Yorkville Enquirer

THE ELECTION OF JUDGES.

The action of the dominant party in the Legislature, on the occasion of the recent judicial election, exhibits a degree of corruption in that body, which, with all their political sins and shortcomings, we confess we were unprepared to expect. From the promises made by Mr. Chamberlain during the last canvass, and reiterated by him with solemn emphasis on assuming the functions of chief executive of the State, we had hoped that with his inauguration, the thieves and plunderers who had enriched themselves with the people's money, if they did not sink from the surface altogether, would at least, in emulation of their leader, give some evidences of reformation; especially as it was an oft-repeated maxim, a year ago, that "reform must begin inside the party."

That Governor Chamberlain, as the head and front of the Republican party in this State, has done all that it was in his power to do, to effect a reformation in his party, we are not prepared to gainsay; that he has effected much we will not deny; nor do we doubt his inclination to accomplish all he can in the future. But from recent developments it must be conceded that he has not that control over his party which it was hoped he could exert; nor can he, alone and unaided, bring about the reformation so desirable for the prosperity of our people.

It may be necessary for reform to "begin inside the Republican party;" but if, after one year's trial, the leaders—the legislators elected by that party—persist in elevating to the judicial bench such men as Whipper, Moser and Wiggins, we may well doubt the expediency of restricting the experiment to Republican lines.

What, then, can be done? We answer, the remedy is with the people. Surely, there are in South Carolina enough honest men, under proper organization, to control the political affairs of the State. But they cannot be organized under the banner of the Tax-Payers Union; and equally futile would be the attempt to draw the lines either of color or party. Let the issues of party-name, or the race or color of the citizen be ignored, and let the honest men of the State deliberate the question of the hour, irrespective of the side-issues which heretofore have been a goblin in their path.

We cannot but believe that there are a large number of colored men in South Carolina, acting with the Republican party, who would prefer an honest State government. And we have the same good opinion of the larger number of the white voters in the Republican ranks. The Tax-Payers are in the minority. They are as powerless on the one hand to check corruption, as is Governor Chamberlain on the other. But by proper effort and unity of action they could constitute a strong and powerful element in the work of lifting the State from the slough of corruption into which she has been sunk.

Under the banner of Reform, with the determination that the work shall be accomplished, let the Tax-Payers and the honest element of the Republican party unite—for surely in this good work they will meet half way—and the end will have been accomplished. To attain this object, however, there must be organization, the details of which it is unnecessary here to elaborate, further than to suggest the propriety of at once calling township meetings in every county of the State, in which honest men, irrespective of party or race, may be allowed to participate. Let the townships meet in county conventions, and let the counties send up delegates to a State convention for the purpose of adopting a platform with Honesty as the corner-stone, and taking such steps for thorough organization as may, after deliberation, be regarded for the best.

THE GOVERNOR INTERVIEWED.

Mr. Dawson of the News and Courier has interviewed Governor Chamberlain on the subject of the recent judicial election, and that official declares it to be the greatest calamity that has yet fallen upon any portion of the South. The election was had during the Governor's absence at Greenville, to fill an engagement made several weeks ago; and though he does not believe he could have changed the result had he been present, yet before leaving for Greenville, he had made an effort to stay the election, and had received such assurance from Speaker Elliott as to lead him to believe that it would be either postponed or fought off until he should return from Greenville. But he is now convinced that the conspiracy was carefully concocted and that the color line, the party line and the line of antagonism to his administration all were sharply drawn. To the question, "What in your judgment, will be the effect of the election of Whipper, Wiggins and Moses?" the Governor made the following reply:

"The gravest consequences of all kinds will follow. One immediate effect will obviously be the reorganization of the Democratic party within the State, as the only means left, in the judgment of its members, for opposing a solid and reliable front to this terrible crevasse of misgovernment and public debauchery. I could have wished, as a Republican, to have kept off such an issue; but I have a profound belief in the logic of events and a Providence, too, that shapes events; and I do not allow myself to think that the good and honest men of South Carolina will find it impossible, because they are organized as Democrats, to give their help to whomsoever shall be best able to undo the terrible wrongs of last Thursday. I am free to say that my highest ambition as Governor has been to make the ascendancy of the Republican party in South Carolina compatible with the attainment and maintenance of as high and pure a tone in the administration of public affairs as can be exhibited in the proudest Democratic State of the South; and it was also my fondest hope, by peaceful agencies, here in South Carolina alone of all the Southern States, to have worked out, through the Republican party, the solution of the most difficult and one of the most interesting political and social problems which this century has presented. If these results shall not be reached, the responsibility for the failure will not rest upon me, nor upon the Conservative citizens of South Carolina, who have hitherto, with unvarying fidelity and generosity, stood by me in my work; but upon those, and all like them, who dealt the cause of good government so deadly a blow on Thursday."