The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-03
Evans and Stokes Again.
Hon. Wade Hampton, Washington

Hon. Wade Hampton, Washington,
D. c.
DEAR SIR: Your letter addressed
to us and published in the State aud
Register of the 10Th instant has had
our careful attention, and candor
eompels us to say that as a reply to
the questions we propounded it is a
great disappointment. 1t will prove
q disappointment to the great
organization of farmers we represent,
whom you attempted to read ont OF
the Democratic party. It will prove
a grievous disappointment to the
great mass of onr people who hon
estly believe that the principles
underlying. the 0cala platform are
identical with the Democracy OF
jefferson aud the party he founded !;
yet, moved by memories ct past
association and confidence were
willing even to hold conviction itself
in allegiance until the man they had
trusted in the past might at least
give reasons for the bull of excom-
munication he had issued against
them
II will be . disappointment because
you distinctly decline to answer the
questions asked-perfectly plain
ouestions--that embody every princi-
ple involved in the Ocala platform
and that might have been answered
in much less space than you have
actually used. Il is a disappointment
all around and more than all because
your remarks are not characterized
by our accustomed straightforward
ness and courtesy.
Remembering that the people OF
this State had repeatedly honored
you for your reputed liberal,ty and
statesmanlike cast of mind we pur-
posely dicarded verbiage about
which more or less prejudice had
collected and asked you to discuss
great principles that lie behind that
verbisge. You decline to discuss
principles and talk about platforms
Since you have chosen after month
Of deliberation 10 bI7ng the discus
sionsddgn from he broad plane. Of
ststssmSashiip upon which our qnes.
tlpps pat. g nd place & apparsntH
npon the low plane Of narrow faction
al politics in this State why, perforce
" We must to some extent try TO play
the politician, too.
l. In the FIRST place, then, you
dispose the first Ocala demand,
against the national banks, thus :
8 No sneh demand is made By The
Democratic party. It may have
escaped your memory, if you ever
knew the fact, that these banks hold
charters which do not expire until
1917, so that there will sbe some
difficulty in tie immediate abolition
of the national banks - Indeed,
and, because: forsooth. there -Sis
difficulty in the way it is undemo-
cratic THAT is what you were to.
show to agitaies 4, howeTeS rigbtss
eous the principle. lsthat the position,
General, to which yon would commit
yourself and us? What have honor
able men of spirit to do with diff
Guilty where principle is involved? ?
:Bnt are You sure. General, that no
sucha alealasd,>sis madehy the Desnos
crstispssty = &
TobMrow yonro own choice phase
o!ogy towards sov ara Is Which 1Ne STATE
assures us is studiously courteous
sit may have escaped your memory,
if you ever knew, the fact, that the
Democratic platform of 1856 contains
the following plank Congress has
no power to charter National Bank.
We believe such an institution one of
deadly hostility to Che best interests
of the country, dangerous to our
Republican institutions and the
liberties of the people, and. calculat-
ed ITO place the business of the
country within the control Of a
concentrated 5 money power an6
above The laws and The will of the
people" Moreover, 4'it may have
escaped your memory, if you ever
kBewstheefaca, = that this plank was
reafirmed in the platform of 1860,
coupled with the declaration that
Democratic principles are un-
cEangeable in their nature when
applied to the same subject matters"
.lt may have escaped your memory"
700, eff you ever knew the fact"
that every Democratic platform ever
uttered by the party (save the 6rst)
down to 1864, contained precisely
that same strong language against
national banks. If, then, as the
party has more than once declared it's
"princ,ples are Interchangeable, it is
little difficult to find Justification for