, 1879-04-19
General Wade Hampton,

Mr.. Eppes Hardy lays us under obliga-
tions to kiui for the following article writ
ten by friend oft his to New Brunswick
newspaper. General Wade Hampton has
attained degree of popularity rarely
equaled in any country His ancestors
were distinguished for wealth and cult ire,
as well as for public services before the
revolution:
Governor Hampton's career is a SEEM
ING anachronism The events connected
with 1t are not to be found elsewhere il,
the practical life Of the nineteenth cen
tury. Its counterparts must be sought in
those days in which knights and trouha-
dours abounded and ali christendom was
swayed by sentiment. If the Crusades
We're the poetry of war, Hamptons his
tory has been the poetry of politics. South
Carolina has ever played q peculiar I.art
in the government. The old spirit OF
chivalry which impelled men to risk rep
utation. property and life itself for an idea,
and 10 scorn to consider expediency when
honor was at stake, still survived in the
Palmetto State and impaired distinguish
ing characteristics TO the people and their
representatives Here then were the thea
tire ard the man. Governor Hampton
came OF historic ancestry Before the
war he distinguished himself in the arts
OF peace During that struggle he achieved
the highest honors as soldier Bnt a
nobler future was in store In the dark
est period OF our states history, he was
called to put himself at the head of for
lorn hope, III a contest against over
whelmlng numbers, perfect organization
and the undistinguished assistance of the
federal government The campaign of
1876 was poem, needing only Homer
to perpetuate 1t IN verse, or minstrels TO
embalm it in song. BY his personal mag
netism, Governor Hampton organized a
party ont of discordant elements, revived
hope in the hopeless, inflamed enthusiasm
to the highest point. and after an unprece
dented campaign of sixty days on which
the heavens never frowned, won a peace
ful, bloodl,ss victory at the polls.
This is not all. In securing the fruits
of victory he evinced degree of wisdom
and craftsmanship that bewildered even
his warmest admirers, and won for himself
and his state the admiration Of the North,
which up TO that time had been bitterly
hostile In those days South Carolina
was one vast asylum Of emotional insanity
and Hampton it's keeper. One mistake
would have ruined all But he made
none SkilIfuliy and surely he solved the
problem and restored chaos to perfect or
der Two years later he. is elected gov-
ernor without an opposing voice. Yet,
in his moment of triumph dreadful az
cidcnt befalls him, and changes the plaud
its of the people into exclamationS of
grief. And nov when medical skill is
taxed to the utmost in aiding the forces
of life against the assaults Of death, the
summons Is brought to his bedside that
the state calls him to her defence IN a
new and larger arena. Vel may il be
said that Governor (now senator) Hamp-
ton is the central figure of a grand epic
poem, having its lights and shades so
strongly marked rs to furnish abundant
materials for some inspired SON Of song
''And Lere let us hope that ali the events
Of the past HAY merely lead TO some
=. .nder elimination III the future, III
which the names Of Hampton and South
Carolin, may be ioreve. linked together
in glory
Such is the man, tried and true, whom
Carolina delights TO honor, who enjoys
the fullest confidence of this late despond-
ent-now hopeful commonwealth, whose
noble deeds in peace and war have en-
deared him to the sunny South, and sho
most worthily holds the highest position
in the gift of Sovereign State =
THE applause Of listening Senates to command.
The threats If pain and rum 20 despise,
To scatter plenty DER smiling laad,
And read his history in a nations eyes
J. I. VI.