The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-06-28

THE FIGHT FOR REFORM.
AnprpN. N. Y, June 20.

Shields celebration to-day, dwelt largely
on the contest in South Carolina, in which
the latter had taken so prominent part.
Governor Hampton, in the course OF his
speech in reply, said:
Your distinguished Governor has been
pleased to allude to the contest in South
Carolina. That my friends, was not
political struggle; it rose far higher than
any such contest ever waged on this con-
tinent. II was contest for civilization,
for home rule, good government for life
itself. 1t was contest waged by the
people of South Carolina, not as dema-
popues would tell you, against Northern
men. II was contest waged against
Carpet Baggers, and when | say Carpet
Bagser I mean "thief." We do not call
any Northern man, any Irishman, any
German, any Englishman who settles In
our midst as an honest citizen, carpet
bagger, We welcome such men with
omen arms. We tell them to come to our
genial skies and fertile soil. Come one,
come all, and l pledge them, In the name
of the State, a hospitable, warm harted re-
ception. We do not ask whether they
are Republicans or Democrats. want TO
impress this upon your minds and will
do Il bv illustration. What was done by
the Democratic Legislature of South Ca
rolina in almost its first action A va
cancv occurred on the Supreme Bench OF
the State, A Chief Justice was to be
elected. It was place which had been
filed by men ofthe very highest reputa-
ton in our Commonwealth. The names
of fhonored sons of Carolina who would
have done honor to any Bench in any
country were presented, but that Demo-
cratic Legislature elected to the supreme
Court citizen of New York, who came
to the State as a soldier and who is Re-
publican. What further proof do you
want that we are not governed by pro-
scriptiye feeling? Does it not show that
we have fulfilled pledges and promises
made during the last canvass to make no
distinction on account of race, color or
party We wanted to show you people
ofthe North that we were actuated by
the highest and most patriotic feelings,
for every interest dear to freemen, and
thanks to the brave and true men and
the glorious women of South Carolina,
this war for good government was sue
cessful They have established 1t In
every department of the State govern
ment. They have accomplished this and
thew now propose to fulfil to the very
letter the pledges made and appealed to
the high heaven to witness that they
should be carried out. declared that II
elected would be Governor ofthe whole
neonle of South Carolina; that | should
know no race, no party, no color; that all
men who stood on the soil ofSouth Caro-
lima, native or foreign-born, white or
black, should be equal before the law,
and. SO help me God, it shall be done. |
am glad to say the bitterness which
marked that strife is passing away and |
say to you, men of New York, as say at
home, owe my election to the colored.
men of South Carolina. Thousands Of
them voted for me, knowing that J. had
been a GOOD friend of the race, knowing
that was the first man after the war to
recommend that they should be given
the right of suffrage, and have never
vet changed my opinion on this subject.
Knowing this they sustained me in large
numbers, and l am happy to say that
nearly all the fears of the more ignorant
are passing away and they are satisfied
that they will be dealt with in all res
peects as citizens of South Carolina. We
intend to try and elevate them, educate
them and show them the responsibilities
as we'll as the blessings of liberty. We
want them as other citizens of America
and South Carolina to be worth the great
boon of citizenship of this great republic.
g NV friends, must again thank you for
this most cordial greeting, doubly gratify-
ing because it is the voice Of New York
reyerberating to South Carolina. came
as l said, to do honor to my distinguished
friend, General Shields. He wore the
blue and I wore the gray, but we can let
the curtain drop over these years and 60
back to the time when shat flag borne by
him waved alike ever men OF the south
and men of the North, and we can look
beyond to the future when through all
time that flag shall float over free, pros
porous and reunited country. [Applausel
saw this to YOU as q Southern mana
REBEL for, when fought Lfought as hard
as 1 knew how against you, and say
also that ifthat flag floats as it should do
over free and equal States, lift shall be
the symbol of liberty, and equality and
Justice all the States and every man OF
the South will honor it and love 1t as OF
old and the time may come once more
when New York and South Carolina shall
stand shoulder to shoulder against the
common enemy and their blood mingle
upon the soil. [Applause.] My friends,
Ishall bear this cordial greeting back
home with me TO the little Palmetto State
and assure our people that your hearts
bere throb kindly for u.s. / trust in God
that better future is before the whole
country, and that we shall have peace,
prosperity and liberty to every man upon
the continent. Applause.
} General Shields was then introduced and said.
Fellow. CITIZENS AND FELLow-soLDIERs:
I left home the other day to visit Auburn
expecting to make the acquaintance of
the Shields Guard and thank them for
the honor ofbearing my name. expect,
ed to make the acquaintance of q good
many people of Auburn, but such an oc-
casion as this l did not expect, and am
little bewildered. If there is one com.
pany in America that ought to be proud
to day it is the Shields Guard, ofAuburn.
Here is the Governor Of your great En-
pire State, New York, man whose in
corruptible integrity and inhexible pur-
pose rise above the pitiful devices of the
politician. He is here to day to welcome
the Governor of old gallant, chiyalric
South Carolina. -(appiause) land also to
welcome me. Applause and laughter
j had a great many companies called after
me once, but when / went into obscurity
they went into nothingness. Here is the
Governor ofSouth Carolina come to hon
or the anniversary Wade Hampton,
savior Of his State Ifthere is one man
in America who should be welcome in
Z our State that man is Governor Hampton
(Applause.) There does not live people
more ready to appreciate true greatness
than the people of this great Empire
y. State. He has redeemed South Carolina
without doing wrong or injustice to any
man or class of men Of any color, Yes,
q sl,a iof xr,alaohoa bara and walcOnna avarv-