The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-10-29
Wednesday, October 2s, 1890.
haskell MADE A MISTAKE,
n. Hampton's opinion on the indie.
pendent Movement.
5Corr,rr4. s. C.. Oct % 1890

n CoLUNBEA, S. c., Oct. %, 1890.
& Col. J. I. II. Irby-My Dear Sir:
hen I wrote a personal note to you
cently my intention was to remain
lent until I could give my views to
Du more fully than was then done;
sat since my return home so many
.Slends have asked of me an express
son of opinion on the condition of
ohtical affairs that I gave brief
afenent to the press a few days
Ence This, perhaps, renders it un-
Necessary for me to address you again,
Vat as various communications and
&nyitations to speak at public meet
pgs have reached me I take this
aethod of making my views known
10 those who have done me the honor
ask for them.
Another reason that induces me to
ake this course is the fact that my
Position regarding political matters
ere and my conduct have been gross.
misrepresented in some quarters,
Ind I desire that ny fellow-citizens
hay be fully Informed as to both, so
Chat they may judge Alright.
= When my old constituents of this
ounty, who had so otter trusted and
onored me in the past, invited me to
ddress them in June last, I came,
aving but one object in view, and
aat was to appeal to our people for
harmony, for Cancellation, for unity Of
fefion. I expressly disclaimed any
Intention Of interfering in any way
with the canvass for governor, and I
neither advocated any candidate nor
opposed any. I said that the people
were the sole and proper judges in
he selection of their officials, and
sshat from their verdict there should
oa no appeal. In order that there
night be full and free expression Of
opinion of their wishes as to the Sc
@eetion of candidates, I urged that a
PRIMARY should be held, and had this
plan been adopted the present deplor-
Sable condition OF affairs would not
shave existed. Other counsels pre-
syailed, and the result is divided
party and bitter contest between
Democrats, all of whom should be
united to maintain the supremacy of
Ecnr party and to promote the welfare
sof or State.
No one depiores the unhappy dis
EasRsiens in our party more than my
Sse and ] would willingly make any
ssaeafce to heal them were it IN my
power to do so. But the only remedy
that can be applied must come from
he conservatism and the patriotism
|of the people themselves, and we can
Eonl hope that by the exercise of these
virtues the dangers threatening us
may be averted.
It was the conviction Of my inabil-
Eity TO reform our broken ranks now
that induced me to decline to take
part in any public discussion on the
Eastings. Ny Judgment is clear that
pablo meetings at thisjuncture would
sRs lDwlse;; that they would only tend
fo widen the existing breach in our
party, and perhaps to make It irreeon-
scilable We want no further excite
aeut, We have had already too much
of That, and ola pernicious character;
She issues involved are fully under
stood by the people, who are entirely
competent to decide them.
But whilst I shall not speak again
ID this canvass, I shall support the
ticket nominated By the Convention
IN September; but in doing this by
no means endorse the grave charges
which have beeu made against the
Democratic party of the State. Hon
gsty and integrity have marked every
aa-einisttrattion which has governed
the State since 1876, and We shall in
deed be fortunate if our officials in
the future shall be as able, as patriot
sc and as honest as they have been in
tine last fourteen years.
am impened to support the Sep
tember ticket because it was nomina-
sted by the Democratic Convention,
and because the other ticket lacks
that endorsement I regret deeply
that thus latter ticket has been brought
ost, though I have the greatest re-
spect for the gentlemen composing it,
and ] do not, for one moment, ques-
non the motives of those who nomi-
mated it. For the gallant and dis
tinguished gentleman who is at its
head ] entertain the highest possible
regard and esteem. I cannot forget
his eminent services to the State, in
peace and in war. To him we We're
largely indebted for the success which
crowned our efforts in 1876, and there
is no Office in the gift of the State for
which I would not earnestly and COR
daily support him were be endorsed
by the recognized authority of the
Democratic party. AL denunciation
OF him and of those whom he repre-
sents IS, in my opinion, unworthy of
those who indulge in it, and it will
only serve to prolong and embitter
the unfortunate strife which now di-
Hdes our. party. No one who knows
Col Haskell can doubt his sincerity,
his consciousness or his Democ-
sraey. I certainly do not; and while
Il think that he has made a mistake in
lepaing his name ard his influence to
,G6e movement inaugurated by his
friends, I shall not denounce the man
who was my cemrade in the war, who
was one of the ablest and brayest Of
fcers in my command, and who was
smy trusted friend and adviser in rs.
l. j..