Wilmington journal., 1876-08-25
THE CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH CAR
OIHNA.

It would be unnatural did North
Carolinians not feel deep and abid-
ing interest in the campaign just in
augurated in their sister State of South
Carolina. The ties that bind together
the people of the two Carolinas have
been too close and have existed too
long to be severed at this late day.
Our brethren fight for every thing that
is worth fighting for, and the interest
we take in the result of their contest
is second only to that we feel in the
result in our own State, an interest
that is perhaps heightened by the fixed
belief that the banner under which the
fight is now being waged is the
only one under which victory can
be won. With a straight-out poll
cy for platform and Wade Hamp
ton for a leader, If success shall
ever be possible in South Carolina it
will surely be achieved in November
next. To say that we are hopeful Of
the result but poorly expresses the
feelings that possess us when con-
templating the coming campaign and
the glorious fruits of successful issue.
Bearing upon this subject we print be-
low letter from a friend giving the
most encouraging view of the status
in the Palmetto State. He says:
For the first time since the war the
xrl, 70 tn
have awakened to the Importance of
making an effort to save the State from
Radical misrlle. The majority against
them has been so heavy, the opposing
party SO thoroughly organized. and the
colored masses have SO blindly followed
the carpet bag leaders, that many of
the whites have stayed. from the polls,
or contented themselves with taking
what they considered the least of the
evils offered ard voting for the least
Objectionable Radical. But they have
come to the conclusion at last, that the
fomenting Of differences between Rad
| icals, the election of one clique over
another only brought in new set of
thieves and that there was really no es-
sential difference among them. In this
condition of mind, it is no wonder that
the nomination of ''straight out
democratic ticket with Wade Hamp
ton at the head has been hailed
with a spontaneous shout. a gen.
erai acclamation from the whites
throughout the State. No idea can be
| formed of the enthusiasm which has
| been excited. Men who have been
dormant are aroused, men who were
lukewarm Democrats have suddenly
become warmed up. and men who have
taken no part in any previous political
conflict have come suddenly to the
front and have enrolled their names
for the contest. For the first time
since tn, war the determination is
manifest to discuss the principles of
the parties on the stump everywhere;
to insist upon their right at all public
speakings to meet and answer their OPP
ponents before the masses, and to
claim a division of time from the Rad
| ical speakers. Heretofore the latter
have had their own way and i'll conse-
quence have told the negroes the most
monstrous tissue of lies, uncontradict-
| ed. Now the whites claim the right
of reply as a sacred right of freemen.
We are happy to be able to say, that
while the leaders of the Radicals do
not wish any such thing to take place,
while they resort to every ruse
and stratagem TO avoid it,, there
are many of the colored men
who say the Democrats shall be heard
| and in the few discussions which have
already taken place they have been
heard and the effect has been good.
The oolored people who desire to hear