The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-27
4 COLLEGE pREs1DENrs LETTER.
Tissue Ballot Frauds In South Carolina Ad-
mItted, but not Deeply Condemned"
Prom me Springfield RepuJiiors.
Ny DEAN EllIrNn MEpn1AM Xnnr

Prom me springfield RepubforH.
MY DEAR FRIEND MERRIAM: Your letter
OF the 10th inst was duly received and contents
noted. There Is some ground for the excite
mTent now prevailing at the North about the pol
itics OF the South, but not half US much as the
Northern papers represent.
The Government OF this state had since re-
construction been in the hands Of carpet-bag-
gers, Joined by n fow unprinciplcd natives. up
TO within two years. Since then II has been n
home rule in the hands oi Democrats. When
President Hayes removed the army from tho
State. considerable number OF the Northern
adventurers we're left disappointed and with
occupation gone. As class they are doing all
they can TO provoke the South They wish to be
martyrs, that they may nnamc the North. hop
ing thereby 10 refetdblish bayOnet government.
correspondents Of the Northern press come
down mere they arc taken in hand by these dis
appointed ones. who arc filled with hate toward
southern people. To use a IIibornicism. " They
ate them, they slapc them. they drink them"
ana the next number Of tho papers such corre-
spondents represent will come out at the North
with all tho distortion and colorng OF the facts
which these Disappointed hators can invent
Nearly or quite all the reports about BULLDOG
ing nnd breaking up Republican meetings be-
fore election were the creations and colorings
OF these men. whose trade II Is to keep up sec
TO the thought Holding both Democratic and
Republican meetings the same day. and at tho
same place was hazardous experiment. and
which worc sure to be maRnned and published
M the breaking up OF Republican meeting.
large a stir nj the North. When Gov. HAMPTON
learned that both parties were to hold q meeting
Mt Sumter ut tho same time he sent two OF his
most trusty State officials with instructions not
TO allow under any circumstances. any inter.
ference with the Republican meeting. Now all
THIS cry about bulldozng and violence Ia
dropped. because the case will fail ON that
charge.
But when we como to the charge Of filing tho
ballot boxes with tissue ballots" somebody
undoubtedly ought to plead guilty" But be-
lore we pass sentence of the deepest condcmna-
ton on the act. we ought in justice to consider
lnan which
Southern people have suffered and also tako
into account the irritation which these have
the states and, under the leadership OF un-
principled udNcnturers from the North. IL has
been worse than failure; 1t has been down
right robbery, amounting to millions. which
the people nrc now taxed TO pay.
The opposite Of the Southern whites II not
rights OF manhood which the constitutional
amendment secures hut the oppostiOn Is chiefly
to turning again the Government Of tho State
over 10 carpct.Lag and bayonet rule TO pre-.
vent tho recurrence OF such AN event. frauds
were. suppose. rerpetratcd at the polls, such,
men are appointed to office. and colored men
were elected by Democrats TO the Legislature
80 that the ballot box stuilng seems to have
been done. not against the negro citizen. but
against carpet bag hayOnc: rule.
The south committed great crimo against
humanity by sustaining 80 long the institution
~ human slavery md greater crime when
she undertook To break NJ the Government to
perpctuato that institution. But has she not
already cNpiatol those sins by her long years
Of suffering Whit rights does South Carolina
withhold from the colorel man not denied by
tho Northern Statrs True. the ignorant
masses are not her Lawmakers. nor do they hold
the superior offices. But what Northern State
allows the masses Of ignorant foreigners to
preside Ia her courts Of justice, lll her halls uf
legislation, or 10 sit in tne cnlcf seats OF power
| People can make themselves disugreeablc and
hated anywhere; but those who como here for
| profess! onal or business purposes will be well
| rscgiycd and kindly treated those who think
| God has called them to DO modern Jo-huas will
| be roughly handled.
am not here ns politician. nor am anxious
! o. have my name appear on political questions.
! Yet you are at liberty to mako what use you
| think proper Of this communication. name IN
| Guided loufs very truly. l.. COOKE.
CLAfLIN UNIVERSITY. OEANGEDUBd. >. C.,
] Dpp