The Portland daily press., 1878-09-19
South Carolina Democracy.

Since the adoption Of the "peace polcy''
South Carolina has been the State which has
been cited ofsener than any other to show
its wisdom and success. 1t has been claimed,
and with considerable show of justification,
that in that State race prejudice was effectu-
ally broken down, and that a Republican
could speak his political sentiments in public
or private with none to molest or make him
afraid Gov. Hampton's administration did
have much to commend it. He undertook to
faithfully carry out the promises he made to
the President. He encountered serious oppo-
sition from the extreme men of his party, but
he persevered. Perhaps if he were allowed
to follow the bent of his own inclinations he
would be keeping his promises still. But he
has been compelled to succumb, and his
State is falling into its old ways and his party
is resorting to its old methods.
On the 31st of August the Republicans of
Rafting Greek, in Sumter County, appointed
a political meeting. The Democrats got
wind of it and hundred and fifty of them
started for the place on horseback. When
the Republicans arrived they were greeted
by these men with yelling and groaning. As
the Republican speakers approached they
were met by two Democrats, both aides on
Gov. Hampton's staff, and both candidates
for legislative honors, who demanded a
division of time, declaring in the usual arro-
CANT manner of the Southern gentlemen in
politics, that the Republicans had been mis-
leading the negroes long enough, and had
been sowing seeds of discord between the two
races, and they were therefore determined
not to permit them to so about the country
and tell any more lies without being answered
and held to account. The meeting was called
to order and Republican, Stuart by name,
made short address which was frequently
interrupted by Democrats. AT its conclusion
the latter renewed their demand for dvis-
ion of time, and to appease them Mr.. Oar.
gan was allowed to speak. Dargan INDUCED
In bitter harangue against the Republicans
in general and Mr.. Lee in particular, one of
the Republican leaders who was present.
Mr.. Lee objected to Dargan's discourtesy
when the latter knocked him down, and with
tAS oSoAotduCC VI uumUCI VI lllcuuS oelZ6u
and choked him. A scene of excitement fol-
lowed. The Democrats who were all armed
with pistols began to brandish them in the
faces of the Republicans, and nothing but the
moderation of the latter averted another
Hamburg massacre. Mr.. Lee was placed in
buggy despite his protest and surrounded
by hundred horsemen was hurried to the
Court house steps, where he was publicly
informed that if he dared to call or attend
another Republican meeting in that county
ne would be killed.
This is but a specimen of the treatment
Republicans are receiving in several counties
OF the State. The bulldozers are as active
and desperate as in 1876 and as determined
that Republicans shall have no opportunity
to address the negroes. The trial justices and
higher courts are in sympathy with them so
that Republicans can get no redress there.
The Republican campaign has been broken
down by terrorism and threatened murder.
These are the facts temperately stated,
and in the face of them the, Democratic par
ty which is solely responsible for the existence
ofsuch a condition ofthings is constantly pros
testing against the revival of the "blOody
shirt" The making public of such outrages
even, is stigmatized as an attempt to revive
sectional prejudice and to disseminate the
gospel of hate. If there is "bloody shirt"
revival, the Democrats alone will be respon-
sible for it. If sectional prejudice grows
stronger instead of fading out, as,it is for the
advantage Of both the. North and South it
should do,it will be on account of such scenes
as are being enacted in South Carolina. The
Southern Democrats will not have to wait
long to be convinced Of the folly as well as
the wickedness of their present policy.