The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-24
GARY AND HAMPTON.
A Frank Expression Of the Views OF
the Edgeleld SenatOr-No Personal
Opposition to Hampton, but a Con.
scientiOuS Difference Of OpiniOn.

COLUMBIA, December r7.-After several un.
successful attempts, I finally Induced Gen.
Gary TO talk, for publication. Tonight. I
found him In the Senate Chamber during the
and avoided anything like bitterness toward
anybody, In reply to o general question re-
gardins The difference between Gen. Hamp-
ton and himself, he said:
the sentiments or The NcUs and Courier rs
expressed III the editorial entitled the "Hamp-
ton and Gary EmbrogliO." Pm willing to
make the scnool boy bargain with him Ire
fcrring to Hampton. and let him alone II ne
Will me. I've always been willing TO do that,
and always said I'd let them alone If they'd
let me alone too. l reiterate what Ive often
said before: That my opposition TO Senator
Hampton has never been OF q personal char
acLcr, but an honest and CONSCIENTIOUS diff
ference Of opinion rs TO the policy of the
Senate and National Democracy. l have
himself"
Gen. Gary stopped here to take part for d
second in the Senate debate, and resumed:
"Scnator Hampton took the initial step In the
opposition, and ! always propose TO strike
back when Pm struck. a conflict Of ideas Is
like any other conflict. You've got to tightto
win 1t. Lalways have, and will, repel oppo.
sition with opposition. I desire the unity OF
the Democratic party rs heartily as any man,
and asa member OF the party submitted to be
gaggedin 1876, and to be dictated to by Hamp.
JOI WIlcIc uuu WllcH 1 liOu Jill nhOuLoi Y
speak, md If l ever received courtesy from
him, or those associated with him, l don't
know 1t. am willing TO retire from public
life II 1t is necessary for the unity OF the par
ty, butI'm not to be driven out OF 1t by any
body. 1 know l am charged by Senator
Hampton with writing articles that I didn't
write. but my fight has been open and not n
secret one. I'm not that kind Of l use
neither mufiled dagger nor stilletto. I am
willing to meet him or any other man In
open political contest, II 1t is necessary.
Even the interview published in the Herald
was nota deliberate attack Of Hampton or
designed to do him injustice, my only idea
being to do Tildcn justice. My Idea was to
give full Justice to Tilden though I'M no
champion Of his. You can say now that I re-
glrd linn rs o great leader of the Democracy,
II think he deserves consideration at my
hands, and Hampton's hands too. I am will
ling to give him his dues. He has done more
Like some great military general. he won q
great battle in rs, when retrenchment and re-
form were emblaZoned on our banners, but
he failed TO reap the spoils. and developments
may prove" added tile General, that IL was
not his fault utter ALL" The General then
said he thought he had said enough. He re-
marked that the forfne Interview was largely
duo to the persistence Of the Herald man, who
had worried md badgered and coaxcd hin
into talking when he was tired n half sick
and didn't feel like 1t.
At un informal interview previously Gen.
Gary said thathe did not consider That an
issue Of veracity between himself and Hamp-
ton existed, tho latter having said he did not
r~ecolIect the conversation alluded TO between
them. A.. u. W.