The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-03-17
A LETTER FROM HAMPTON,
WHAT HE THINKS The OPPONENTS
Ce TILLMAN SHOULD

lie Advises tho Convention that VIII
he Held In Columbia This Month to
Hold n Primary and to Take Charge of
Tho State.
HAMPTON, Miss, March 3.--To the
Editor Of The State: | was glad to see
the plan OF primary suggested by you,
and as you are aware it is the one
advocated by myself rs the only fair
means of ascertaining the wishes of the
people. If the dominant party" as
those members Of the Ring like to call
themselves, ref!Se that demand of
those opposed to them, my opinion is
that the convention which is to meet
this month should have primary, and
ii the result shows, as | have no doubt
1t will, that the opponents Of the pres.
ent Administration are in a majority,
they, as the true Democratic party,
should assume control, not only of the
policy to be pursued in the approaching
canvass, but of the State itself.
But in order to be successful every
element Of opposition to the present
Administration, which has brought
such shame upon the State. should be
united; and | regret deeply to see that,
among those who are honestly working
towards Il common end, some miSun.
derstanding as to the policy to be pur-
sued has already risen, which, if not
corrected, will surely lead to discussion
and ultimate defeat All divisions in
our ranks must be closed If we hope
for success. but this can never be ac-
cOmplshed if the advocates Of any one
policy express doubts rs to the honesty
or the sincerity of those who, while
working for Il common end differ as to
the mode Of attaining it. Mutual con-
cesSions must be made and all differ
cnces must he lett for settlement after
the battle. Wise strategy as we'll az
common sense, dictates this course, for
many fight has been won under Il
bad order Of battle, but none ever
where there WIS tnSatiectiOn among
the leaders or in the ranks.
! see no conceivable reason why there
should not he harmony and concert of
action amongst all who may desire
change in the government Of the State,
and my understanding Of the address,
which | with otter gentlemen signed,
was that it was an earnest appeal to all
patriotic citizens who felt pride in their
State to join IL an honest effort to keep
its fame and honor untarniShed and the
interests Of its citizens protected. 1t
did not occur TO me for Il moment that
any Democrat who desired to see Il
good government established in the
State WAS TO be excluded from partici-
, patton in the effort to secure this con-
, summation, ANA l. cannot see why all
' such should not take part IN the con-
Vention soon to be held.
The call for that convention certainly
$ does not exclude those who are called
| StraighOutS, Tor without the active CO.
S operation Of those citizens, who com.
: pose 50 large and influential a portion
3 Of the Democratic party, 1t IS hopeless
= to look for success. Whatever opinion
may be entertained as to their action
in the last election no one can doubt
the sincerity of their convictions, nor
the honesty Of their motives. The pre-
dictiOnS, made by them at that time,
Of the evils which would follow the
Inauguration OF the present Admiuis-
tration have been fully verified, and
they are now doubtless as anxious to
prevent q recurrence Of those evils as
they then were to avert them.
The recent address issued by their
former committee IS Il calm, conSerYa-
tive and dignilitd paper, but hope that
it VIII not induce them to refrain from
participating in tie couHscls, which
have for their object the welfare Of the
State. If the coming convention NOM
mates q ticket, they should certainly
have voice III its selection, as their
votes Will be essential to its success.
All shades OF opinion should be fully
represented in our convention, and
should that body take any action re-
pugnant to any Of its members their
withdrawal will relieve them from all
obllgatIon to be bound by it. | appre-
hend no danger of this Kind, for the
men who will iorm that convention
VIII be actuatcd solely by patriotic mo-
tlVcS, and they vii be governed by wise
counSelS, am sure. NO hasty or in
conSlderato action need be feared if
conservative, honest and true Demo
Gratis meet I 0 consult how the best in
LcrestS OF tho state can be promoted;
ana TINS should he the sole motive
prompting them.
hcI, Ihell' representatives. OF every
Grass ol our cltiIclS DC wen represented
hope that our farmers who have learned
by bitter experience how grie7ously