The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-08-21
WADE HAMPTON INTER-
VIEWED.

A representative Of the Philadelphia
Press interviewed the eminent South Caro-
linian the other day, and we select the
following paragraphs:
"Thc South is prospering wondcrfulv" said
he, after greeting me cordially and leading the
way to a seat on the sofa. 1--WE are getting new
manufactures constantly"
What kind"
mostly cotton mills
"D Does this boom in manufacturing create a
feeling favorable to the protective tariff
" | think not. The feeling Of our people upon
the tariff question is that, having cheap and good
labor at home, and the cotton practically al the
door of the mills they can compete " th any
one. They are, therefore, not in favor Of high
protective tariff, nor are they in favor of free
trade My own position upon that question is
that there should be gradual revision Of the
tariff, keeping in view the business interests of
the country and the necessities of such indus
tries as need protection to enable them to reach
a substantial basis No man in the South that
know of is in favor of an assault upon the tariff
question that will rob any American industry Of
such protection as it really needs. Certainly nc
man in South Carolina is
"W Ould your constituency be in favor of max
ing the tariff question an issue between the two
great parties in the coming Congress and in the
national contest of next YEAR,
But to the limit | have indicated | think they
would. Your Democratic Convention, held this
present week, adopted very well. tempered
plank in their platform upon the tariff question
| think it very well timed | was rather sur
prlsed that Pennsylvania Convention would
deal SO equitably, or might say conscrvatively,
upon that question"
You expect it then to he made an issue in
the coming political contest between The Repub-
lican and Democratic parties -
Z" think there is no doubt of it. Tariff re-
vision is popular idea with the Democracy
But not free trade. The South has too many
growing industries to be in favor of striking
down the tariff and absolutely opening the doors
to foreign competition. Our mining and manu-
featuring interests, you know, are but in their
infancy. and we must have an equitable protcc-
ton for them"
" Are your people cOntcnted under the present
condition?'
"Our people are prOspcring. They are build
ing up the waste places with wonderful rapdity.
The relations between the whites and the blacks
satisfactory. The colored people, rs we'll as
the whites, are accumulating something. Many
of the negroes are getting property buying Ill
lie homes and improving them. As they do
they are becoming better citizens, interested in
preserving the peace and Furnishing crime. |
doubt whether their labor has improved, and it
is problem whether it ever will. But they are
improving, and time and opportunity may cor
rect everything iIat nccuS correction.
" Would !hc old ticket of TilI,n and Hendricks
find favor ia your section -
" 1t would MOI Mr. TIhitn'is no .n4cr strOn :
in the South. Ii hc had been lenominAiod al
the last election he w"uid have pullrd thr entire
party vote. There was then feeling that he
was entitled To consideration. That sentiment
has died out aud there is no call tor the Old
ticket from the Southern States that have been
able to find"
=" Would Mcdonald be strong candidate with
you %
"Our people like Mr.. Mcdonald very well
lie has many friends in the South and his pO-
stion upon many national questions suits our
people, but he is by no means our strongest can
didate."
"WhO is"
Senator Bayard, of Delaware He has a
strong hold upon the affections Of our people,
and would be the strongest candidate with us
that could be nominated He defended the
South with great power when she needed
friends, and, besides that he is sound upon all
national questions that are the foundation of our
prosperity. believe he would be the strongest
candidate for the Democracy, North as well as
South. He has ever been consistent and true
upon financial questions and he represents a
conservative idea upon the tariff issue He is
broad gauge man throughout, and would bring
brains, dignity and the highest character to the
Presidential Office. believe he could poll a
larger vote than any man we could nominate"