The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-16
down IN DIXIE.
HOW SOUTH CAROLINA DEFIEs
THE GOVERNMENT
Election Farces and Frauds

The following is condensed from |
a letter from the special correspond,
ent of the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, written from Columbia,
South Carolina, and presents some
interesting facts:
standing at the door of the hotel,
the building | can see farthest to
the left is the State House, and that
TO the right the United States court
house and postoffice. Each building
represents a distinct and radically
different idea here in South Carolina.
There are some trials now going on
in the United States courts, and the
great State of South Carolina has
chosen to put itself in the role of de
PENDANTS. Although sovereign
State now in the opinion of her clti-
zens iustas much as when they de-
clared that the United States had no
right to impose customs duties and
Old Jackson brought them to Their
senses, she deigns to send ambassa-
dors in the persons of Congressman
| to the fereign court at Washington.
They 20 through a form of electing
oy popular suffrage these Congress
men. But as | will proceed to show
in the course of my correspondence,
the elections in South Carolina are .
perfect farce so for as expressing the
will of more than half the citizens.
I A hundred thousand citizens, more
than half the voters, are practically
disfranchised in South Carolina.
To-day South Carolina is Repub-
lican by large majority on a fair
vote, but she is counted III among
the States Of the Solid South,
"The shotgun and bull whip are
hidden away. They made too much
inoise and startled the people of the
North. They caused the bloody
shirt to be too much of "a terrible
reality. With that as the banner OF
Bourbonism waving over the Solid
South, the opposite spectacle of a
Solid North presented itself as an
obstacle to the election of Demo
cratic President. The new method
down here is quieter than the old,
but it is even more effective than the
old in sitting opposition. The pres
pnt trials going on will develop some
most astounding facts as to this new
method Not satisfied with having
passed an election law, which with
the most consummate ingenuity,
nullifes the votes of almost the en-
tire Republican party OF South Caro-
lima, the Bourbon managers having
established a system of fraud that as
long as it stands makes their regime
as strongly established as if the State
had a Gordon ofConfederate cannons.
With the injustice of the election
law the United States has nothing to
do the Federal authority is impor
tant to deal with it; but it raised It's
arm against the intimation and
lcheating practiced at the last election
of Congressman.
This Is causus belll.
"South Carolina responded with
alacrity to that challenge. The
Democratic State Central Commit
tee demanded that the Legislature
should make an appropriation 20
employ counsel to defeat the per
secutions of the Federal govern
ment. The other day the Leg
Islature met, and Governor Thomp-
son in his message seconded
: the demand of Democratic State
F., Committee, and almost the first pro
ceeding of the Legislature was the
P appropriation of $4,000 to defend
, the prisoners. In his message Gov
E Thompson expresses his opinion
that the state courts are quite com.
, petent to deal with the Gases with.
I out the interposition of the Federal
G authority. The State Supreme
Q Court also comes kindly to the front
/ with letter read by defendants
Q counsel, suggesting that the Federal
= Court has no power to stand aside
Jurors. In view of these trials the
!, Legislature passed law at the last
session which was intended to wipe
!. out the practice of the United State:
q Court in this particular. 1t will be
seen at once that in a disaffectec
h State like South Carolina the
d National government would be bad
r ly crippled were it to submit to tht
t dictation of the Legislature as Il
7 procedure in its own courts. The
q passage of this law was considered {
!, masterStroke, and the Bourboni
d opened their mouths aghast wher
|. Circuit Judge Bond dared to use hi
own decretion and refuse be to bounC
n by the State law, in spite also O
T. what was intended as polite man
} date Of South Carolina Suprem
- Court.
., There is much agitation and in
81 dignation on the part of the Georgi
T. and South Carolina newspaper owe
j. the presumption of the Fedora
r authorities in making an attack o
: the election officers of the Pa nett
IS State. A picturesque Columbia col
5 respondent of the Augusta Chrome,
p and CoustitutionaLiSt exultantl
,e speaks of OF the action of the Legis
lature in appropriating $4,000 t.
ID defend the prisoners as maxim
q preparations to resist the commo
n enemy and he adds: Over ther
u. representatives of the people the pa
e metto flag proudly waved and tn
er stars and stripes, that usually occt
at pied a staff higher than the palme
I'd to, was missing. Standing in th
- middle of the street watching bot
he flags and thinking OF what ha
re transpired under each, it SCENE
In that the old questions between tn
at National government and the Stat
Is had been renewed, and they ha,
er been, but they will be settled in a
ed entirely different manner from tn;
I'd proposed in 1860. Now that maje
ID ty of the law and not the power
re the sword is invoked to deci6e tt
81 differences the lawyers and NOT n