The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-11-14
ZION lOUS J. HEMPHILI.


in perfect health and spirits.
Knowing that Mr.. Hemphill is
always alive to the interests OF the
Democratic party, and fully CONVEX
SAINT with the political events Of the
day, our Reporter obtained an inter
view and eliciled from him the fol-
lowing information, which we present
to our readers, feeling confident it
will prove interesting to them. 3
Our FIRST query was To what cause
do you attribute the great revolution
in politics as exhibited at the polls
q few days ago?
Mr.. Hcmphill said that, cas- usual
in elections, several different causes
contributed to the defeat Of the lie.
publicans in the State elections hclo
ON the 9th instant.
"In Virginia, the Democratic snc'
cess was no doubt largely due to the
intense disgust and hatred which
nearly all respectable Virginians fee!
for Malone, the fear Of negro supte'
macy, and q determination, on the
part of the white people, TO resent
the interference Of the National Ao'
ministration in State elections.
In Ohio and Iowa, the result was,
in q great measure. due 10 the disap'
pointment felt by the more intelll-
gent Republicans at the adminlstra-
ton of Harrison, and to the growth
of Tariff Reform ideas. The plank
of the National Democratic platform
of 1888, in favor of reduction OF
the customs duties, was made espe-
cially prominent in the Democratic
platforms in OHIO and Iowa THIS year,
and the victories Of the Democracy is
W thout doubt due, in part at least,
to their strenuous advocacy of this
policy
Do you think these elections have
anv significance with reference to tie
present Republican administration
ut Washington?
"lhe success of the Democrats IN
these two States Of the North-W est
in one year after they had been car
rod NV ihe Republicans bv handsome
maio,itics. and after the Harrison
administration had been in control
of the Government for eight months,
certainly shows want Of confidence
in the Republican party, and the
President and his Cabinet'must bear
their full share of this. That they
feel that they have been rebuked IS
manifest from the efforts t"ey are
making now to induce the public to
believe that the Administration had
no hand in the elections and took no
special interest in them.
"They know, however, and people
generally know, that Quay ana
| Glarkson and other Officials mani
tested the iyeliest interest IN the
outcome of last Tuesdays voting,
and if the Republicans had succeeded
these men would have taken their
full share Of the credit Of it"
From present outlook, do yoy
think the Democrats will obtain !.
majority in either or both houses oil
the 52nd Congress?
81 have no doubt the Democrats
will carry the next House Of Rep-e-
sentatives. I have believed this
ever since the present House was
elected, and the recent elections
have confirmed my faith.
"The Republicans have only ma
iority of four or five in the present
House, which we ought to overcome
easily. 1t is q curious TACT in the
history Of politics in this country,
that the party in power can scarce "
ever elect majority Of its own party
TO the House in the middle of It's
term.
The Republicans crrricd the
House in the middle of Grants first
term, and the Democrats did the
same during Cleveland's admin;stra'
ton, but these were exceptions to
the rule.
There is not much prospect OF
our being able to have control OF the
Senate for some years, and certainly
not until alter another general cleo
ton" :,
Mr.. Hemphill, what do you think
of the general outlook of the Demo
cratic party?
The prospects of the Democratic
party in the whole country, seem to
me to be encouraging. Certainly
there is nothing TO dishearten rs at
present.
I'VE have great living issue to
fight for, rs set forth in the Tariff
plank of our platform, and We are on
the right side Of the question.
at is the testimony of leading
Democrats ffom every section Of The
country. that the party was never in
better fighting trim. and if we will
only press the question of Tariff Re.
form, and make an aggressive and
determined fight, I am confident we
will eventually succeed,
$50 far, Harrison seems to have
made no impression on the country
at large. As far as the South is con.