The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-20

be able to blot out. can only say thai
I went to South Carolina an honest man
and succumbed, like others, to the great
temptations in my path. We were sur
rounded by enemies, and were obliged te
maintain our places by the exercis of all
the power we could get into our hands
With the power and opportunity presen,
ted to US, surrounded as we were by an
array of unusual temptations, such as
few men had ever presented to them be-
fore, it is not strange, perhaps, that rings
were formed and corruption rejgned as il
did in New York City under the Tweed
ring. So far, however, as my official &C.
tion as State treasurer is concerned, |
deny that there are any irregularities in
my accounts. There was no plundering
of the State treasury, except that author
lied by the Legislature. l paid such
demands as were audited and presented
in accordance with law, but the books
were carefully kept and no irregular
payments made to any person.
The suit brought against me was for
funding coupons after I left the Office OF
treasurer, and the accounts which l de-
livered over to my successor have never
been impeached. After the election in
1872 remained in Charleston on private
business. I began the study of law in
Maj. Melton's Office, and continued as a
student there until I went to Europe in
1874.
PARKER AS A REPENTANT SINNER.
In the fall of 1874 I came North and
settled in Jersey City, engaging in busi-
ness in New York. For the past two
years have tried to live an honest and
Christian life and help the temperance
cause and other good measures so far as
Law in my power. I do not wish to con-
ceal the record of my life in Charleston,
but I desire also that the life which I
have been leading for the past two years
should be considered when my case is
passed upon in judgment.
THE RING PICTURED IN DETAIL.
I have no respect for the men with
whom I was connected for six years.
Chamberlain impresses me as cold, re-
served, calculating and INSCRIPTIONS
man in his ambition for power, place and
reputation. In his conduct towards me
he has been hypocritical, as we'll as base.
Cardozo believe to be an oily, plausi-
BILE, intriguing, unprincipled fellow, and
it seems likely that he will be shown up,
in the present investigation, in his true
light. Frank Moses is good-natured,
easy-going man, with no principles in
particular, and little pretension to any.
So long as his father was alive, he had
no fear of the issue of any prosecution,
and so was more open than some of the
others in his underhand dealings
Kimpton is fit ally for Chamberlain,
exactly the man to have been his most
intimate friend in college, and he has
worked in close accord with him. They
were not warm friends, because each was
too selfish to care much about anybody
except himself. Patterson was an active
member of the Ring, and is dipped as
deep as any of them. He may succeed
in suppressing the investigation, so far
as he is concerned, backed by the infu-
ence which he can control, but the sup
preston of evidence is the only thing
that can save him from Indictment. AS
to the
PRESENT CONDITION OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
I certainly think that it is better than
when in the hands of the Ring. Wade
Hampton I believe to be an honest man,
and one who will try to do his duty to
all classes of the citizens. have no
doubt that many colored votes were cast
for him in the last election. Many Of
the blacks had become disgusted with
the Chamberlain government and the
wholesale plundering that was going on
under the Ring, and which Chamberlain
at least did not interfere to prevent I
am convinced that the determined strug-
gle which Chamberlain made to retain
his post as Governor was due largely to
his rooted dislike of having the new
administration overhaul the records of
the past eight years. If immunity from
suspicion or direct charges could have
been assured him, he would not have
held out so long. The control of the
State is now 80 entirely in Democratic
hands that the Republicans have practi-
cally no chance of political success for
years to come. The party was trusted
with the reins of government and mis-
used its trust. All people have lost con-
fdence in the integrity of the Republi.
can leaders, and the party as political
organization has fallen to pieces.