Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-25

the other evening, and tho sentiment in
favor of supporting Hampton was simply
unanimous; there was absolutely not dis
senting voice. And this is the universal
feeling among tho Republicans Throughout
the State, black and white. The Demo-
orats are equally unanimous, and not voice
will be raised in opposition to his renomina
tion at their convention. In short, It il
already evident that Wade Hampton will be
elected Governor of South Carolina for twc
years, in November, with scarcely dissent
ing vote.
Nobody who meets Hampton will long
wonder at this great personal triumph ho
has achieved. Ho has all the qualities that
mako popular hero. Though past his
sixtieth birthday, ho looks number Of
years younger, and is indeed iu the full
vigor Of middle lifo. Ho has fiuo pres
senoe, manly boaring, and simple but
dignifed manners. He loves nature, has q
hearty fonduess for hunting, and never
makes bettor appearance than when
mounted on horseback. Ho comes of one
of South Cardinals oldest and most famous
families; he has brilliant record as a
dashing leader in the war. Moro than all
else, he has tho prestige of success; he is
the only man that over has redeemed the
State; ho is without much doubt the only
man who could have carried through the
campaign Of 1875 to victory. Thus ho has
all the. qualities that appeal to the horo-
worshipper, and the average Carolinian is,
by nature and training, hero worshipper
Beyond these personal qualities he bas now
the added credit Of having given a weary
and distracted State the first period Of pence
and order that she has experienced for
nearly score of years.
All things have thus combined 10 give
Hampton the support Of tho populace
But there is also in the man that which
commands the confidence Of the most
thoughtful and critical. 1t Is impossible to
talk long With him without thorough con-
viotion that he is a genuine patriot, that
he is inspired in his course by an over rul.
ing desire to serve the State, by snoh an
ambition as We are wont to associate with
"the better days of the republic" He
sees tho future, and he is doing his level
best to bring South Carolina in sympathy
with it.. The conviction Of his sincerity is
widespread, and strongest among those who
have watched him most closely. As one
eminoat Republican whom I have already
quoted remarked: ~ don't think it is simply
policy. 1t is policy, Of course; but I give
Hampton the credit Of being Inspired by
patriotism"
I have spoken Of Hampton's work the
past year as a personal triumph. 1t is such
in double sense. Not only has he CON.
manded universal confidence in himself as o
man, but he has carried his party on to a
higher plane than it ever meant to occupy
and holds it there. The policy which ho
has carried out the past year is not the
policy Of the old Democratic party Of South
Carolina; it is not tho policy
which tho old leaders meant to enforce
when they got control Of the State. Popu.
lar enthusiasm for the man has finally sup
pressed all open opposition to his course,
but there Is large olement of the party
which at heart docs not like Hampton's
liberal course. I have investigated 4his
point with considerable caro-, putting this
question to good many people: How far
does tho acquiesoenoe in Hampton's policy
indicate simply personal confidence in the
man, how far the deliberate acceptance Of
his ideas as settled line of party policy7
In other words, how many Democrats
bolievo in Hampton's polioys dissooiatod
from tho man, and would support any other
man in trying to carry out similar ideas2
The answers received were various. One
very intelligent Republican said, Not one
man in ton; several agreed in saying, Not
majority. Fair minded Democrats took
this latter view. The fsct is that thero are
two strongly opposing clements in the Demo.
cratic party, which divide good deal on
the geographical line Of the "up country"
and the "low country" tho latter including
the counties along the coast, with Charles
ton as sho great oentre, and the Sup ooun-
try" tho moro remote parts Of the Stato,,
including the mountain ooupties and such
districts as Edgofold, where Gary, tho
leader Of Hampton's opponents in the Leg
islatuto, lives. Broadly speaking, the
wealth and intelligence of the State are in
the Glow oountry;" the ignorance and
poverty in the hup country While,
therefore, Hampton may receive, as on a
recent trip, tho heartiest oyations in the
lattor region, it is. there very much more
the tribute to the personal leader than the
recognition Of an accepted policy which
Charleston yields. Weighing all the evi-
dence, think it fair to say chat a majority
of the Democrats have supported the man
rather than tho policy tho past year, and
that any other person who had attempted
to embody similr ideas would have failed to
carry tho party with him.
AT tho samo time year Of Hampton's
policy, how wever and why ever accepted, has
an immense eduoatiye effeot. A great
many Domoo who did not believe in
suoh ideas a yo.s ago are coming to accept