Year: 1876

SOUTH CAROLINA MORE EXCITED THAN INDIANA


THE RIFLE CLUBS OF THE WHITE ARIsToCRAcY


AND THE PART THEY ARE PLAYING


WASHINGTON, Oct. Cit is difficult to ascer-
tain the exact truth to the condition of affairs In
South Carolina The most contradictory stories come
from sources equally respectable II Is certain however,
that the Democrats strainng every nerve and re-
sorting even TO dangerous and revolutionary methods 10
obtain control of the State Government 1t would seem
also that the stake which they playing is control
State and that they care very little fOr hauOna
interest or the success of Gov Tilden.


gentleman well informed upon South Carolina SAYS
that there is practical condition of war in that State
The whole State is on fire. Nearly the whole white pop
uaton are enrolled i'm rifle clubs. These are regularly
organized into companies and regiments, well armed ana
disciplined and under recognized central control
The clubs have at least 10000 members III the state
and 1000 be easily concentrated in day AT any one
point At Columbia recently 5000 men belonging TO
these rifle clubs were present TO break up torchght
procession and completely surrounded the town Re
publicans, he says. cannot buy arms Dealers In arms
throughout the State seem TO have arrived at common
understanding 10 sell arms to none except persons
whose loyalty to the Democratic party IS wen khoWh
white Republican recently offered SlC0 for revolver
i'm a store where there plenty OF them ana the
dealer refused to sell it.


The people are in condition Of frenzy; White RepuD-
licans are Stunned by their old family associates
there never has been determined resort to osracism
as q political weapon. My Informant, VINO Is wen
known says that in q city where he has lived for many
years only white persons spoke TO him. although ne
stad there ten days. and OF these persons came 10
him at night, begging him not to recognize him on the
street as his employer Democrat and he would
certainly his place and his family would be begsared
if il was known that lie associated in any way with
Republican. The same gentleman says that the people
Of that State are excited than they were ut any
time during the secession period the rifle clubs attend
Republican meetings in armed bands OF from two TO
three thousand, and demand half the seats, ana dN
sion the time. In many instances they taAe posses
sion of the meetings absolutely 10 prevent kepubhcahs
from speabng; pubicans do ,peak, Democrats,
protected by these rifle clubs, insult aud abuse the
as the first step in that dit ectiOn would be followed by
riot ana bloodshCd. This movement does not proceed
from the lower class OF whites my informant says, but
Is entirely nsgnted BY the upper classes ana Ola slave
holders who control IL. Indeed the rifle clubs are very
select; as a general RUE, the flower Of the Southern
chValry are atone admitted 10 them the clubs are com
posed OF The young OF the old white ogarcy, VINO,
by this armed ustruneEtaty, are cndeayOrnS to fe-
gain control of the state which the old planters al
ways had before the war.


The reports that dissatisfaction m South Carolina is
due 10 the rapidly increasing poverty Of that state are
not true. SOutI Carolina is getting rich She las never
been as prosperous since the now. There nave
been successive good cotton crops, which have brought
excellent prices The amount Ol money invested III The
S;ate yearly greater; the number OF banks hhs III
creased and tn general business prosperity oilers no eN
euse Tor violence or intimidation