The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-03
South Carolina Politics.
Augusta Chronicle.)

augusta Chronicle.)
COLUMBIA, S. c., July 2l.-Ten years
.go Chamberlain was Governor and the
Republican party held the State govern
ment and the city of Charleston. In
place, and in the spring Of 1877 the Dem
'.cratic party came into power. The past
;cn years makes up Il curious retrospect
for any thoughtful citizen, and the pres
cnt period Of general political disturb
nee throughout the Stale points to a
serious political unrest, but all within
the party. The truth is, a great many
| people wee accidentally elected to Of
lice ten years ago and they have formed
:, coalition to stay in office. The far
mcrS' convention was simply n gathering
of The substantial people Of the State to
| protest against what has and is going on
and what is intended shall 70 on unless
the Democratic masses push aside the
political soothing SyrupS of the .Nc"%
anil Courier and apply a few pounds OF
dynamite to the State Machine. In
plain words, change this State adEliniS-
:ration and inaugurate Il new one to COM
ainc brains and courage and let the par
" rule. for unless the people have Off
cialS equal to the task it will be a barren
victory. In ten Gears all The best places
;fracrai, State aud county. have corc
into the possession of 4 certain set, who
| NAV be Described as an assortment Of
political bric-a-hrac S!aluarv, among
whom may be found specimens Of all
kinds OF former greatness, drluS"d lead
crS, vanquiShrd veterans and played out
local statesmen, whom the people, on
direct vote. wnull not have, but who
have been restored 10 office by the um-
%nllotcnt State machine and it is Scan-
dalouSly true that three, four and even
more Of several family names are iii
great or little official robes all through
South Carolina. If | We're to describe
the South Carolina political machine, |
would say that the personnel of it re-
gard themselves o! phenomenal, mirac-
ulouS and Uncomfortable superiority in
ycner; l. having utter contempt for the
bone and sincw Of the party in particu-
lar. In their opinion they rule South
Carolina and kindly allow the people to
run their farms anu work shops or sit
around and danyle their legs in spaces.
spoken, ''lct }hcrc be light" the mem
j vi lHc uldCIlIlc Stcppcu upoii the
scene, and from that momcn took
charge Of the South Carolina Democratic
party.
AS Il sample Of how the machine is
ran, have just heard tits extraordinary
statement Three years ago the health
Of Judge Bryan Of the United States
District Court, being thought feeble, it
was regarded as important 10 have the
Federal Judge furnished from the
brotherhood, but as Arthur was prcsl-
and would not likely appoint Il straight
out Democrat, it was not difficult to fur
nish a so-callcu !}rmocra! who could
get the notorious Judge Bonds endorse
mcnt so this little Job was nicely fixed
up ard one of our Senators dinrd with
the President and arranged all prelimi-
~naIics, but Judge Bryan-wrll, his
health improved unexpectedly. lsumor
says, that when it was proposed to him
to resign, which he could do and retain
his salary, in order to let the machine
Judge ON in, he declined, saying he
never felt better in his life. On dit
that as soon as President Cleveland was
elected, the machine went to work
again. They Slyly suppressed the old
paper, including the iniurScIuent, and
rugged up the old candidate in u white
law: Democratic robe, and without say
ing Il word to the party in the state, the
Congressional delegation, it is said. hav-
ing all been "fxcd' ca Still Judge
Bryan did not resign, and as IL vacancy
had to be made before it could lie filled,
party hit upon the experiment of sign
ing a sort OF quasi request t. Judge
Bryan to resign. The paper went beg
ging for signatures at the last meeting
Of the Legislature, as it was understood
to be in the interest OF Judge Bonds
friend,' it rather hung fire. ard i, has
never been heard Of since. This is what
is called machine politics, and while the
vast majority Of the party are ignorant
Of what is going on. the states arc fix, d
up n short division is the rule. Nuw
the am is to keep President Cleveland
ignorant Of the tru" situation, to keep
the party ignorant, and so slip their man
in. But this letter will let in a little
side light and it may be the President
will get at least Il glimpse. |. is Il Sc
rious concern to the people OF the State
that one who has -hunted with the
hounds and run with the hares'' for
twenty years past, who knows the full
significance Of the new slang word boo
die" should have the ermine over men
like Judges Cothran, Wallace and Hud-
son of our own bench, and such diStin-
guished lawyers Of Lord, as Charleston,
Rhett, Of Columbia, and Earle, Of Sum
ter, who would honor this office.
But my letter is already too long.
You can do n public service by publish