The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-10-26
WADEH4MP4oNS SPEECH,

Perhaps the most prominent statement
in Wade Hampton's speech is his simple
narrative ofthe course taken by the Dem
ocrats of South Carolina since the pro-
cess ofreconstruction began. Itappears
that the ex rebels in that State adopted
as their rule Of conduct the plan which
Northern Republicans were accustomed
to recommend to the white people of the
whole South after the war. They kept
entirely out OF politics, and made no ef-
fort to get control of their own State:
They watched with something akin to
despair the rapid progress ofruin and
anarchy in their once happy common
wealth; but they looked upon an attempt
to rescue it as hopeless. Finally, when
they saw that something must be done
unless all things were to be surrendered,
they entered into politics, not as mem
bers ofa party seeking party victory,
but as good citizens only anxious for
honest government and willing to Join
with any party or faction of party to at
tain it. They did not nominate Demo-
Gratis for Office; they simply supported
those whom they supposed to be the best
ofthe Republicans. Year after year they
joined with Republican allies in the hope
OF procuring relief from their burdens,
and year after they were disappointed.
They saw the defeat of the Administra.
ton party in nearly every one of the re-
constructed States, and at last took to
heart the lesson which the success of Others
had taught them. and entered the polit-
ical field to fight for their own hand.
And now, after years of forbearance, thew
are accused, on account of this indepen-
dent action, as "consprators. Because
they have determined to seek as Demo-
Gratis that relief which Republicans would
not give them, they are supposed to be
plotting some vast scheme for restoring
the supremacy of the South, and the old
machinery of governmental proclama-
tlons, Federal interference and arbitrary
arrests is set in operation against them.
In word, the long suffering ofthe Caro-
linians under misrule has not won the
least consideration for them. They
might as well have gone into politics years
ago and put this struggle behind them as
their friends in other States did. The six
years which they have spent voting for
Republicans and trying to unite with
Republicans seem to have been utterly
thrown away. uH r.i
In answer to the common calumnytha
the white people ofthe South are endeav-
oring to re enslave the negroes, the
solemn protestations of Wade Hampton
ought have so me weight. The propen-
sity for change inherent in our nature is,
however, the best refutation of any such
accusation. The Southern people would
not perhaps have wished to reach eman-
cipation through such a course of blood
shed, defeat, humiliation and social revo-
luton as they have gone through; but
after the storm of desoIation has swept
over them the desire is not for the old
but for something better than the old.
When the great waves of the sea of flame.
swayed by the wind, swept over Chicago
for days, brick iron and granite crum-
bling beneath them, and nearly one half
of the great city was left in ashes, no man
thought of rebuilding precisely what had
been destroyed. Fairer and pleasanter
stores, dwellings and thoroughfares rose
up in place of the old ones 1t is so with
the chaos in,Southern society. No man
can recall the old out oft, nor would any
man do SO if he could. Who then lost
brother or father or comrade in the war
would wish to see him restored just as he
was with no new advantages Of fortune,
no softening Of old circumstances, no
change in the relations of life 7 Do we
not always imagine some new light even
in loved lineaments? Would we apply
TO community test which we would
not apply in our own family? No, change
the impulse towards better things, is the
law from which even the fercest reac-
zionist of the South cannot escape.
The first step in her course forward
South Carolina has taken, and in the ar
rests of her citizens and the turbulence of
her politicians and the tramp of Federal
soldiery she is suffering the penalties of
her action; but she must keep on undis-
mayed to the promised good Her social
forces will work to condition of natural
equilibrium in spite of all the bayonets
that can be crowded from the Blue Ridge
to the sea.