The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-15
POLITICAL RESURREC TION.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS IN
AN AWKWARD POSITION
The Negro to Lead Republicans and the
Caucasian 10 be Kept Mt the Front by
Democrnt.-Iamptonw with the Fusioni.ts.

The Negro TO Lead Republicans and the
Caucasian 10 be Kept Mt the Front by
Democrats-Iampton with the Fusionists.
CHARLESTON, July IA traveller in South
Carolina might suppose that the Republican
party had dissolved. and that the whole State
was harmonious in the support Of Gov. Hamp-
ton and the Democratic party. But. nevertho-
less. tho Republicans are silently ut work pre-
pairing to make fight. in every county where
there Is colored majority. for the county
offices and the Legislature. They feel able to
rally their voters on the color line by the old
cry OF Union Republican" They 20 80 far as
TO talk confidently Of securing majority In the
next House OF Representatives. naming the
next Chief Justice. and electing successor to
United States Senator Patterson.
They may be able to do ali this. They will
make no opposition to the Democratic nominal
tons for State officers. and will fight each local
battle upon strict party alignment. have
taken pains to ascertain from them upon what
they base their hopes. and what policy they will
pursue as to their old leaders. ! find that. as a
general rule they despse their former white
associates as heartily as the white people do.
and attribute the disaster Of the last campaign
to their selflshness and treason. The say that
Chamberlain. Bowen. and Mackey as well as
Hayes. looked out for themselves and aban-
doned the colored men to their fate. They say
that they have derived no benefit from the
plundering Of the State; on the contrary. their
political association with the robbers has
worked irreparable mischief to thor race.
They do not admit that the Republican party
Is responsible for these robberies. and speak Of
It only as the party of emancipation to which
they are naturally allied.
In the approaching campaign they will ignore
their former white friends. almost without ex-
ception. II they can induce white men Of good
standing to join them. they say that they will
prefer TO elevate these TO position rather than
selves. They say positively. however. that they
are not going to fuse with any disaffected wing
OF the Democracy. but to vote straight-out Re
publican ticket.
AS to principles. find there is not the slight
est difference between what IL known here rs
the old strqght-out Democratic party, and this
new straight-out Republican party. They both
assert the, equal rights Of all men; and oppose
the special legislation Of the Republican Legis-
latures and the last Democratic Legislature.
which gave exclusive privileges 70 a few CAPT
taists. In their meetings they make the Phos-
phate Monopoly act of the last session their
shihboleth. II any one does not advocate its re-
peal he is not accounted a true Republican. In
this they initiate their white neighbors in the
Democratic clubs. There have been earnest eff
forts made ,Ss By the PhosphSSte mon9Gpoiss to
IN a minority in the Democratic party.
though they lay claim 70 all the money.
They do not hesitate TO declare that they can
tLink better for the people than the people can
not admit this when they remember the blum
ders these people have made in the past the
terrible public consequences OF the blunders.
and the private gain which these men have de-
rived from them. 1t is no new or distasteful
scheme for these men TO try for Republican
alliance. and they have hoped that the negroes
would be more subsequent TO them than the
" poor white trash" Bowen is perfectly salts
fed to allow them to consort with him. and to
relinquish n part OF his royal prerogatiyes for
their countenance and association. But the col
ornd Republicans cannot see IL,
Tho RpuuDlipnns will mt the in fla
leaf and the Democrats will put the white man
IN the Lead This and the party name will be
eamp V II the Fusion ,mo one u ps s
gets into action. Il will assume a high patriot
Ism and liberality chat knows neither white
nor black. The fusionists control the Charles
ton daily newspapers. and are ondeavoring to
suppress the straight-out Democracy. as they
did two years ago in the interest of Chamber
lain. One OF the n swspapers openly advocates
their claim. and the other holds to its old
policy O, " watch and wait" until the fusion
lists shall have secured their delegation to the
State Convention. As two years ago the people
are on the other side; they, are certain Of vie;
Tory They have learned their strength. and
know that. without newspapers. they can con-
lrol the party. There are some recent sigus.
however. Of the newspapers changing front.
The situation now is an explanation OF that
OF two years ago. The capitalists of Charleston
are found possessed OF certain bonds and eX-
elusive privileges. for which thcy are indebted
to Chamberlain and his crew and which
would have been more valuable to them
under his regime than under II straight-out
Democratic Government. II an inventory was
taken OF the increase OF property possessed by
the Radicals and that OF their Democratic
allies the balance would be in favor OF the lat
ter Yet Notwithstanding these facts. and their
former opposition to him. Gov. Hampton to-
1ay aiiiltates WIN. ana IS opsegu i1us To- the
local machinery of the Democratic party. but
the state machinery through this msalliance.
Is In the hands OF the fusionists. The situation
of the Democracy is therefore an awkward one.
especially as the Republicans have a clean
majority OF six thousand voters in Charleston