The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-06
South Carolina Divisions.

The recent correspondence of the Re
publican from South Carolina has attrac.
ted general attention from the press Of
that State, and provoked considerable
discussion. The letter upon Gov. Hamp-
ton and his work was reprinted by the
Charleston Me,cs and Courier and CoIum-
bia Register, the two leading daily jour
mails of the State, and copied from them,
in whole or in part, into several of the
weekly papers. Altogether, the people
of the Palmetto State have enjoyed a
better opportunity than was ever before
offered them to learn the impression
which an independent Northern observer
derives from personal inspection.
1t would have provoked doubt of the
latter's impartiality if its conclusion had
been generally accepted without ques-
tion, and, we are therefore not surprised
to observe some sharp criticisms. The
portion most complained of is the analy-
sis of Democratic feeling toward Hamp,
ton, and the distinction that was drawn
between personal support of the man and
honest acceptance of the policy he repre-
sents. The conclusion reached was that
the majority had supported the man
rather than the policy the past year, the
division of opinion being broadly sum-
married. as follows:
"The fact is that there are two strong
ly opposing elements in the Democratic
party, which divide good deal on the
peopraphical line of the up country and
the low country the latter including
the counties along the coast, with
Charleston as the great center, and the
up country the more remote parts of the
State, including the mountain counties
and such districts as Edgelield, where
Gary, the leader of Hampton's opponents
in the Legislature, lives. Broadly speak
ing, the wealth and intelligence of the
State are in the low country the igno-
rance and poverty in the up country
As natural consequence, liberalism has
its headquarters in the low country /;
bourbonism in the up country While,
therefore, Hampton may receive, as on a
recent trip, the heartiest ovations in the
latter region, it is there very much more
the tribute to the personal leader than
the recognition of an accepted policy
which Charleston yields"
The "up country" papers loudly pro-
test against this generalization, which
the Anderson INTELLIaENCER pro-
nounces "a vile and groundless slander
upon the people of upper Carolina" /"
But the paragraph simply summarizes
facts familiar to anybody at all con-
yersant with South Carolina politics, and
none of the denials at all break its force.
Like many other States, South Carolina
has long been divided into two well re-
cognized sections, which are often at odds
with each other. That the larger share
of wealth and intelligence are in the Glow
country" the ignorance and poverty in
the sup country" is. truth which q
moments glance at the census statistics
would fully establish, and a list of nota-
BILE names in the cup country's" history
does not affect the principle. That lib,
eralism has its headquarters with wealth
and intelligence in South Carolina as
elsewhere, bourbonism with ignorance
and poverty, has been conclusively
proved by the recent history Of the State,
TO 20 back no farther, from Gov. Hamp.
toms accession 10 power till the adjourn.
ment of the last Legislature, his attempts
to redeem his own and his party's pledges
met repeated resistance from Gary, ol
Edgefeld, and other members from the
cup country" The opposition to the
full payment of the State debt, which the
party had bound itself to accept, had its
headquarters in this region. The at
tempt to defeat the constitutional amend.
ment imposing an annual tax levy o.
two mills for educational purposes, which
the Democrats had even more solemnly
promised to ratify, came from the same
quarter.
But one does not need to cite past IL
lustrations; there are, unfortunately
proofs enough every day that good dea
of bourbonism still survives in the "uE
country" The Democrats of Edgefelc
held their County Convention not long
since, and among the resolutions adop
ted-not without some opposition, we are
glad to say-was the following: "Tha
we regard the issues between the white
and colored people of this State, and o
the entire South, as an antagonism O
race, not difference of political parties.
The men who adopted that resolution
have considerable to learn before they
reach Gov. Hampton's platform. Tht
Anderson INTELLIGENCER declares tha
the support given the Governor in tht
upper counties is as genuine, strong ane
hearty as in any other quarter. Yet
while the Glow country" conventions art
indorsing his course without qualifica
ton, the Democrats of Edge6eld Count!
admit that many of them have differed
with him, and content themselves will
Sin the main" indorsing his administra
ton. The tone of the local press in tn,
sup country" in commenting upon tn
Republicans correspondence, as illus
trated by the sample elsewhere given, j
itself conclusive proof of narrow-minded
ness and bigotry. Between the editor o
the Abbeville Medium and Wade Hamp
ton there is still a wide gulf.
In short, there is abundant evidence o
the fact that Wade Hampton has still
great work to do in South Carolina. Th
threatening opposition of the Garys ant
other bourbons to the policy of the lib
eralism and progress might well hav
overcome man whose personal powe
and following were less imposing thai
Hampton's. The check they have re
ceived is one from which they can hard
ly recover, but it will need another tw
wears of the same executive to establis
the new order of things beyond dispute
Gov. Hampton has plain call to serv
out the new term to which all the pee
pie, white and black, promise to elec
him with unprecedented unanimity, an
he will make grave mistake if he abar
dons so influential position for the ses
in the Senate chamber at Washington
which is equally within his reach. A
Ic C-,,kL r..~l:-, .,o, y