St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-13
He CAREER OF MOSES.
he Man Who Raised the Palmetto
Flag Over Sumter's Ruins.
Legislator Speaker. Governor, His
Life Rivals That of the Third
Fan peror-Fallen from
lHIs High Estate.
boston Globe

Boston Globe.]
Twenty-th1ee years ago Franklin j. Moses,
IT,, hoisted tile palmetto flag of South Caro-
ina over the ruins of Fort Sumter having
teen deputed to that work by Governor Pick
ems, whose private secretary he then was.
He had, shortly before, graduated with high
honors from college; his father was a man Of
10th wealth ana social distinction, and a
trusted member Of the judiciary of that fire.
eating state. Franks future promised to be
EXCEPTIONALLY brilliant he served through
put the war of the rebellion ON the Confeder-
ate side, as also did his father, and when the
var was over the.E both mounted to positions
# influence by accepting the reconstruction
cts and the then liew order of things in the
outh. The father became chief Justice OF
ne supreme court of South Carolina. and
led while holding that position. Frank be-
anne member OF the state legislature, then
peaker of the hbuse, ard subsequently, in
$40, governor of the state, succeeding Gen
:. K. Scott, who IVES tried for murder il
SS1, in Ohio
A PRODIGAL'S CAREER.
There was a time when Hoses had control
almost unlimited wealth, rolled in luxury,
nd sported with wantons and ibertines, with
ne profuseness of an eastern prince. To-day
e has hardly friend in the world and,
roken, gray, seedy, he ekeS out a slender
ubsistence by his wits Il a novelist were to
yeave the many incidents in the life of Frank
loses into story, that hovelist's methods
;ould be called sensational and somewhat
Improbable. The period of reconstruc-
~, IL
unity His fall was the natural consequence
[ an ill-spent lifo, and not OF the end of the
"a in which he fourisLed. II was said Of
-oses long ago, by one who knew him well,
lat ''he was a noble-hearted man, with a
aralysis ON the moral side.n AS long as
oses had money he scattered It like chaff;
Ut that which he toaed about him with
rodigal hands, was not his own. and the
features who lived on his bounty never gave
i'm credit for sincere generosity. So, when
re day came to him when he, like one of old,
would fain have filed his belly with the
usks the swine did eat" his fine-weathei
riends forsook him and fed. The man who
lade the streets of the capital of South Caro-
ma respondent with gay equipages, jewels
nd gay attire, was at last brought down SO
wv IIldU 1c SUClt Oil ONcICOttU HUH I'LL OtiNt
ITO which he had gone on a pretended matter
business
HIS ADMINISTRATION.
Born of good old southern family, of
ewish descent, gifted with many rare per.
onal and mental qualities, Moses might have
1ade for himself a name of which SoutE
'arolina would have been proud. The
apidity with which he ran the whole CANT.
personal ambition proved his genius Hi
agacity in taking up the cause of the newly
nfranchised freedmen at the close Of the
yar, after having fought on the Confederate
ide, was rewarded As speaker of the as
emily he engaged in a career of corrup-
ion, bribery and robbery, which had few
arallels in this country. If he wanted
money, horses, anything, he demanded these
f the men who sued for his legislative in
uence and got them. He procured the
lactment of law while speaker
ghich gave him in that capacity un-
mited power to draw on the state treasury,
nd from that day his warrants
aking precedence of all others, were as plen-
iful as the leaves of the forest. He owned a
money mill" Having issued s2,000, 900 il
pay certificates" as speaker, it was obvious
hat Governor Moses would rule the stetc
With all the prohigacy and extravaganza that
.e had shown i'll his less influential position.
Ie seemed utterly devoid of moral sense.
io levied toll upon every public and private
agislative measure, with money in it,
yhich required his signature. 1t is matter
{ record that claim OF banking company
or 100000 could not be made valid by
loses signature until So, 900 had been paid
i'm He involved one of his underiings
Iyunbert, in scheme by which the state
vas plundered of $40, 600, and what seemed &c
e grand larceny was attempted against
he state. But when the officers went to ar
est his excellency they found him en-
renched in his state house, guarded by the
late militia.
WHEN THE END CAME.
He gave away pardons like holiday ban
les Blacklegs, thieves, and criminals OF
very description and complexion were par
oned by telegraph, by letter, by verbal or
.ers to jailors, and with freedom that
romised immunity to crime, so long as the
)Tender owned in Moses q friend
A spendthrift, Moses laid up nothing for o
rainy day. He rem his brief career, and, IN
wo or three years, out of power, out o.
lace, out of money, he drifted to New York
lis life in South Carolina, after he had
merged from the rebellion, was crowded
I'LL of exciting episodes. He liveda life OF
.ebauchery, intrigue and sensuous excite
aent. He schemed and planned, but be
lever built for the future. While it lasted
he golden stream that flowed through his
aands was royalty spent. While he had tho
opportunity, he schemed to some purpose
md his plans for gaining possession of tbs
potentialities of great wealth, by unlawful
means, were admirably laid.
But the end came at last His term of of
ice expired His debaucheries were in
famous, and so disguised those who had put
aim in power that his plans for reelection
we're of no avail His own wife and family
we're forced to shake him of, and he was cas-
out from among them and his NE BRANDED
with all infamy. The down-hiH road wa:
rapidly travelled The brilliant South Caro-
linian, the curled darling of fair women anc
the successful adventurer, came down from
governors chair to skirmish with vulgar
thieves and impostors. Early IN the fall o.
1881, Moses, after having gained his liveli
hood somewhat percariously, visited the otfic'
of John D. Townsend, the famous New Yorl
lawyer, and offered TO procure some dispatche.
and other documents which would implicat.
Samuel J. Tilden in an attempt to buy up TIL
South Carolina delegation to Democrats
national convention. Mr.. Townsend paiC
Moses some money for alleged expenses, ans
Moses departed, taking the overcoat alludet
TO above.
GOING DOWN HILL
He had the impudence to visit Mr. Town
send again, in a few days, and to ask the loaI
OF some more money. The lawyer was con
WINGED of Moses dishonesty, and he accuse.
him of theft Moses implored Mr. TownsenI
not 70 prosecute him, and the latter con
sensed. on condition that Moses should writ
out and sign an account of the swindle whicl
be had perpetrated. Mr.. Townsend said {
Moses at the time: 81 shall keep this docu
ment, and If ever you are arrested for anothe
transaction of this kind. / VIII give il L, /
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