling among
republicans under the outward calm which
appears. They trust the good intentions
Of the President but doubt the schemers
who have counselled him TO put faith in
the bulldozers.
The democratic papers are jubilant and
irisolent over their success in South Caro-.
na. The New York World says:
THE Federal troops have Withdrawn from the
politlcs Of South Carolina, and the whole fabric
OF the Chamberlain government has toppled over
like house Of cards. IL is clear that The .truct
ure was based on nothing bat foreign support;
and hereafter no one will listen to any argument
in favor Of party that after contio ng the state
for years is weak that it is obliged to sur
render what il considers its civil rights the mo.
ment military interference ceases. Republican
ism in South Carolina had neither vitality, virtue
nor Intelligence, and II il gone Ike yesterdays
elonds."
It may be Il st Gen. Joseph E. Johnston will be-
Come President Of the East Tennessee Universi-