St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-13
HE CAREER OF MOSES.
The Man Who Raised the Palmetto
Flag Over Sumter's Ruins.
Legislator, Speaker, Governor, His
Life Rivals That of the Third
Emperor-FaIlen from
HIS High Estate.
Boston Globe.1.

IWenGy-Gnree years ago FRANKLIN d. moses,
r., hoisted the palmetto flag Of South Caro-
ina over the ruins of Fort Sumter, having
oeen deputed to that work by Governor Pick
ms, whose private secretary he then was
lie had, shortly before, graduated with high
lonors from college; his father was man of
Goth wealth and social distinction, and
rusted member Of the Judiciary Of that fire
ating state. Franks future promised to be
exceptionally brilliant. He served through
,ut the war of the rebellion on the Confeder-
tie side, as also did his father, and when the
var was over they both mounted to positions
# influence by accepting the reconstruction
;ets and the then new order of things in the
outh. The father became chief justice of
he supreme court of South Carolina, and
lied while holding that position. Frank be-
anne member of the state legislature, then
peaker Of the house, and subsequently, in
$50, governor of the state, succeeding Gen
R. <. Scott, who was tried for murder in
SS1, in Ohio.
A PRoDIGAL's CAREER. r.
There was time when Moses had control
+ almost unlimited wealth, rolled in luxury,
nd sported with wantons and ibertines, with
re profuseness of an eastern prince. To-day
le has hardly friend in the world, and.
roken, gray, seedy, he ekes out a slender
ubsistence by his wits If novelist were to
cave the many incidents in the life of Frank
loses into story, that novelist's methods
Tould be called sensational and somewhat
Improbable The period Of reconstruc-
on in the south was Moses oppor-
nifty. His fall was the natural consequence
an ill-spent life, and not of the end of the
q in which he hourished. 1t was said Of
loses long ago, by one who knew him well,
TAT she was noble-hearted man, with
analysis on the moral side" As long as
oses had money he scattered It like chaff;
ut that which he tossed 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
le day came to him when he, like one of old,
would fain have filed his belly with the
llsks the swine did eat,n his fine-weather
lends forsook him and fed. The man who
lade the streets of the capital of South Caro-
ia resplendent with gay equipages, jewels
I'd gay attire, was at last brought down SC
Nv that he stole an overcoat from an Office
70 which he had gone on pretended matter
( business.
HIS ADMINISTRATION.
Born of a good old southern family, OF
ewish descent, gifted with many rare per
nal and mental qualities, Moses might have
.ade for himself name of which South
arolina would have been proud. The
apidity with which he ran the whole ganui
personal ambition proved his genius. His
lgacity in taking up the cause of the newly
nfranchised freedmen at the close of the
ar, after having fought on the Confederate
de was rewarded. As speaker of the as
emily he engaged in a career Of corrup-
on, bribery and robbery, which had few
arallels in this country. If he wanted
money, horses, anything, he demanded these
the men who sued for his legislative in
uence, and got them. He procured the
aactment of law while speaker
hich gave him in that capacity I'M
mited power to draw ON the state treasury,
nd from that day his warrants
eking precedence of all others, were as plen-
iful as the leaves of the forest. He owned
money mill.n Having issued 81, 100000 il
pay certificates, y as speaker, it was obvious
nat Governor Moses would rule the state
nth all the pro6igacy and extravaganza that
e had shown in his less influential position.
lie seemed utterly devoid of moral sense
Ie levied toll upon every public and private
gislative measure, with money in it."
.liich required his signature. 1t is matter
{ record that a claim of banking company
or 100000 could not be made valid by
loses signature until sos, 600 had been paid
i'm. He involved one of his underlings.
.iurnbert, in scheme, by which the state
vas plundered of 10000, and what seemed to
c grand larceny was attempted against
ne state. But when the officers went to ar
est his excellency they found him en-
renched in his state house, guarded by the
tate militia.
WHEN THE END CAME.
He gave away pardons like holiday bau-
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
Promised immunity to crime so long as the
offender owned in Moses friend
A spendthrift, Moses laid up nothing for q
rainy day He ran his brief career, and. in
wo or three years, out of power, out of
lace, out of money, he drifted to New York
lis life in South Carolina, after he had
merged from the rebellion, was crowded
Ill of exciting episodes. He iveda life of
ebauchery, intrigue and sensuous excite
nent. He schemed and planned, but he
ever built for the future. While it lasted,
he golden stream that flowed through his
lands was royalty spent. While he had the
opportunity, he schemed to some purpose,
md his plans for gaining possession of the
'potentialities of great wealth, by unlawful
means, were admirably laid
But the end came at last. His term of of
ce expired. His debaucheries were in
'amous, and so disguised those who had put
lin in power that his plans for reelection
we're of no avail His own wife and family
we're forced to shake him off, and he was cast
out from among them and his name branded
With all infamy. The down-hin road was
rapidly Travelled. The brilliant South Caro-
linian, the curled darling of fair women and
The successful adventurer, came down from
governors chair to skirmish with vulgar
thieves and impostors Early in the fall of
1881, Moses, after having gained his hveIi-
hood somewhat percariously, visited the Office
of John d. Townsend, the famous New York
lawyer, and offered TO procure some dispatches
and other documents which would implicate
Samuel J. Tilden in an attempt to buy up the
South Carolina delegation to Democratic
national convention. Mr. Townsend paid
Moses some money for alleged expenses. and
Moses departed, taking the overcoat alluded
to above.
GOING DOWN HILL.
He had the impudence to visit Mr.. Town
send again, in a few days, and 10 ask the loan
Of some more money. The lawyer was CON
WINGED Of Moses dishonesty, and he accused
him OF theft. Moses implored Mr. Townsend
not TO prosecute him, and the latter con-
sented, on condition that Moses should write
out and sign an account Of the swindle which
he had perPetrated Mr. Townsend said 20
Moses at the time: II shall keep this docu-
ment, and If ever you are arrested for another
transaction Of this kind. viii give it VI &c
the officer who arrests YOU A few weeks
afterwarC ON October 2 ISL MosVss was