The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-07
HUG n ~. THOWPSON.

HUGH ~. THOWPSON,
SOME Account OF hin Remarkable Pablo
.-. ''.... Career.
The Hon. Hugh S.Thompson la a natl ve ,,f
GIeenville County, and is 80 years o., age.
he is a granoson OF chancellor Waddy
thompson, who; for about twenty five years
YVES one Of the Judges Of the Court OF Equity
or south Carolina. and la o ne phesy OF Gen.
'Weo0S Thompson, who WaB for q long time
member OF Congress- from South Carolina,
and afterwards minister to Mexico during
tho Administration OF President Harrl-
son.
Mr. Thompson wag graduated at the Mill
lary Academy Of this state at the CLOSE
or 1906. a year after his graduation he was
elected by tho board OF visitors assistant
Eroie ssor IN the arsenal Academy at Column
MA, and rose by regular promotion to
the rank or captain, hevlng filled tho
proftssorahirs or French and Belles Lettrss
During most OF The wsr he was stationed In
choritstoD, and did ou:y with tho corps OF
Caoets III defence OF the oily end at different
po1nts 1n1 The State. The Cadets under hts
command reRardsd nim with great affection
ard confidence, b,lh as a professor and a san
officer In the field
Aiter the war Mr.. fhom pson was eleeted
principal OF the Colun. bla Male Acad-
emJ, ana, taking charge OF that institu-
tlon when 1t was in a very low condition,
he raised 1t 70 the front rank OF classical
achools in the State. In tho Democratic
convention OF 1875 he was unanimously
nominated for Slate superintendent OF
education, though not u candidate for
office, ana he did not even know that
his pame had been thought of for the POSI-
LlOn 30 was unanimously renominated In
1878, and again unanimously In 1850, sud
would certainly have been renomineted
without opposition for fourth term by the
Stato Democrat @ Convention OF 1882. Had
he not been nominated for Governor he
would have been nominated again as SUPER
1ntendsnt of cd ucation, ana could have been
elected president OF tho South Carolina Uni
yers'ty, ot the meeting OF the board OF trustees
in August 1882. When he took charge of tho
public school system Of the state 1t WAS in
great confusion and heavily in debt Under
his administration great reforms wore in.
stituted, ana tho public school system OF
South Carolina is now rapidly reaching 8
high state of efficiency.
Mr.. Thompson old not seek tho pomiua.
tion for Governor in 1882; 1t WAS we'll
known that ho did not desire the nomi.
nation, and Ills fact wss plainly stated
upon the floor OF tho Convention by Mr.. Il.
Is. Murray, ot Anderson, but the popular de-
maEu for his services could not be resisted.
When BIZ! w. l.. Maaidin, of Greenvllle, pro,
posed his name, ana insisted that there was
no other man In the State who could carry
the pariS through 10 @ triumphant Victory,
sat WAS Ike aPhoclS from an electric battery.
stsThe seems in the Convention wes thrlllluH
|&1n the extreme, ano the nomination was
f>conflImsd ~i,h nnanimity as 1attsrIng
a 10 Governor Thom lson as it WAS indicative
,6fthe sound judgment Of the Convention,
In the campaign of 1882 Governor Thomp.
son MADE AN exceptionally brilliant can.
vaeS OF tho stntei ""from the blue noun
fa1ns to the blue sea-" gaining every.
where In popular favor, and was elected by
q Tremendous majority. His admir- Illustration
during the past four years has been charac.
fer'zeo by exceilentJudgmeHt. The state has
continued 10 prosper in all her industrial and
material reaonrces, the public credit haB bsen
maintained, the laws have been adminis-
tered with justice aud equity, the public
SCHOOLS have fion nIished, the races have lived
together IN perfect peace ana u feeling OF
personal security and public safety has pre-.
vaih during an n'admtnistration which Will
be notable In the history OF the State for the
equal Satisfaction IL has afforded TO all the
people without regard to party or Hection.
hen the State Democratic Convention
met in june, 1884, Governor Thompgon was
fencminated, tcgssher with ell his associates
went into tho Governors office for the second
time possessing the entire confidence OF tho
people,, and has discharged the important
and onerous duties of his high official station
with eminent ability and satisfaction to the
people OF the ontire state.
Since his entrance upon public life Cover
nor Thompson's career has been remarkably
successful. AT tho time Of his first nomina.
tion for Governor OF the State, which was
mRde without his knowledge and against
his wishes, he had already nlled the office
ofsta1e superintendent OF education for six
Year,, and han before him tho certainty OF
fenominaticn for q fourth term in this inn
poriant office. He had also boon offered tho
position Of superintendent OF the Citadel
Academy, with which institutlon he was
connected outing tho war. He had at the
same time been offered The presidency OF tho
South Carolina College. Blther Of these posi-
Lions was within his grasp whom no was
nominated for Governor, as already stated,
without his knowledge and against hlg
wishea.
When the Rtate Democratic Convention
met IN 1884 he WAS unanimously and spon.
tancously rehominated for the office whose
dnties he had discharged with singular fair-
heEs and ability. During his second term in
the Lnlce OF Governor no has boon invited TO
become candidate for Gen eral agent OF tho
Peabody EdDcattonal Fond, as tho snocss.
cor Of DR.. j. AI. NJ. Curry, now mInister 10
Spain, and hss also boon tendersd tYo o,hor
Important positions under the United Statos
Government, heridesth Office OF assistant
secretary OF tho troueury, waich no has nov
accepted. ao' r.
An UR8OGIGITsD AONOR.
yrN IN