Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-30
Post ONCE Abuses in South Carolina.

Charleston Neaes and Courier.
In the article on Jay Gould's effort to
corrupt American journalism the Nea0s and
C0uTter suggested some reasons WHY it
would be especially injurious TO the South
for the United States Government to have
control of the telegraph SERVICE as it now
has OF the mails. We said: "Here In the
South to-day Democrats do not venture to
place important communications 10 the post
offices managed by stalwart Postmasters.
when there is any mark on the envel-
ope or anything In the address to
indicate the. nature Of the con-
tents. In South Carolina it certainly is
not safe to tntrust political communications
to the mails when sure and prompt delivery
Is requisite. 1t is not unusual for respect
able citizens to be obliged to change their
post office and send several miles for the
letters which should be delivered at their
very doors, because they know the Post
masters near them to be ignorant or upwor-
thy Of confidence" The New York Herald
republishes the remarks of the Meas and
Courier with the following comments:
This is so grave charge that our Southern
contemporary could hardly have made it un
less 1nsanelY suspicious or able to prove its
correctness If the statement is true it indi-
Gates lower depths Of meanness in machine
politicians than have yet been charged at the
North and il the facts are as stated the blame
all lies with machine managers at the national
capital. Postmasters are not appointed in
South Carolina on reimbursement Of Senators
and Representatives from the State, for all of
these gentlemen happen to be Demo-
Gratis, and as such have nothing to do
WIN tne nllng OF government offices
IN the State. Assistant Postmaster General
Hatton who is now, we believe, charged with
the duty OF saving the Union so far as IL can he
done by changing Postmasters, should compel
the Ne1sS and Courier to prove its Statements
ana give names OF guilty officials, for although
South ttQFOINiQnG W n fhav,,
OF postal facilities are Democrats they are not
at all likely to ever see the superior virtues of
the party OF moral ideas while they are unable
to intrust their letters to Republican Post
masters"
We assure our contemporary that there
Will be no difficulty in proving the correct
ness OF the charges we have made, If the
investigation be conducted with zeal and a
desire to get at the truth. We have kno VI
edge OF the fact that Democratic organiza-
tions in this State hsbituallY direct their
officers to use plain envelopes for communi-
cations to be sent through The mails, in order
tnaL Jhe nature OF their contents NAV not
be SUSPECTED by persons in the postal SER
vice. We know, likewise, that where politi-
cal circulars are ordered to be sent to the
democratic organizations In different coun-
ties the rule is to dispatch the circulars
In small quantities, at different times, so
that the bulk and number shall not arrest
attention and invite danger in the mails.
We ourselves receive, from time to time.
political documents bv the Southern Fx3
press Company from points in the interior.
because the senders fear that the packages
will be tampered with II sent by mail. We
have received letters from different parts of
the State within the last two or three weeks
in which we are requested to forward
political communications by the Southern
Express Company, and not by mail,
II the communications are important
We know Of an important political paper
which was duly mailed for point not ffty
miles away, and never reached its destina-
tton. After several weeks had elapsed in
qulry was made about It, and the paper,
stripped OF It's wrapper, was returned to the
sender without explanation. We know also
that summOnses to attend political meetings
which were mailed simultaneously to the
members of political committees residing
within mile or two OF each other have
varied from one to three days in
the time Of their delivery, and fire.
quentlY have not reached the persons to
whom they we're addressed until after the
meeting designated in the circular had been
held Only few weeks ago case was re-
ported TO US where citizens had been con-
strained to change their post Office and send
several miles for their letters, because of
the character and situation Of the Post
lima. We have become so accustomed to It
that It is surprising to US that anybody
should be surprised at It.
The people Of South Carolina are accus-
toned to see the post Office in this State
managed for the benefit Of the Republican
party without reference to the wishes or
convenience Of the public. This has been
the practice ever since 1865 Up to the
time when South Carolina fell into the
hands Of the Republicans, there had been
but two Postmasters at Charleston from
the establishment of the independence of the
United States. The first Postmaster was
appointed by George Washington, and the
second Postmaster, Mr.. Alfred Huger, held
the Office until after the war ended.
when he was removed aud succeeded bV
Mr.. Trott, Republican appointee. In
olden times there was absolute peImanancy
IN the government service In this State, but
the Republicans have changed all that. The
offices are the prizes Of politicians and the
rewards for political services. There are
exceptions, OF course, In the upper part Of
the State, but in the middle and lower
counties the rule Is to fill the post offices
with superserViceable Radicals without
regard to character or capability. The public
convent nee and the sanctity OF private
correspondence are ignored IN the move
ments Of the leaders here, and Of che stall
warts at Washington. From the Post Office
Department, therefore, we can expect no
relief. Assistant Postmaster General Hat
ton has publicly announced that he intends
to remove every Postmaster In the South
who is not In sympathy with the admisfra.
tion-that is, every one who Is not ready for
any dirty work that may be demanded ~
him ln the interest Of President Arthur's