The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-26
GEN. WADE HAMPTON.
Candid and Interesting Talk With Col
ored Journalist.
New York Sun.

New OTh Suu.
PETERSBURG, Va, March 16.-As
the Coast Line limited express slowly
crawled out of the Baltimore and Poto-
mac depot at Washington the other
morning, l became conscious of two in
teresting facts, Gen. William Malone
of Virginia, and Gen. Wade Hampton
of South Carolina were passengers
with me. Further, I found to my sur
prise that Gen. Wade Hampton and
myself occupied the same section in
the Pullman sleeping car. Gen. Ma
hone and his family occupied the Sec
ton opposite to US. He got off at AL
eXandria. He does not spend much
time at his Petersburg home now, but
he lives at the national capitol and
makes frequent excursions to Alexan-
dria. Every one with whom I have
conversed appears to believe that the
political grip Of the famous Readiuster
has been loosened, and coloris given to
this opinion by the fact that be is no
longer active in affairs in the Fourth
Congress district, where there is war to
the knife between him and Col. James
D. Brady, the Collector of Internal
Revenue and member of the National
Republican Committee, and Congress
man John Langston, whom the black
and colored voters swear by.
Gen. Malone does not appear to
have grown old fast during the past
eight years. His long hair and expan-
sive beard are slightly streaked with
gray, but his step is quick and light,
and he seems on mighty good terms
with himself. His overcoat was heav-
lily fringed with black fur; he wore a
cream colored slouch hat, and his gai-
ters were low cut, setting off his very
small foot and exceedingly high instep.
After we passed Alexandria I took
my seat by the side of Gen. Wade
Hampton and asked him if he would
talk on general politics, as he had just
terminated his long Senatorial career.
He was not at all averse. He is very
venerable and dignifed looking man.
His snow white hair, Burnside Whis-
kers, and black slouch hat gave him a
patriarchal appearance. He wore suit
Of gray.
II am in favor of free coinage of sill
ver,"he said. ut should be Of the full
standard measure, however. I don't
think the silver question will be one OF
the leading questions in the campaign
next year. I think the next Congress
will dispose of the matter. There is
sucu general demand for legislation
favorable to silver that it cannot be dis
regarded. No; do not think it will
play much Of a part in the next cam
paign."
"What about the Farmers A Allience"'
"Well, it will not amount to much
in the politics Of the future, because its
schemes are impracticable and because
it is manipulated by demagogues.
have always been in favor of the farm
ers having more organizations among
themselves for their own benefit. I
am farmer myself and naturally SYM
pathize with the farmers. I want to
see them prosper, and am in favor Of
any organization among them that
will effect this result. I do not think
that anything in this line can he &C.
complished by the Farmers Alliance.
On the contrary, I think that it will
work great damage to the interest Of
the farmers. The legislative relief they
seek is class legislation of the simplest
kind, and that sort of legislation is
always Objectionable on general prin-
ciples and at variance with our methods
Of government"
"What influence would such legisla
ton as the Farmers Alliance demand
have upon our system of government"
IF it were possible to conceive o.
any such legislation as the Sub-Treasu'
ry, the bonded warehouse, and Other
schemes, it would inevitably lead US
into endless confusion and ultimately
bankruptcy. There could not possibly
be any other result from it. But il
does not seem probable to me that any
such legislation is at all possible"
General, low do you account fol
the fact that the South, which has al
ways been opposed to class legislation
and paternalism in government, has
gone mad over the Farmers Alliance
schemes?n
II cannot explain the matter" Sen
ator Hampton replied The farmers
have had hard time of it during the
past few years. They have not made
any money. They are burdened with
debt. They want relief, and, unfortu-
nately, imagine that they can secure II
from the general Government
"What influence will the Farmers
/ Alliance exercise upon the Presidential
election next year,
Very little, if any. National elec-
tions are only affected. by national
lssues. The issues raised by the ALI
ance are local and class rather than na-
tional. | do not think the Presidential
question of next year will be materially
affected by any action the Farmers
Alliance may take. The fight will be
between the two old parties, as usual"