Year: 1874

man comes out and marks out an Independent
course for himself, the finger of scorn and rid
icule is pointed at him.


Reporter. Do you think that Congress is IN
sympathy with the President in his wish tor
reform in South Carolina?


Mr. Robertson. Congress is, ifpossible, more
sore about the corruption existing in the States
of Louisiana and South Carolina than the
President; and very naturally, for the reason
that all the blame for this state of affairs at
taches to Congress. This is especially the
case with the Republican members who have
to carry the load. 1t has been suggested that
the President might lend his influence for re-
form by redistribution of the Federal pat
ronage in the State but you see at once that
if there are bad appointments the President
is not to blame. The congressman control
appointments, and the President cannot be
supposed to be familiar with the record of ev-
ery man whom he is called upon to appoint
to Office. have said to the President, and l
believe can say now, with truth, that the
mass of the white people of the State care
nothing about politics. All they want is an
honest, capable local government, and they
are prepared to support any honest, compe-
tent Republican who may run for the office.
I confess, however, that I do not see any hope
for real reform in the near future.


Reporter. Will you be candidate for Gov
ernor?


Mr.. Robertson. I could not consent to run
under any circumstances. My health would
not permit it, even if desired it.


Reporter. Under these circumstances what
policy do you think the conservative voters
should adopt?


Mr.. Robertson. I believe the best policy for
the conservative voters to adopt is to vote for
an honest man, no matter who is nominated.
have heard since have been here that many
of the white voters intend to vote for Moses,
because they think that the struggle will be a
hopeless one, any how, and that it will be
best to perpetuate the present administration
in power-for the reason that it Is so noto-
riously corrupt that it must soon come to an
end This is mistaken policy. If you do
this, how can you go to the General Govern
ment and ask it to depose the very men whom
you have yourselves helped to put into pow
er? Such policy, besides, would tend in
great measure to check the current of public
sentiment at the North, which is now very
much incensed against the corruptionists in
this and several other Southern States. This
sentiment meaps something the course Of the
New York Times and of Harper's Weekly, two
Republican journals, which were formerly
very bitter against the white people Of the
South, is significant. Their denunciation of
the frauds perpetrated here under the cloak
of Republicanism has had most wholesome
effect. But if the white people of South Car
olna should take any such suicidal course as
that to which I have referred, it would Ger.
tainly go great way toward turning the tide
of popular sentiment against them, and undo
all the good that has been done.


Reporter. Is it true that the United States
troops are to be withdrawn from the State?


Mr.. Robertson. I have heard that the Fed
eral troops have been, or are to be-, Withdrawn
from Louisiana; but don't know that the
troops are to be withdrawn from this State.


Reporter. You seem to think that the
the better? What will the President do in
that event?


Mr.. Robertson. If the present officials are
reelected, or if there is not a decided change
for the better in their successors, firmly be.
lieve that the President will refuse to recog.
nize the government by Withholding the aid
it will require in the enforcement and collec-
tion of taxes, in which case it is bound to fall
through. I am confident that the general
government, while it will protect all of its
citizens in the enjoyment Of their rights, will
not lend its assistance to set Of men who rob
the people and squander the public moneys.


Before closing the interview Senator Rob
ertson stated that during the last days of the
session be had introduced an amendment to
the river and harbor appropriation bill pro-
viding for an appropriation Of 100000 tor
Charleston bar and harbor. That it had been
referred to the committee Of commerce, but
that Senator Chandler, the chairman of the
committee, had said that the estimate of the
coast survey only asked for $4,000, and that
the committee could only recommend that
sum. The 100000 amendment might have
been carried in the Senate, but it would have
been lost in the committee of conference Of
the two houses, and under these circumstan'
ces he thought it best to take the $4,000. He
has no doubt that Congress will reimburse the
city the money it is expending in deepening
the bar, provided Gen. Gilmore, who has
charge of the department., recommends the
application.


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