The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-03-24

Causes That Have Made the People
of the Palmetto State Look Lightly
Upon Murder-Carpetbag Govern
ment and TiIimanism.
New York Sun.
The fact that 222 hOmicides were
committed III South Carolina during
the year 1908, has been published
Capt. Charles Petty, of Spartanburg.
S. c., was asked the other day what,
in his opinion, were the causes lead
ing to such a record. He replied:
''Our own citizens were less shocked
by the bloody record than those of
other States, for we had by degrees
got accustomed to homicide. 1t did
not appear to be Il phenomenal record
even to our law-abiding, cOnserva-
tive citizens. They understood how
it WAS brought about. 1t would be
would be well for people outside of
the State to learn that this record is
only the logical result of many years
infractiOn of law.
''The organization of the Union
League, principally among negroes,
four or five years after Appomattox,
was the first step. 1t required little
time for these organizations to learn
the power OF the mob, and they un-
derStOOd that courts would not hurt
them for any Outrages committed.
The second stepwas the Organiza-
ton of the kukluX klans, the oh iect
OF which was to check and repress the
lawlessneSs and violence OF the Lea
guers. After striking terror to the
negroes and some OF the white natives
tended their power and struck down
some innocent men and began to turn
against each other.
Just then. when good citizens were
shocked and uneasy day and night
the United States Government
brought it's strong arm to bear or
the situation and the kukluX klans
scattered like the mist before driv
ing wind.
Then came Il few years of the dark
est political history that any State
ever made Ignorant negroes from
rice fields and plantations. calling
themselves a Legislature, Inaugural
a ted Il system OF robbery and finan
] cial fraud that has no parallel.
4 The white people endured all that
but not without protest. They OpenlN
Z held conventions and begged th'
! carpetbag government to hold up
| But it was too late.
The State Government, like th'
| l. INIn
They would not listen to reason o
|, argument. Their only idea was tha
so long as there was a dollar to stea
: it was their privilege to grab it. Thi
high-handed rapine and robbery un
der the name OF law was a third ste
in this downward course.
Then came the famous campaigl
of 1876. when Wade Hampton wa
elected Governor After the election
an open boast was made as to tn
use OF tissue ballots. 1t was cOnsiC
e cred big Joke for minors to vote.
"All this seemed well enough unit
:, few wears later when the sam
methods used against the carpetba
= government were used il. our rprlmar
elections. 1t was evident that me
'e who had been familiar with electiO
frauds from their youth would exc
E. else the same methods in closely col
tested elections that concerned Onl
it the white people. 1t came to pas
that election laws had to be mac
it rigid, showing that our people coul
not trust each other.
+. with the inauguration OF tt
Hampton government came bett'
~ understanding between the two race
. for Hampton was the Governor of &
the people. Then followed Gov. Hug
> S. Thompson, now living in Ne
York, and Gen. Johnson Hagoo
- good and able men, who earnest
u desired and labOred for the welfa
u OF the whole State.
During their administration la
lessness was not encouraged, Lyme
ing was not advised in public or p
i vate. They sought to enforce t
law impartially and to preserve go'
order.
.FOr ten years or longer 1T look
as if the State would retrace t
downward steps she had made fro
1868 to 1876, and that the VIII
people would get back to the 60
old fashion of conducting electiO
fairly and having a high regard
human life. 1t was a hopeful periC
n But orvariOus reasons there W
\ unrest amoLg the people of the Sta
81 They had lost confidence i'll the
, selves and everything. 1t was tn
that a sharp. shrewd man, und
standing we'll their condition, to
advantage of the situation and
suned leadership.
THE famous campaign of Is
q began, when the former administ
tiops from 1876 O1S9O were abus
y for incompetency, dishonesty a
every possible political crime. 1
people, being greatly dissatistiedw W
their financial condition. began
look on Benjamin R. Tillman as
Moses who was to lead them out
the wilderness.
y Never was man so much prai
ID and idolized in this State as he W
The people followed him with W
and unreasonable zeal. They repu
ated Hampton, Thompson and n
dreds of other true and good n
because they were thus instructed
"The teaching of the campaign
1890 and subsequent ones was tl
-cw ", Colds Cause Pneumonia.
IN Il. l,I Of a n