The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-29
RESTORING TIE ON PLATFORM
Charleston Striving to Regain her Political
Innmence IL Stntc md NntInn.

Charleston Striving to Regain her Political
Influence In state and Nation.
CHARLESTON, S. C.. July Charleston
has for several years lost her natural influence
in state poiy She wa. once the leader OF SEN
timent and the rural districts bowed to her un-
disputed sway. But. led by such men a. Perry.
Orr VI rAlelloy. Daukins, O'Ncill. and others
WHO sprung from the people. the up coun-
try began before the late war to demand u
respectful hearing in the State Legislature.
They never succeeded. however in controlling
the State until after the war. when the white
vote enabled them 20 champion tho restoration
Of the state under HAMPTON.
There IA Il quiet struggle now going on in
Charleston to restore her proportionatr allow
nnce in state influence. On the one side Is ar
rayod her moncycd power. who demand ii ac-
cordng to ancient usage and tho natural as
sumption which inheritance or wealth will
bring. They are willing some Of them. TO Join
with tho colored vote. in order that they may
have representation in the State Legislature
and thcy anticipate. ny their sclf-accrcdited SUI
perioriy Of Intelligence and the corollaries Of
wealth. to influence once more tho rustic rep
resentatvcs. so that their own ends may be ac-
complished and their power perpetuatcd.
Onthc other side is aStraight-out Democracy.
who. NJ to this period. have had no representa-
ton in state councils .ncc the war. They are
composed Of the real business men. together
with the foreign population tho workingmen
and tho more intelligent colos-d people. They
are largely in the majority inside Of the Demo-
cratic party. and control the primary elections
Of that party.
They struck the first blow foi n State pnrty of
Straight-out Democrats. in conjunction with
their up-country friends three years ago, by
nominating Gen. now judge J. Is. Kenshaw
for Governor. But they had the judgment not
to press tho issue on account Of local consd-
orntions OF party strength. and they unwiingly
ac1uiesced in the fusion policy OF the nominal
ton OF Judge Green for Governor against ID. II.
Chamberlain Their preliminary reconnois-
sance. however bore fruit in 1876, in the nomi-
nation Of Gov. Hampton.
The same judgment prccluded any issue at
that time with the moneyed branch of the party.
They were aware Of the interest Of the latter in
the continuance Of tho Republican jobbery. and
quietly retired. in order that there might be
unity in the Democratic party under tho lead Of
the moneyed power against Chamberlain. This
sell -0hncgatlOn won the day, and Hampton was
elected. Naturally Gov Hampton looked upon
the moneyed power thus placed IN the front ~
his allies I'm Charleston. and to them he gave
he countenance. patronage, and cooperation.
Ihcy. reliant upon the sulservicucy Of the
Sttaght-out Democracy, ~ Swallowed In their
former patriotic Judgment. made no oncrs for
reconciliation. hut assumed every urrro0ntiy ",
OF victory to themselves. Among these prerog-
atives. unfortunately for them. wore clear cns's
OF their own rarticipaiion in the Stnto plumber
under the Republican rule.
Again the Judgment Of the Straight-out marty
came into exercise: they determined To- attack
but one 81 ihcs" urerogHtlve-. and that under
the dearest Democratic rule. BY dong this
they would kctp themselves within the DemOc-
racy. in perfect accord with the up-country,
and acquire what strength the participants of
Radical rule IN other Respects might have.
According to this programm" the Straght-out
party attacked their opponents in the Demo.
cratic party upon the phosphate monopoly
question. 10y which they had acquired an eNciu-
eN" risnt 10 tne WHOA millions wnrh Sem
The issue was sluurey drawn in the late
primary elections Of the party. The monopo-
lists and their friends had both ~ the Charic--
ton newspapers u rally them 10 the ward meet
lngs. Al these meetings they turned ont IN
fun force and elected some four or five OF their
party out OF Inrty-eisht i.legates Ia the County
Convention. The Anti MOnopol'sts rallied the
next day at the polls aud swept out THESE excep-
uonal cases. and the Convention may now be
said to be unanimously against the Monopolisis.
VI course me % the provincial gameeorks AZ
per ~, In S ,, OF M uny pHp.rs as rr"Wng
demanding suppression of this Issue. on ar-
c9rpni 81 harmony IN the Democratic party
Tho County Convention Will take high ground
Tor restoration Of the Democratic party To- iis
ancient platform Of q" free trade, no monopolies
and equal rights to all men" Ii ia likely. from
the size and circumstances attending the
Charleston delegation, that their platform may
~ huopteu ny inc state convention. III SO, II
Will be natural for the other Democratic States
TO follow suit In this way our peculiar situa-
ton may result in again shaping the policy Of
the nation.
There mood be no apprehonsi concerning
the rights Of the negro in this movement. nor
OF any lingering hope for upsetting the results
OF the late war. There are. no doubt. individ-
uas among tho exclusives who arc yet embit-
tered. but they have no general support. Ii is
usual at these Democratic ward meetings TO
place on "A ticket the name OF one colored man
as an evidence Of a recognition OF tho rights
OF that race. At the meeting alluded 10, Il ticket
had been prepared with the name Of an excel
lent colored citizen, hut II was not announced.
The name Of another good colored man was
suggested by u delegate who was unaware II
the candidacy Of the former The consequence
was the first named ran high in the ballot and
the second came within one vote OF beating m
ex-bank president, who was chosen last on the
ticket The bank president was present. while
the colored man was absent from tho meeting
Whom these fucts were known the second
colored man was chosen to another position.