Year: 1874

influences emanating from the better classes
of the whites, and, in spite of the evil infiu-
ences of political agitators. honestly believe
that a restoration Of the whites, and fair
share of influence over public affairs, would
result in the immediate and rapid development
of the negro socially and morally. If did
not think so would despair of the future Of
South Carolina, and find nothing here to
struggle for.


REFORM THROUGH REPUBLICAN AGENCY


PRACTICABLE.


With any material that bas been at all
prominent in the Republican ranks, it seems
to me reform can hardly be hoped for; but
there are some Republicans who have so con-
Quoted themselves as to secure the confidence
of the Conservatives, and 1 think upon the
nomination of either one of half dozen who
might be named, the Conservatives would be
content to stand aside, and even aid them in
working out reform. We would be glad to
see the experiment tried at this time. The
Conservatives, however, are fully determined,
as far as I know their views, to dispute the
ground, inch by ihch, against any man of
known corruption whom they may nominate.
1 trust it will be done, if at all, upon the basis
of such fair and liberal propositions to the
colored people as will reduce the issue in the
canvass to the bare question of honest admin
istration, IN order that we may know, and the
world may know, whether it be possible, as |
believe it is, to attract to the Conservative
support sufficient following of the honest
coiored people to redeem the State If the
election be fairly conducted, an accession of
less than 10000 votes would secure the tri-
umph Of the party of honesty. The difficult
ty is in obtaining fair election. The COM
missioners of election are to be appointed by
Governor Moses, and experience has taught
us to expect anything but fair election when
the ballots are to be manipulated and the
votes received by such appointees as are
usually made. Repeating and other fraudu-
lent practices ballot.box stufing, &C., are the
usual resort of these managers of election to
secure triumph. One very serious obstacle
to fair election is the location of election
precincts, suddenly made without notice, often
in obscure and inaccessible places, whereby
many Conservatives are prevented from
voting and another very serious difficulty re-
suits from the want of registration of voters,
which would enable US to detect fraud. With
all this, however, we will enter upon such a
canvass with good hope of success, relying
upon evidences which have been manifested
in the State, in many localities, upon the part
of the colored people themselves to aid in the
good work of dethroning their corrupt rulers.
think the question of politics will be subor-
dinated entirely in this contest to the necessi.
r 7 l,1; hat ;f fhoro
honest bolt from this Republican Convention,
headed by an honest Republican for Govern
or, and such negro as Delaney, or the pres
ent Lieutenant.G Governor, the Conservatives
would unite in sustaining the movement.


THE PARAMOUNT NECESSITY OF THE DAY.


think our people regard the necessity Of
rescuing the State as paramount to all Others
at this time, and had it pleased the admins
tration at Washington to use its influence sole
ly for this end, the result would have been
the organization of party in this State un'
der the lead of some Of the very best men in
it, and followed by the masses of Conserva:
tives, which would have linked its political
fortunes, for veal or woe, to those of Presl'
dent Grant-such party as would have
been credit to the State and the administra'
ton. Upon this speak from data entirely
conclusive to my own mind. Even at pres
ent think the future political alliances Of
the Conservative people fSouth Carolina are
to be determined solely with reference to the
restoration of good State government, mean
ing by that term government founded upon
the strict maintenance of the rights of all the
people of the State. Such is the present sta
tus of things. Both races have had, of course
to be educated to realization of their mutu.
al relations after the vast social and political
revolution which we have undergone, and |
don't mean to say that the whites have done
all they could have done had they been wiser,
yet .ne want of confidence on the part OF the
colored people is not to any considerable ex'
tent to be attributed to any fault of the whites.
As 1 have before said, Cancellation has not
been found to conciliate, but has always been
The pretext for renewed efforts to promote dis
cord. I am quite satisfied that there never
was time since 1868, when We entered the
canvass upon the platform Of an educational
qualification for voters, that the whites would
not have been willing to avail themselves OF
an opportunity of sharing in the government
upon equal terms with the negro. There is
absolutely nothing wanting to good govern
ment here but the absence of disturbing agl'
tators.


GEN. KERsHAW AND THE NEGROES.


In making the above statement, Gen. ker.
shaw seemed to be careful not to speak OF
anything not within his personal knowledge,
and I was struck with the kindly manner i'll
which he always referred to the colored peo'
pie. He seemed to regard them as the wards
of the whites, and was evidently watching
with real interest changes in their social and
political condition. Observing this, I took
pains to inquire of several prominent colored
men as to their opinion Of Gen. Kershaw.
The replyin every case was that there was no
better man in the country than Gen. kershaw
they believed him to be honest and sincere,
and that he had the interest of their race as
we'll as his own at heart; yet they could not
vote for him against pronounced Republi'
can. With the negro, party fealty seems to
be above every other consideration. He may
backslide in religion, and sell his vote as a
legislator over and over again on any measure
not political, but when it comes to the ques-
ton of putting any man but Republican in
office, as rule neither money, nor friendship,
nor official preferment for himself can induce
him to "go back on the party"


How RUSSIA AIDED THE NORTH TO SUB
DUE THE SoUTH.-Few people know how
deeply indebted the United States isto Russia
for kindly services during the war. 1t has
often been vaguely whispered that Russian
influence prevented the armed interference of
France and perhaps England, in behalf of
the South. We are enabled to lay before our
readers trustworthy information, never before
published, in support of the truth of this ru.
NOR When Gouernor Curtin. on the eve Of