Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-29
pailp Aennebet Journal.
Augusta, Monday Morn'g, Sept. 90, 1879
OaiciaI Dishonesty i'm the south.


Official Dishonesty In the South.
The much abused carpet-bagger has no
hand in these days in the official affairs OF
the Southern States He was driven from
office long since by the native born,
chiefly because of alleged official dishon-
esty, with reports of which the country
rang from end to end. According to those
reports there never was such corruption
in Office rs the South endured under the
carpet-bag regime. Men who ut the North
were regarded as the "soul of honor, be-
came at the South when in office the worst
kind of plunderers. What scandalous re-
ports there were of the adminlstra-
ton of General Ames in Mississippi. and
Governor Chamberlain in South Carolina.
and Bullock in Georgia-men whose names
were never connected with even suspi-
con of dishonorable or unmanly conduct
in any relation in life until they held office
in the South.
But these men and the most Of other
Northern men who held office in the South
have been driven out of power. and now
the South is ruled by men elected by the
bulldczers. What is the result? Are the
Southern States any better governed than
they were by the carpet-baggcrs? is
there no stealing no corruption, no mis-
government under the native rulers? Let
the state of things in Georgia tell the story
for all the Southern States. Why, the
government of Bullock in that State never
was so offensive. even to the nostrils OF the
ex-Confederates. as that of the present
time. On this subject the New York
Times says:
The echoes of the scandal which was prev
alent in Georgia during the republican adj
minstration of affairs have scarcely dicd
away. The inbilation over the restoration of
the native chvalry to seats Of power is yet
ringing in the air And the democratic legis-
lature which found the State-house swept
and garnished is turning ont democratic
office-holders, impeaching them for NAL
feasance in office and forever disqnalifying
them from holding places Of honor, trust, or
emolument in the gift of the State me
State Controller, Mr.. Goldsmith, has Just
been impeacled, condemned. and sentenced
his crime being that OF extortion ana c"rrup-
ton in office. The State Treasurer, Rcnfroe
has also been impeached for similar crimes
and the Superintendent of the State Peniten-
tiarv, Nelms, is in fair way to follow these
admirable gentlemen. So widespread Is the
corruption among the democratic State Off
GERS. that one account says that about one
half of the State-house officers have been de-
posed. And an attempt was made in the
legislature. last week, to implicate the Gov
ernor of the State in the general conspiracy
1t should be borne in mind that. although
these officers are convicted, or accused, OF
the most sordid rapacity and the most hard
ened rascaity, they belong to that high-toned
cnivalrv watch We have been taught 10 oe-
lieve was the last refuge of all the many
virtues Controller Goldsmith, for example
is an ex-Contederate. or. as one OF ms ue-
Tenders put it, in the glowing language OF the
Georgian region. He had barred his bosom
TO the storm of battle in defence of his State
And yet he ILLEGALLY, wrongfully and cor
rupty charged" fees and costs against the
tax-payers of Georgia with all the vulgar
greed of one of the genuine "Locusts eating
out the substance of the South" Perhaps II
nav be urged that these chivaric gentlemen
have been infected by the virus of dishonesty
disseminated by the aforesaid "Scallawags
and carpet baggers.'' They are ready imita-
tors of the vices which they have so clamor-
ously reprobated Let us hope that the tax
payers of Georgia enjoy being robbed by
their own estimabe and heightened citizens
in Office. 1t added, apparently. to their woes
that they were formerly tieeced Cor said they
were feeced) by men who held incendiary
notions as to the rights of man.
1t lent a new sting to their wrongs to re-
fleet that their alleged plunderers were repub-
licans. and Northern born. They may be
panied and surprised TO learn that democrats
in office will steal. But it should Litigatt
their pangs to know that the thieves are
.'proud sons of the South" and that they are
true-blue democrats The world generally
will lament that there is absolutely nothing
in the .Jefiersonian democracy to take the
place Of moral principle in mankind.
SO after all the fanfaronade OF the
Southerners about their chivalry, the rule
of the carpet-b aggers is far before the rule
of their ''native-born and best anu they
have to admit il at last. 1t is a shame that
the carpet-baggers were not better sus-
timed at the North than they were. But
they must feel grim satisfaction in seeing
how heightened, respectable, and honest
their course was in Office as compared
with that Of those who succeeded them.
II.