New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-16
THREATS from soUrH cARoLIyL

The Governor Of South Carolina * a young
man. young Of years and seemingly short ~
memory Tie should study history and learn
something Of the political system Of his country;
for ii Is his country whether lie realizes his ohli-
cations or not. lie Is not the ruler II petty.
independent sovereignty called upon - arouse
an oppressed people 10 revolt against usurpaiion
and oppression and 10 thwart "conspiratorS who
are plotting 10 overthrow our libcrties' He j.
q man set 10 perform some entirely peaceful AMI
not I'm the least theatrical functions rs the EXccu
tive Of a small section Of a large country and
10 perform those functions in strict obedience 10
State and 10 National law. Proclamation about Il
free. open fight" and appeals "to the sovereign
people Of South Carolina. the wiscst and the
safest and purcst tribunal, 20 protect their
"homcs and liberties" have IN air Of lcatcd
antc-bcllum rcclilossnoss which pariakcs rather
Of the ridiculous than The heroic.
Governor Evans is one OF those residents II
The Palmetto state who never learn anything
from Il former time. Each generation has 10 be-
taught by experience that South Carolina * not
a nation. that the United States Constitution Is
supreme that Us Government Is enduring. that
It's laws and courts are 10 be obcycd. In ISL
John g. Calhoun disapprovcd the schedule laid
down at Washington for The lcvyng Of customs
duties and made great deal II nols" about
usurpcrs and tvrants and awful boasts OF sDvcr-
eighty and independence. But he concluded 10
be subordinate 70 law rs made by the Congress
Of the United States In 1890 IN obcdcQcc 10
the Constitution, a President was elected who
was not at all popular In South Carolina. and Il
number Of hgh-spiriicd people there made war
on the forts under his charge. They prccipitatcd
a great and bloody struggle and they learned
that same lesson Of Federal supremacy. Just
now a party In South Carolina IS seeking to TO-
tain political power by DISTINGUISHING a class
Of citizens whose rights the Federal and State
Constitutions guarantee. a Judge Of the United
States Circuit Court, being appealed TO- declares
the Registration law, which is avowcdly framed
TO prevent large numbers Of qualified citizens
from voting, Is unconstitutional and void. That
Is a decision that courts have frequently made
concerning different laws in many States, and il
is always accepted with composurc and treated
with respect. Always except In South Carolina
There 1t Is The signal for Notification, or Scces
sIon or resistance Of usurpation, or whatever
other form of revolt happens to be In fashion
This time It is maintaining their sovereignty II
we may believe Governor Evans. An appeal TO
the Supreme Court for final settlement Of the
dispute would take time and prevent the gather
Ing Of u constitutional Convention guarantee
ing white supremacy. once and forever which,
according to the Governor, must be controlled
"by white men, not white men with black hearts
mot negroes" So he ISSUES u proclamation full
Of bold words, and threats Of resistance.
Peace, he says, was lowering over the State
factories were being built, industries advancing
aud wealth increasing, II this happy condition
due 10 elections tainted with fraud and official
Indictment 10 rncc hatred and dsordcrI what
has brought prosperity 10 South CarolInaf The
protection Of great Nation The free lnerconac
with sister States, the guarantee Of pence nnd
Justice aud individual rights 10 every man, white
or black by greater than local authority. the
public confidence that In spite Of all the disorder
and all the oppression which tho state allowed
TO interfere with trade and immigration. whcr-
ever the United States Government was the fnnl
authority II was safe to dwell aud TO do business
That South Carolina has serious problems II not
to be denied. The negro, ignorant and unframed
] In citizenship Is q disturbing element But the