The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-02
HAMPTON AND THE UP.COUNTRY.

On another page we publish an edito-
rial correspondence to the Springfield
Republican, which, though protesting to
compliment the government of Governor
Hampton, is q vile and groundless SLAM
der upon the people of upper Carolina.
The letter was written from Charleston,
and this feature may account for the Sec
tional complexion which, it assumes, and
the actual ignorance which its writer
displays in speaking Of the ignorance
and poverty" of the State lying in the
'up-country," which it asserts is con-
trolled by "Bourbonism." Perhaps he
had been reading Mr.. Memminger's
speech about the South Carolina Uni
versity, and believed his wholesale state
ments about the ignorance of our people,
or drew his inspiration from men of SIM
liar bigotry and lack of practical infor
nation. This article ha, been copied in
the Charleston dailes and in the Colum-
bia Register, and neither of them takes
issue with the statements it contains.
Therefore we deem it proper as repre-
sentative journalist of the section it ira
duces to protest against the truth of
portion of the statements it makes. 1t
is a contemplate SANDER to assert that
our people did not expect Hampton to
keep the pledges he made during the
canvass. 1t was our representatives
who made the platform of principles
upon which Governor Hampton was
nominated, and his promises in the can
vass did not not go beyond those made
in our platform. The letter very evi-
dently seeks to belittle the people of
South Carolina by intimating that they
are doing right simply because Governor
Hampton makes them do so. This ne
presume is considered complime ent to
the Governor, and as far as it goes in
that direction ne agree with il. Gov
ernor Hampton is conscientious, high
toned and honorable man, but he does
not have the misfortune to be The only
man in the State with these virtues, nor
is it a fact that they are confined to the
lower portion Of South Carolina. Gov
ernor Hampton neither presides over a
party of hypocrites nor fools. He is the
exalted leader of high-toned and hon
orable constituency, which extends from
the mountains to the sea board. Gov
ernor Hampton does not make the peo-
pie of South Carolina what they are, but
on the contrary they, by their noble
course in 1876 and the eventful days that
have followed, have made him one of the
greatest men of his State. The support
which is given Governor Hampton in the
upper counties is as genuine, az strong
and as hearty as that given him in any
other quarter. We do not object to any
praise that is bestowed upon the low
country Democracy, for they have acted
nobly against immense odds, and deserve
the most sincere commendation, but at
the same time every sensible man in
South Carolina, who is at all fnmiliar
With State politics, knows that the State
could never have been redeemed from
Radicalism without the up-country, and
that the country could not to-day re-
tain control of the State without the in
fuence and strength which is extended
them from the up-country, which the
Springfield Republican sneers at for its
ignorance and hypocricy ~. We be.
lieve that the Democratic party through
cut the entire State is composed Of pa
triots and gentlemen of intelligence and
honor. 1t has always been 80. In the
days that are past the up-country boasted
of its Calhouns, its .McDufies, its
O'Neals, its Wardlaws, its Orrs and other
great men, who were the peers Of the
Haynes, the Rutledges, the Lowndes,
the Legares and other, of the low-coun-
try. Geographical lines do not mark the
diffusion of ability in this State, as we
might easily prove by an enumeration OF
the prominent men OF the present time.
There is no delegation in the present
General Assembly which has rendered
more efficient and valuable services to
the Democratic party in this State than
the Anderson delegation, and to term
them Ignorant and l3ourbons" is TO ap-
ply the same terms to Governor Hamp-
ton himself. The letter of the Spring
field Republican is pack of ingenious
misstatements, clothed with enough truth
to give it the appearance Of fairness, and
was evidently written under the inspila-
ton Of some one holding local prejudices.
Our daily papers should correct such
errors, in order that persons abroad may
not have false and unfavorable i'm
preston produced towards our State.
Although comparisons are odious,
there seems to be disposition to contrast
the management of the late Centennial
Exhibition with the manner in which the
Paris Exhibition progressing is to be