National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-11
sourH CAROLINA POLITICS.
Grnd"ni Improvement, ia Public Opinion
-a,rirnInnl nIriIrnsln OF Ilr Rnmrhnna.

-NrintNunt meAnuWs OF thr hbhfbnnh
lecal Correspondence ofrnE REPuHLcAN.
CHARLESTON, s. g., March CIT Is pleasant TO
note the improvement in public opiuion which is
gradually working an important change in the
politics Of this state Until three years ago 1t was
believed among the whlto people Tint there was
no road out Of the Democratic party but the road
Of dishonor and disgrace The uusavory scandals
come cod with the Scott and Moses adminstra-
lions mado the Republican party disnstcful, and
The fears Of negro supremacy aud social equai-
ity, constantly excited IN the minds oftho labor-
ing classes by political dcmogogues, kept them
chained 10 their whipping. posts, prcferring The
Bourbon lash" to the greater evils which they
believed threatened them. With Chanherlains
administration affairs began 10 improve, and
many influential Democrats honestly desired his
continuance IN Office for another term. IL Is
an opeu secret that many prominent gentlemen
like Generals McGowau, Kershaw and Kennedy,
would have lent their aid and counsel to lit
the Republican party out of the miro IL
had sunken into IL the Hayes government had
sustained Governor Chamberlain. The "crash
pIecipilntcd by the imbeclle policy Of the retired
President IN 1875 drove the lukcwarm Democrats
back into the ranks of the Democracy, demolished
the frnil bridge across the chasm Of political aud
race prejudice and scaled the doom of Republic
causm in this State. 1t is not pleasant thing to
say but there Is no denying the ihct that the Re-
puhilChl party OF NnlS Sthlc ID pIOot'a'e "H" Nv
terly helpless nj the feet of Bourbonism.
FEW YeAus or BOURBON RULE,
however has convinced every thinking person
that If there Is any difference between the "Radi-
cal rogues Of the past and the Bourbon saints OF
tn Q present II is clearly in favor of the former
| The stealing ofa few millions, more or less, Il
| looked upon MS lesser ofeusc than the Bourbon
| soons criminal interference with elections and
tho private rights of citzens. The cries OF negro
| aaIs a
to scare people. II Is beginning to be understood
that the Republican party, as 1t was under Scott
| aud Moses Is dead that the native white men
| who became Republicans TO hold OinCe nave WIN
few exceptions, returned TO- the Bourbon foldI
| that the colored people have Learned
wisdom during the past six years, and will here
after be satisfied with such representation as pru-
dencc and intelligence cntite them to- that !" So
Cia caunlltv Is neither asked nor desired and that
the line of dcmnrkation dividing the social rela'
tions between the vices is more clearly defined N
this State than In any other State of the Union
The gradual spread Of dissatisfaction with Bour'
bon arrogance has kept on an even pace VIII
the diffusion of these truths AZ mt thI
possibility of any organized attempt to retire thC
present regime was treated as Ridiculous Joke bl
the sauguiue managers Of the Bourbon machine
and their Journalistic supporters
LATER THEY STILL LAUGHED AT IT.
but their laughter sounded very like the boy
whistling while going through churchyard
Finding ridicule ana hilgrity inehectiye, the!
opened all their batteries of abuse and yilliiatloi
revolt in the various counties. Independents an'
GrCenbackers were abused alike, ana they wer
openly charged with attempts TO "negroizc" IN
Slate but for once the flash iailed TO pr0duc
the desired effect" Tho very contempt which tn
bourbon journals hcaped upon the growing oppo
sitiOn reused independent Judgment, while TIL
Bcurrilous attacks on the leaders, like Blair
Townsend. Gayer and others, made clear tn
urgency of q change in the direction of publ
sentiment as well as in tho controlling power O
the State. The election and stock laws enacte'
by the recent Legislature the last feathers o
the cnmol's back. The election law was special
devised to perpctuate Bourbon domination.
TuE BIGpT-BoN SYSTEM
six for State and county officers and two for Con
gressrnen and electors was adopted to conf o IN
ignorant Colored voters, who, being unable 4
read the labels, will deposit their ballots in tn
wrong boxes, and will therefore be thrown out
The supervisors are invested with "discretiono
powers" TO do rs they please, and their decision
stock law will rob the poor farmers and fdrr
labOrers of the privilege of raising or owuin
stock and make them utterly dependent OH th
more fortunate wealthy land proPrietors. A.
| faction all over the State. Indignatio
meetings have been held in many. couu
ties, and Peoples Rights clubs" an'
Southern Union Suffrage Associations arc bein
, ! formed. The Grecnbackers have signiiicd thei
intention TO lower their banner and march undo
the flag of the !" free vote and fair count part!
No definite understanding regarding the nc'
movement has been reached among the Republica
leaders. While rhe colored people are ready I
sustain any movement that viii guarantee theI
| the rights of suffrage. now denied them, they wi
not transfer their allegiance until they arc in poi
session of substantial evidence that the compa
will be faithfully carried out Their credulity Ia
been in many Instances taken advantage Of
cautious in their dealings with ex-Dcmocrat
politicians. H..