The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-03-10
Gen. Hampton's Letter.

Gen. Hamptons Letter.
HAMPTON, MISS, March 3.-Io the Ed
itor of the State was glad to see the
plan OF primary suggested by you, and
as Won are aware it il the one advocated
by myself as the only fair means OF as
certaining the wishes of the people. If the
1domiaant party" as those members of
the Ring like to call themselves, refuse
that demand of those opposed to them,
nv opinion is that the Convention which
is to meet this month should have prl-
mary, and if the result shows, as have
no doubt it will, that the opponents OF tho
present Administration are In majority,
they, as the true Dem mocratic party should
assume control, not only Of the policy to
be pursued In ntheapproaching nvass, but
of the Stste itself.
But in order to be successful every ele-
ment of opposition to the present Admin
istratioan, which has brought such shame
upon the State, should he united; and
regret deeply to see that, among those
who, are honestly working towards q
common end, some misnnde derstandiDg as
to the policy to be pursued has already
risen. which, If not corrected, will surely
lead to dissension and ultimate defeat.
All divisions in our ranks must be closed
liz we hope for success. but this can never
/ be accom- plished if the advocates of any
one policy express doubts as to the hon
esty or the sincerity Of those who, while
working for q common end, differ as to
the mode of attaining 1t. Mutual conces-
sions must be made, and all differences
must be left for settlement after the battle.
Wise strategy, as well as common sense,
dictates this course, for many light has
been won under bad order of battle, but
none ever where there was dlsaffection
among the leaders or in the ranks.
see mo conceivable reason why there
should not be harmnoy and concert OF
action amongst all who may desire
change In the government OF the State,
and my understanding of the address,
which I, with other gentlemen, signed,
was that it was an earnest appeal to al
patriotic citizens who felt pride in their
State to join in an honest effort to keep its
fame and honor untarnished, and the In
terests Of its citizens protected. It did not
occur to me for a moment that any DEM
ocrat who desired to see good govern
ment established in the State was to be,
excluded from participation in the effort
to secure this consumnlation, and can
not see why all such should not take part
in the Convention soon to be held.
The call for that Convention certainly
does not exclude those who are called
Straightouts, for without the active CO.
operation Of those citizens, who compose
so large and influential portion of the
Democratic party, it is hopeless to look
for success. Whatever opiniua may be
entertained as to their action 10 the last
election no one can doubt the sincerity
of their convictions, nor the honesty OF
their motives. The predictions, made by
81 hot nv a nuI u
would follow the Inauguration Of the
present Administration, have been fully
verified, and they are now doubtless as
anxious to prevent 8 recurrence OF those
evils as they then were to avert them.
The recent address issued by their for"
mer committee is calm, conservative
and dignified paper, but hope that it
will not induce them to refrain from par
ticipating in the counsels, which have for
their object the welfare Of the State. If
the coming Convention nominates q
ticket, they should certainly have voice
in its selection, as their votes will be es-
sential to its success. ALI shades Of opin-
ion should be fully represented In our
Convention, and should that body take
any action repugnant to any OF its mem
bers their withdrawal will relieve them
from ell obligation to be bound BY 1t.
apprehend ne danger of this kind, for the
men who will form that Convention will
be actuated solely by patriotic motives,
and they will be governed by wise coun-
action need be feared If conservative,
honest and true Democrats meet to con-
suit how the best interests Of the State
can be promoted and this should be the
sole motive prompting them.
Let, then, representatives Of every class
of our citizens be well-represented in the
Convention, and especially do hope that
our farmers who have learned by bitter
experience how grievously they have
been deceived by false promises will join
their fel,ow-suferers in desiring meas
ures of relief and redress. The press of
the State can exert potent and beneficial
influence in harmonizing all discordant
elements and in promoting unity of ac-
ton, and it is to be hoped that all papers
favorable to the movement for true re-
form in the State will lend their aid to
bring about united, vigorous and deter
mined efforts to secure this result. uni
ted We stand, divided we fall"
I should not venture to obtruGe my
opinion on the public, but for the fact
that as signer to the address published,
I do not wish my position to be misun-
derstood. One other matter prompss me
to do this. My deep solicitude for that
State, which, in other days it was my
pride to serve, and though my services
haYe been pronounced no longer neces-
sary, cannot forget the past, as readily
and as completely as many others h. have r,
true to the State, and my dearest wish is
to see its people happy and prosperous.
am very rpsnectfullv vOurS
WADE HAMPTON.