The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-04-10
i of the State which theil

ABILITY and experience. entitled
them to. His refusals to commiSsion
two Judges nominated or dictated Sy a
Republican CAUCUS is a case in poiut
which is historical in South Caroiiua.
That Governor Chamberlain failed to
gain the confidence and support of the
whites, who turned to Wade Hampton
in 1876, is very far from telling against
the ability, impartiality and honesty of
his administration. Under the cirsum,
stances it was hardly to be expected,
and the settlement of the disputed re-
suits Of the State election of 1876 by
Mr.. Chamberlain's Withdrawal of Lis
claims and the passing Of the State into
the hands OF the whites wss the wisest
possible and and reflects credit upon
him. 1t is interesting to note that he
has, in this article, only appreciative
words for his old antagonist, Gen. Wade
Hampton, whom he characterizes as the
one true leader South Carolina had had
after Calhoun. The strenghth of his
leadership, Mr.. Chamberlain says, lay
not in his intellectual or oratoricsl
superiority, ''but in high and forceful
character, perfect courage and real de-
votion to what he conceived to be the
welfare of South Carolina"
Of the general character of the re.
construction measures Governor Cham
berlain says:
1T is now plain to all that recon-
struction under the Acts Of 1867 was
at any rate, frightful experiment,
which never could have given a real
statesman who learned or know the
facts the smallest hope of success
Government, self government, the care
of common public interests by the peo-
pie themselves, is not SO easy or simple
task ss not TO require a modicum Of
experience as we'll As 6 modicum of
mental and moral character. In the
mass Of $4,000 colored voters in South
Carolina in 1867 what elements or
forces could have existed that made for
good government Added to this
obvious encouragement and impossi-
bility in South Carolina was the fact
that these 78, 900 colored voters were
distinctly and of design pitted against
.46, 600 whites, who held all the proper
ty, education and public experience Of
the State. 1t is not less than shocking
to think of such odds, such inevitable
disaster. Yet it was deliberately
planned and eagerly welcomed at Wash
ipgtop, and calmly accepted by the par.
ty through the country"
And sgsin in concluding his review
"a most valuable historical chapter
Of South Csrolina's ten-years' expert.
ence under reconstruction, he says:
The chapter Of recent events e)v
cred by this paper is made up largely
of the record of mistakes and crimes
| followed by the sure, unvarying retri
buttons which ali history teaches arc
tho early or late result of evil courses
in nations and States as we'll IS in in
dividuals. To whom, humanity speak
hing, are these woes and wastes charge
zable2 The answer must be, to those
who devised and put in operation the
ongressional scheme of reconstruction
to their unspeakable folly, their
ind party greed, their inseusate at
mpt to reverse the laws which control
lmaH society"
Tho condemnation is unqslified and
mes from one probably moro compo-
mt to speak impsrtially on the sub.
&ct than any man now living.
rhe Republican leadership which
i've through the measures of 1867 was
lacking in high ability for State