The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-01-31
: oORANGEnuRG,. 5. c., JAN. 81, 1879.
The Investigation at Charleston,


by Congress to Investigate, Southern
elections, is in session from d,y to
.day in Charleston, and will probably
remain there for weeks. The work
thus far has been confined TO the cx-
animation. of witnesses representing
both political parties from Richland,
Williamsburg and Sumter. Those
examined on the Democratic side
seem TO, express a general sentiment
@eas to the ,quietncss Of the election
and the SUCCESS attained,- and do so
In q cool, frank and confident man.
ner without any effort to suppress
facts on the one side or 10 cxaggcratc
faults on the, other. The coloretl
:; Democrats who testify, do So with
the same confident reliance in the
= truth of what they say as their white
, fellow Democrats. They multiply
rapidly testimony against their color
I. ed ncighbcrs giving positive evidence
Of innumeraLle, acts of intimidation
practiced by Republican negroes
upon both their person and property.
d in some cases Democratic colored
men and their families were ostra-
cisco, denied church privileges, social
intercourse. and in every possible
manner made 10 feel the burden of
such exclusion. All honor ard cred
it are due these noble colorcd men.
for the bold and defiant stand they
have taken, for the honest and truth
full evidence given, for their strict ad-
.hercnce to the Democratic cause, and
for the incalculable good such mani.
fest faith will have on the future sue
cess of their party. 1t cannot but
excite the wcll-done of their white
friends and eventually extort praise
and commendation from their colored
traducers.
On the other hand one cannot but
notice the studied efforts on the part
of Republican witnesses, both white
and colorcd, 10 make their side ap-
pcar the better cause. An unblush-
ing exhibition of spite on the part of
some, and deep rooted, religious
hatred on the part Of others, seem to
characterize their testimony through
out whether it he against the white
or the colorcd Democrat. Many Of
these witnesses are preachcrs-polt-
oo-gospcl preachers, and seem to
think their position as such will give
dignity and weight to their testimony,
hut the fruits of the flesh appear more
manifest in them than the fluits of
tile spirit.
Our opinion is that the whole invcs-
tiga:ion will prove to be a meaning
less farce developing nothing more
than is known to the world already;
that frauds were committed in the
iast election hy Dotil parties, that the
Republicans have he greater sin be-
cause they open the school and
taught their Democratic ncighhors,
that there would have been no inves-
tigation had the Republican party
been victorious, and That both ought
to be heartily ashamed of the crimes
committed against the time honored
institutions Of civil liberty and self
government.
If there be any worthy facts added
to the history Of that period, promi-
ncntly. among them will appear the
, proof that thousands Of the best and
most reliable colored citizens Of the
State voted the Democratic ticket
and are true, unainching Democrats
from principle to-day, and the proof
that the Democratic party is the
stronger of the two, and, by a consis-
tent course Of conduct toward our
colored citizen, Will lie able to per.
petuate its power Indefinitely. No
more patent fact will appear upon
tie record than that these investiga-
ting committees are nothing more
than vents for tie escape Of political
hatred of party leaders to he paid
Tor out of taxes cxtorted from an
over oppressed people. We trust the
time will soon come when this gov
government will have done with
these new appliances Of fraud aud
tyranny. Till then there will be no
genuine unity among our people or
political prosperity for the country.