The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-03-01
JONATHAN EDWARDS
CORRESPONDENCE
Special to The CACcAsLASg

WASHINGToN. Feb. -. - The an
nouncement that "Gens raj" T.. X.
Hampton has been appointed chief
OF division in the Treasury depart
ment, Will produce sensation il
North Carolina when ii /. known
that il is the same Hampton who
bore Holdcn's commission as hriga-
diergeneral in the Kirk war"
Hampton's commission was month
or two antecedeut to HOldeu's sus-
pension Of the writ of habtas corpus
The operation of ''klrk's cut-throats-
Immediately followed. Caswell and
AIamance counties were put under
military law. One OF the most dra-
matte and stirring incidents Of the
last campaign in the State occurred
at Aiamance court house. An audi
ence Of four or five hundred people
were moved to tears. Old men wept
as Senator Ransom yiyidly recalled
the scenes Of July. 1870, when tht
temple Of Justice, IN which ne was
then speaking, was turned into ii bas
tile; when the great unit Of person
al liberty, which the noble people Of
Alamance, in days that tried mems
sDuls,' fought to maintain, was
trampled under foot by "Holden's
armed rufiians :" when no man or
woman was safe from insult and ar
rest. God in HIS mercy, | say it
reyerently, may forgive this crime,
but the people of Alamance, the peo-
pie of North Carolina never, never
no, NEVER. The applause that
greeted this outburst was heard by
the heroes who fell at the battle Of
Alamance,' "a century or more ago.
a great wave Of emotion swept over
the audience. The sobs of strong
men" were heard as the tumult of
applause died away. The Holden
Kirk war, occurring near,y quar-
ter of century ago, Is still familiar
history in North Carolina. 1t has
been printed in vermilliOn hues in
every State and National campaign |
since that time, but the appointment
Of "GenGraf' Hampton upon the rec
Ommendatiun of Senator Ransom, |
suggests that the last has been seen
and heard of it as campaign docu- |
went to his grave in disgrace, a |
heart-broken man. Before his death, |
Of course. he joined the Democratic |
party, but the people were implaca- |
bic and refused him pardon and his |
crime oblivion. Long after Holden's 5 |
apostecy, Hampton maintained atfili |
alton with the Republican party. |
Following his military career he was
appointed clerk of the Federal Court |
in the Western district. In expect
alton of an appointment under
Hayes administration he resigned |
the clerkship. disappointment drove
him out of the Republican party IN
disgust. Adventurous and daring n |
political methods he rashly attempt |
ed to smash the Greensboro Ring"
Ia this mad effort he was sustained |
by the notorious Hester, of ku-klux |
memory, ,and deputy marshal Franks. |
Hester lives in Wilmington and, like |
boss" Mckane, is an exemplary |
churchman and Democrat. Franks |
narrowly escaped the penitentlary : !
lives in SWAIN cOunty-a prince |
among Democrats. Hampton is here !
and slated for a two thousand dollar |
departmental appointment. The re-
vival of such ancient history will
hardly initiate against the appoint
ment, but it will certainly rain ii
storm of remonstrance and protest |
among the rival applicants. A doz-
IN or more Democrats are applicants |
for the place. This appointment ex-
hausts the States quota of patron
age in the Treasury Department.
Among the Democratic applicants
are some of the most active party
workers in the State. Very natural |
ly a howl will go up, and somebody
will hear its echo even a year hence.