New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-13
CHAMBERLAIN Still STRTGGLING.

Ex-Governor Chamberlain, OF south Caro-
lima has published another letter 1t relates
10 the Presidential election of 1876 and the
burden of it is that Mr. Hayes was seated in
fulflment of bargain with influential South
crn men, the consideration being the removal
of Federal troops from Louisiana and South
Carolina. Mr.. Chamberlain is good enough t.
say that he does " not Yet call il a corrupt
bargain" and that he thinks " the South. at
least, played fair game of politics" The
ethical flavor Of these uttcrances would be more
agreeable if they proceeded from somebody
else Mr. Chamberlain might doubtless be "A
high authority on the subject of corrupt bar
gains if he had stcadfastly pursued until the
present day the vocation for which he dis
closed remarkable talents some twenty Years
ago. or even if he were willing to share with
the public the stores of experience which he
then accumulated. His chief defect as a com
mcniator on corrupt bargains and an exponent
OF morality is his constant neglect TO utilize
his best sources Of knowledge.
We do not know from just what point OF
view Mr. Chamberlain has finally succeeded
in contemplating himself, but the point of view
from which he is strenuous Y endeavorng to
make others contemplate him is obvious. Ever
since he abandoned the scene of his most cele-
bratcd labors, turned his back upon South
Carolina and came North in the hope Of cX-
changing notoriety for good repute. he has been
assduous Y disappearing before various com
munities by which he ardently longs to be
deemed respectable. Ii cannot be said that
the work of rehabilitation has prospercd in
proportion to the pains he has bestowed upon
it. In fact it has been one of the most CON
spicuous failures of the present generation
and for reason which is both apparent and
encouraging. The Chamberlain propaganda
has made few converts because it has been
promoted by and for a monumental hypOcritc
He has found it impossible to persuade the
public that nothing more is needed to rebuild
shattered reputation than an assumption at
once audacious and supcrcious, Of superior
virtue. And as he has failed to impose upon
the public, so has he failed to impose upon in
dividualS. The professional champions of I'M
worthy causes have occasionally tried to make
use of him, and more often permitted him to
hope that he might make use Of them. But,
one after another, these shIcwd self-scckers
have dismissed their eager and anxious ally,
leaving him one stage lower in the esteem of
honest men than when they took him up.
We have already quoted Mr.. Chamberlain
as saying in his latest bid for recognition that
he thinks the South, AT least, played a fair
game of politics in 1876 Ii might possibly
be worth while even yet, for the ex Governor
and cx-Attolncy General of South Carolina 10
reflect what sort of game of politics the South
must think he played during the long orgy
which stripped that State bare to enrich and
magnify "A gang of thieves. Of the GrecnyilIc
and Columbia Railroad swndlc he wrote TO his
dear kimpton in 1870: "There is n mint of
money in this, or am fool" If he were not
"A fool he would realize that mint of money
could procure nothing half so becoming to him
now as silence and obscurity