Daily Republican., 1878-12-27
oh n Osea I!

Oh Moses!
The Republican party Of South Caro-
lima though censurable for elrvating
such rascals as F. J. Moses, Jr., to of
fce should not be- held responsible for
his acts, when We take into considera
tion the youth and inexperience of the
party when first organized in that State.
The correspondent Of the New York
Times fir IN Washington, who has made
himself acquainted with the whole his.
tory and life Of this rascal, deserves
credit for tearing the mask from him
and exposing him in his hideous and
wicked character, as he has done in
Thursdays Times, the letter Occupying
eight columns of that large paper.
Though il has been generally under.
stood that Moses if he had his just de-
serts, would have been in the peniten-
tiary, the narrative of his crimes has
never been presented to the public
with such fulness, accuracy and graph
ic vividness. 1t is one of the most
shameful chapters of American politics,
and one of the most marvellous political
romances to be- found in the history of
this or of any other country. There is
nothing to equal it scarcely in Ameri-
can literature, and the most prurient
mind can find in il that excitement but
seldom found III stories Of fact indeed
the most thrilling romance of fiction
fails in comparison with the narrative
of Moses and his crimes. Tweed who
robbed the city Of New York, presents a
virtuous career compared with this
proud petted son of Southern aristocra-
cy, for be it remembere that Franklin
}. Moses was legitimate representa-
tive of the "wealth and intelligence"
which we are assured must inevitably
rule in the South; he was one Of the
"native and best" to whose exclusion
from public affairs all the misfor,unes
OF the South are supposed to he due.
And yet Moses was no carpet baggeI,
that detested Thing that disturbs the
peace of the Democracy. He was full
born Southerner, hero, all idol ad-
ulred by all the bellies in the surrCun-
ding county OF Sumter. He was good
shot, full of energy, a reckless rider, q
spendthrift, warm hearted and impul-
sive. At eighteen he had sown more
Wild oats than most men of oftwenty i've.
Losing inclination for horse racing he
took to politics, and through the infu-
ence of his father who was a state Sem
ator, be was appointed iy the secession
Governor, Pickens, As his private Secre
tary, He became the most rampant OF
rebels and to crafty his vanity he
was allowed to pull down the American
aag still flying on Fort Sumter after the
brave Anderson and his handful of men
had surrendered.
He was for carrying on the war
against the nation to the knife and the
knife to the hit, but somehow he never
took TO the field to lead the South IN
hosts on to victory, but vas satisfied to
serve as a cOnscript officer, forcing 9th
ers into the ranks. When the war
closed Moses was begga arr seeing
the way the tide was running, he
went with it and drfted into the RI
publican party, being appointed 10y
the army an Associate Provost Judge.
In this once he n-v-r pretended to de-
eide justly but .or Whatever party paid
him the best. When the negroes were
.nfranchised he was elected by the frst
Republican party in South Carolina
Adjutant aud inspector General, and at
the same time became member Of the
Legislature ana was elected Speaker,
an office he held two terms. In this
Office he bribed every body that would
be bribed, and plunged the state into
debt, a yielding Legislature having
granted him the right TO draw war.
rants upon the state Treasurer at will.
No bill could pass the Legislature un.
less Moses was paid for it. From the
Speakership of the House Moses soon
found himself II the Governors ! chair
in which the most unparalleled frauds
and wickedness were praCticed, and
the State brought to the verge of bank
ruptcy. The capital was filled viii
gambling heils, and fast women were
brought at the Governors expens'
from New Orleans and New York -
With his gubernational term disap
peared his greatness, and Moses becam
vaga bond and beggar. Consp icuOu
in comparison with his administration
stands that of Governor Chamber rlain
whom the Democracy delight to call
carpet dagger a man whom even th'
Democratic press Of South Catolini
praised for hi4 honesty and his pur'
administration. Chamberlain was
carpet bagger and Moses was son 0
the Southern chivalry, and yet Cham
berlain is indicted for crimes and nal
feasances in Office in South Carolina