Year: 1875

John r. Cochran, State Senator from
Anderson county, South Carolina, has
written and presented a long and exhaus-
tive address to the General Assembly of
that State, in which he eloquently estab-
fishes foundation for the Inauguration of
such reform measures through and by the
Legislative Department ofthe Government
as will redeem sll the pledges made by the
Republican party during the memorable
and exciting campaign of 1874. The spirit
Of the able address sympathizes with and
admires the numerous speeches and mes.
sages of Gov. Chamberlain. This is very
proper and timely, and should, in every re-
spect, force upon TIE Governors mind the
pressing duties which devolve upon him
as the Executive of the great State of South
Carolina. 1t teaches, in unmistakable and
positive terms, the poignant necessity of
strict and fervent fealty to party and party
interests; and this is why the address is of
the utmost importance to the present Guber-
material incumbent of that State. That time
has passed when the Republican party of
any section ofthe Union can afford to allow
any actual or apparent wavering or incon-
sistency on the part Of its leaders The
men who assume, or have been in reality
thrown into, the control Of the party must
be straightforward, honest, jealous and
positive men-men who will not, even
under the most dazed and tempting circum-
stances, compromise the interests ofthe party
either for personal aggrandizement or tenn
porary popularity. Hereafter it is clearly
evident that that element which may be
properly ranged among the despicable class
of dodgers which at present so previously
aflicts both political organizations must be
Of urgent necessity alienated from partici-
patton in the workings of or confidence of
either party. What party organizations
need more than anything else are true and
earnest men. If q human creature, bowing
and paying obeisance to the masses of
party, is by that organization elevated to
place of dignity and authority, and then in
the vile meanness Of the spirit which actu-
ated Judas in the unwanton betrayal of
his generous master, forsakes the vital IN
terests of his constituency by compromis-
ing with the rank and file of the Opposition,
the hours of his political life are surely
numbered. He cannot live for the simple
reason that he is demolishing the very
confidence wliish placed him in position
of prominence and authority, and as soon
as that confidence has BEEN blighted the
prop which supports him falls, and he be-
comes the wreck of injudicious and base
political ambition. The Republican party
can no longer afford to support those polit-
ical parasites who are clinging to it like a
vile and burdensome incubus, and at the
same time secretly creeping into the ranks
of the Democracy for the pitiable purpose
of counting its favor. This class of men
have been elogging the wheels of Republi-
can progress and triumph for the
past ten years. They have become
so general that every day brings
us distinct evidence of their wide
spread injurious Influence and searching
harm to the party. Governor Chamberlain
has recently exhibited spirit which gives
positive and uncovered evidence that he is
courting the favorandr regards ofthe d emoc.
racy oft State in which he is the Re
publican executive. For the past two
months, in speeches and in his social rela-
tions, he has exhibited proof which pro-
nounces the existence of q desire to become
popular with the party which hitherto has
heaped myriad of abuse upon his head,
all of which he is doing at the sacrifice Of
the very friends who assisted him to his
present exalted position. Isit possible that
the G. vernon, with his present ambition, Is
willing to destroy the interests ofhis faithful
constrsnencyf Are the scenes which oc-
curped in the Walker administration in
Virginia to be re-enacted In South Carolina7
Is the Republican party again to be bur-,
dened with the loathsome load of another
Judas lscario2 Have we again to raise
the ery of s'traitor'' because we have