New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-05
ELGrREX rEON SNUTH CAROLLNA.


The analysis of the vote OF certain counties
of South Carolina, published in The TRIBUNE
this morning, will repay study. 1t has been
said a great many times that figures cannot
lie, and although the returns Of some Of the
Southern election managers might lead us to
question the familiar apGOrlsn, there is a sOlld
foundation of reason for il. An examination
of these returns Will show that however dis
honest canvassers may have falsihed the
count and poll clerks stuffed the boxes
with "kiss-j jokes" the figures at last
Will tell the truth We have taken for
investigation to-day single Congress Dis
trict of South Carolina, namely, tie lst in
which the candidates were the same who
contested the seat in 1S76-Joseph II. Rainey
on the Republican side and JOhn 5. Richard
son OH the Democratic. Rainey carried the
district in 1876 by majority of 1,5OO;
Richardson carries it now by majority of
about 5000. We invite our readers to look
at the manner In which this surprising change
has been brought about.
Eight counties are included in the Ist Dis
trict. In five-tO wit, Sumter, Williamsburg,
Darlington, Marlborough and GeorgetOwn-the
cOlored people are largely in the majority,
and these counties have always been con-
sidered safe for heavy Republican vote. In
the other three-MariOn, Chesterfield and
Horry-the whites have had the prcpOnder-
ance, and the Democratic majOTities in these
counties have ranged in former years from
600 to 1,200. Now the election of 1873
was not marked by any exceptional pub
lie excitement. There was no reason
whatever for any change in the relative stu
alton of the two parties, and it is hardly
necessary to remind intelligent men that a
revolution in politics is never accomplished
except in consequence of some great revu-
sion i'll public feeling, for which there
must be visible, notorious cause. In
fact, the aggregate vote of the State
was very light. In 1876 it was about
1873, 900, or 10 per cent of the popula-
ton; this year it is only 10000, or II
per cent, supposing that the population has
increased since 1875 at the same ratio which
obtained during the five years previous to
that date. But the cOlOred population in
creases in South Carolina at the rate Of
about per cent per annum, while the
white population increases at tho rate
of only per cent If. therefore the
proportions of white and cOlOred citizens
who stayed away from the polls last month
had been about equal, and the election had
been perfectly fair aud free, 1t would have
been natural, allowing for Il is difference in
the ratio of increase, TO expect the returns 10
show white vote somewhat less than it was
in 1876, and a colored vote nearly tho same
as il was that year, or even little larger.
1t is just such result as this that $50 do
find In the hopelessly Democratic counties,
where there was no temptation to resort to
shot-guns and "kiss- jokes" In Chesterfield,
where there are perhaps s,00o whites to 5000
negroes, the Republican vote remains about
what it was in 1876, and the Democratic vote is
SO less. In Horny County, with about 10000
whites and 5000 blacks, there has been
Republican loss of 1853 votes, and a