The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-24
Some Extracts from the Writings of an
Indicted Reformer.

Indicted Reformer.
That very respectable publication, the
North American Rerieir, contains this month
oil essay on the negro element in Southern
politics, written by DANIEL II. CHAMBER
LAIN, lately Governor Of South Carolina.
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN style Is clear and elc-
CANT and the tone Of his article is earnest
Intellectual. and patriotic. We quote sin
gle passage as specimen OF Mr.. CHAMBER
LAIN's powers Of composition:
There period OF offcia corruption and profit
Taey in the States which the colored vote predominant
ed extending generally 1863 to 1874 was con
nncd TO Official life It produced and inspired by
few leaders, who had for purposes OF plumber, made
their way to public places A. the similar condition
Of affairs which prevailed In the city OF New York from
lee7 ~ is75 Official corruption the South for time
banled invesusauon and doned public sentiment &.
Il may be taid with perfect truth that the col
cred voters OF the South sustained public men
whom they believed 10 he corrupt They adhered with
rare nde 10 those who had once gained their oundencc
But whenever public man shown to be corrupt
the coorcd voters rejected him with much certainty
and promptncss the the Norih have shown
II is not truc-wih whsteycr frequency confidence
the Ass,i aoa may have been made that the coored
race Of the South deliberately ~ consciously sustained
leaders or public officers who found guilty Of dis
honest conduct corrupt practices such leaders and
officers were deprived " office ana power From 1873
to 1870 when political power violently wresied from
them It is the trath Of hisor, that there WAS at the
South steady progress toward good government purity
Of administration, reform of abuses ana the choice
capable and honest officers. Ia those State in which the
eoored race had most complete control There were
here as there are in all communities. sham rciormers
In South Carolina, whore perhaps Official corrul-
lion had been greatest tie progress OF reform had been
such as to compel the acknowledgment by those who
had most violently denounced colnred suffrage that the
best Assurance OF good government In the future lay
the continuance Of the power Of those who were then
successfully working out, through the political party
supported by the coiorcd vote the correction ii public
abuses"
To illustrate the great improvement in
Mr.. CHAMBERLAGN's style and sentiment
since he became Il real relormer and began
tolabor for the publication Of Southern poll
Tics, We reprint here two short extracts from
letters composed By him in 1870, when he was
Acknowledgement Of South Carolina.
Writing to his accomplice PARKER, the
Treasurer Of the State, Sept. %, 1870, CHAM
BRRLAIN said:
"Do the commissions foot up pretty weni Ehli Re.
cards toK."
*" was KnIpToy. Writing to KnmToN,
Jan. 3, 1870, CHAMBERLAIN said.
do You understand fuy the plan Of the O. and c en-.
terprse It's proposed to buy s3jOOOO worth Of the
and C, lGrccnyillc and Columbia Rnroadl stock This
with the fiia 90 OF stock held hy the State will give en-.
tire control 10 The Laurcns branch viii be sold in
February by decree OF Court and will cost not more than
5000 and probably not more than siOpo The spar.
tanshurg and Union can also br got without difficulty
We shall then have uG aul g. lOs miles. IN Liurcns 81
and in s and O. 7plu- an 2oa miles. equipped ami
running rut first mortgage Of S1uuoo mic on this.
sell the bonds at 81 ortn aud the balance alter pay ing
all outlays Tor cost and repairs, Is nuincuse-o,cr
R2OlOOuO