Year: 1876

If Gov. ChambcTlain's proclamation ordering
the disbandm6nt of the so-callcd rifle Clubs
in the counties of Aiken and Bamwel, South
Carolina states truly the facts upon which the
order is issued, we do not see that any othcr
course was open to the Governor in the con
scientious discharge of his official duty


than that which he has taken. II the state
ments upon which he has based his ac-
ton are either gross cXaggcratons or Whl-


full Misrepresentation with no f0unda-
ton in truth, we do not even then see
that any serious harm can happen from the
adoption of measures which work no i'll to any
one, and Of which the worst that can be SAID
is that they are born of excessive caution and
gromdless apprehension. Upon the state OF
things reported to the Governor, the truth OF


which we must suppose he has taken some
pains to inquire into, he could hardly
have done less than take the step he
has for the preservation Of the peace and tie
protection Of all citizens IN Their rights. II
the "rife clubs so called, which are COM
manded by Executive proclamation to dispcIsc
have not been organized with the purpose OF
intimidating voters by acts of lawleSsneSS and
violence; if their objects do not relate i'm
mediately and directly To the pending
election. then certainly no harm is done in
their being temporarily broken up and dis
persed. For it is certain that widespread ap-
prehension exists among the cOIOred voters,
and whether this is the object OF the 0rganIza-
tons or not, they have the effect of intmda-
ting by creating distrust and fear. If they are
innocent of any such intent, they certainly
ought not to object TO taking the course


which the proclamation cniOins upon them


to restore confidence by disbandng their or


rani2ation. So much at least they should be


willing to do in the interest of law and order
and the public peace. But if the information


npon which Gov. Chamberlain has acted in
issuing his proclamation is strictly true, and
il is the fact that these "rilie clubs


have been organized and are maintained for
the purnose of influencing the election by al
fcctng the minds of voters with sense of
fear and actually intmidating them, then there
can be no two opinions as to the pr0prIcty
and expedency of Gov. Chamberlain's action.
He would have shown himself totally unfit for
his position if he had done otherwise.


II is hardly necessary to say that The
TRIBUNE has no sympathy with the corrupt
| and dishonest politicians, white and black,


who, under the name of Republicans, and


claiming, unhappily with too much truth, to
| have the encouragement and support OF the
! Administration, have so sadly nisgoverned and


recklessly plundered the State these many


wears. THE TRIBUNE has condemned and de-
! nounced them and their acts unspaIingly.
| But it must equally condemn and dcnOunce
| the use of the rifle and shotgun political
! arguments, and the resort to such desperate


measures as the remedy for existing


ills. 1t would not he difficult TO show that


the grievances of which the gentlemen com
| posing the "lihe clubs" complain arc but the
| legitimate fruits of their own faults and errors


that they are simply reaping crop of their
! own planting and that they would do well to
! exercise little patience and self-restraint.
! Lawlessness and violence will bring no rem


edy; even if successful in the immediate OBJ


iect sought they will not effect permanent


good will hardly do so much as mitigate the


present condition. No one should know better


than these restiye South Carolina gentlemen


that real or imagined evils are not cured by
! the appeal to arms and to violence. If they
| have majority of blacks in the State, they


know very well whose fault it is If they


suffer from unintelligent suffrage, they do not


need to be told what made it necessary to


invest those ignorant persons with the fran


chise as a simple measure of protection from


persecution and reinstatement. 1t is not


pleasant to recall or to dwell upon these things.


But they naturally and inevitably suggest them


selves when the people who made the tremen-
| deus mistake of 1861 are found so ready and