The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-03-08


more to debauch the govern ment, and
hasten the downfall of the peoples
liberties, than any other man IN pub
lie lite.
WHITE SLAVERY IN SOUTH cARoLINA.
The New York Sun says: The sla-
very of the blacks has been abolished
in South Carolina, as in other South
ern States, but what shall DO said of
the condition Of the whites in that
| State when their rife clubs are not
permitted to turn out to celebrate tho
birthday Of the Father of his Countrye
What shall be said of o commander
in"chief, n President of tho United
States, who authorizes an order for.
biding tho "mcmbers" of such clubs
to snake any public demonstration or
parado' on tho anniversary Of tho
birth of George Washington And
this order is issued by the Post Com :
mandant, and is to be enforced, if
need bo, at tho point of the bayonet
and the mouth of tho cannon. What
would George Washington have sai6
if he could havo foreseen that one Of
his successors in office, in o time of
profound peace, would ever direct
such an order to be made? What be-
comes of tho provision of tho Consti~
tuition of the United States that s.the
right Of the pooplo to keep and bear
arms shall not DC intringed?" Under
the circumstances it certainly looks
lillo an arbitrary, unwarranted, un-
t constitutional exercise Of arbitrary
power.
} A DEspoTlc ACT,
The New York Journal of COM
mercc says: One Of tho vices of mi-
litary form of government, is its habit
Of modding with tho innocent pursuits
and pleasures of citizens. 1t inter~
fers tor the sake Of interfering, and
to let people know that they are under
its thumb. Columbia, S. O., just now
supplies an illustration Of this truth.
1t reads like n chapter from tho his-
tory OF Russia undor Nicholas, or
Franco under the Second Empire
Tho patriotic Columbians had resolved
to celebrate Washington's birthday
handsomely. For that purpose all the
'crack" military companies (whitel
in Columbia volunteered and pro-
pared for n grand turnout on tho 22d.
In ordor to mako the military pa
gent as fine as possible, and also to
conciliate the Federal authorities, the
citizen soldiers courteously invited
the Eighteenth United States Infan~
try to head the procession. This act
alone should have disspnted all sus1
picions with regard to the peaceful
designs Of the paraders. But, unfor-
tunately, these volunteer companies,
which arc among the oldest and most
respectable in the South, have been
lately known by the nnme of "rifle
clubs" and as such the President
ordered their disbandment last Oc>
tobor. Since then they have been
reconstructed as miliGa, and tho of.
fccrs have received commissions from
Governor Hampton. Tho President
is not asked to recognize tho validity
Of tho commissions-whic might be
considered equivalent to recognition
Of Governor Hampton. But 1T was
expected that he would cOncedo tho
right Of thcso mon as peaceablo citi-
zens to parade tho streets with mill
tary insignia, and thus give color and
beauty and interest to o celebration
that would be tame without it. Why
tho President has forbidden this harm
less demonstration wo know not. PerS
haps he has personal reasons for dis
liking tho rendering of honors to o
man so different from himself in all
that makes true greatness. What
ever tho reasons, the fact remains that
tho people of Columbia, and also of
Charleston, S. c., are prevented from
joining with their brethren of other
States and cities in CO. Iemorating
this glorious anniversary. We tender
thom our sympathes, with tho hope
that this dsgracoful state Of things
will terminate with tho Inauguration
of new administration.
| GOING BEUIND THE RETURNS