The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-12


than Hampton, and in showing how he
was deprived of his and our rights, which
may yet be restored, I only do the Ma
tional party service; for believe the
present Democratic decentralization and
the failure in New York is largely due
to the opposition of Hampton and others
to Mr.. Tilden, and the outside Demo.
cratic as well as Republican support and
encouragement received by John Kelly
Senator Hampton continues to harp
upon my opposition to him in the Senate
and in general, and upon my Greenville
speech, as if I did not have q right to
honestly differ with him; for I firmly
believe that his policy has led US into
many serious mistakes and damaging
compromises, both in State and National
affairs, which even now seriously embar-
rass and reflect upon the party. 1 am
willing to have my opposition, so.called,
in and out of the Senate, as we'll as my
Greenville speech and card, thoroughly
investigated, so that its nature may be
more thoroughly understood:
In the first place, if we had stuck to
Straightout Democracy in 1876, instead
of adopting Fusion methods, We would
have carried the State overwhelmingly
both for Tilden and himself, just as he
carried that section of the State where
the Straightout policy was inaugurated
and prevailed, and then he would have
| been saved the necessity OF making any
compromises with the Radicals in State or
National affairs, for the truth is he came
near losing the State by his much-talked
of "conciliatory policy" 1t was the
Straightout aggressive policy which
saved the State in spite of Grants bayo-
nets, as every one knows, not 1900
negro votes, as Hampton says. The con-
servative, reform and conciliatury poll
cies or plans of campaign had been tried
by Gems. Kershaw, Butler and others
until our people were so discouraged that
many seriously discussed making terms
with Chamberlain, and the State was at
last saved by the enthusiasm, courage
and devotion of our white people, who
arose in their might and said, "We will
preserve our State and civilization )" and
when the negroes saw that we were in
earnest they gave way, although they
had previously laughed our milk aud
water Fusion policies to scorn. Fair
comparison between the sections in which
the Straightout and Fusion methods pre-
vailed will clearly show where our ma
iority came from, and which policy gave
it to us. What we did once we can, if
necessary, do again with greater ease, for
now we can have fair election, having
the State government in our own hands,
and everything is changed and peaceable
so that we are in condition to conciliate
those who so long refused to listen to us.
agree fully with Governor Hampton's
remarks condemning fraud in elections,
and 1 am glad to see him take the posi-
ton which have always held concern
ing State and National politics. and our
State debt, and I hope that in the future
we may have no advocates or apologists
for fraud in any shape, which should be
rebuked by the peoplei in the approaching
elections.
To return to my so-called opposition to
Gov. Hampton and our personal re)a-
tions. That my opposition has not been
i of a personal character is shown by my
speaking of him in the highest terms on
divers occasions. In speech before the
Taxpayers Convention of 1874, whilst
he was on the banks of the Mississippi, I
alluded to him in the most compliment
ary terms. Every one knows the part I
took advocating his nomination in 1876,
and how labored to secure his election.
At Edgefeld, in 1878, after my so-called
opposition began, l alluded to him in the
following language: 81 have listened
with pleasure to the words of wisdom
which have been uttered by our Chief
Magistrate, Gov. Hampton. 1t is with
pleasure that we welcome him again to
Edgefeld. 1t is we'll known among the
members of the General Assembly that I
have always favored his denomination
and reelection, although have honestly
differed with him. / now say to him that
Edgefeld accepts what he has 80 well
said, sWe can honestly differ and be
friends Such, sir, is the reciprocal sem
timent of the entire Edge6eld Demo-
cracy."
In Spartanburg, a few days later, I
suggested Hancock and Hampton for
President and Vice President in 1880, in
the event of the nomination of Grant by
the Republican party, and at Greenville
a few days later I alluded 10 Governor
Hampton as follows: Compare Hamp-
ton with Chamberlain. 1t is like COM
pairing Hyperion to a Satyr." This is
the speech about which so much was said
and to which Hampton and others took
exceptions because said that we might
soon hear dining and dancing with
negroes excused as Hampton Democ-
racy." This being sensitive point with
him it was then that the gagging process
began by his instructing the executive
committee not to assign me to speak at
any place where he was to appear, thus
endeavoring to rule me out of the CAM
paigu and denying me the freedom OF
speech and the opportunity of replying to
him in public.
This is the sum and substance of my
opposition to Senator Hampton, and it
will be seen therefrom that although
have treated him with the greatest
courtesy and consideration, have nomi-
mated him for positions and compliment
ed him in the highest terms, still in his
opinion I am not even respectable
source from which anything trustworthy
can emanate; what I say is utterly and
absolutely false" and l am so "unwise,
narrow and dangerous" that he has
never even consulted" me on any occa-
sion. may have had some little per-
sonal feeling at times, when I felt that,
although 1 had shown the desire to do
him full justice, he had never recipro-
Gated the feeling, and that had his con-
slant, unrelenting opposition and weight
to carry, he quietly welding power and
influence that 1 had largely helped to
place in his hands. But l repeat that
my opposition has been in the honest
discharge of my public duty, and have
too often risen above mere personal feel
ing to do him justice and honor, my State
and country service, to be damned now
without fair inquiry into the nature oi