The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-17
Wednesday, July II, 1895.
The Independent Movement.

The hero of '76 is going back on his work,
and laboring for q division Of the Democratic
party, which he SO firmly cemented In those
trying days, as will be seen by the following
telegram:
"Washlugtop. July r.
IN. G. Gonzales, Columbia, s. C.: Hope
Richland and every other county VIII seno
Straightout Democrats. ,,n
How times change and how we change Win
them. In 1876 Wade Hampton's word was
law In all of South Carolina. chad perhaps
the enthusiastic support of ninety.five per
cent. of the white people OF the State. Every
body knew him personally then. The words
that fell from his lips in every county in the
State we're In accord with the public senti-
ment OF the day.
But since 1876 change has been going op =,
until In 1885, he is scarcely factor In politics.
He has been out Of the State, and perhaps mol
fifty per cent. of the voters of to-day ever
saw him or ever heard the sound of his
voice.
For many years he has spent very lit
tie of his time within our borders, and even
when South Carolinians we're in Washington
he cared little to cultivate old friendship
or to make new acquantances.
In these statements we are making no re-
tiectons on Wade Hampton. we are only
making statements which we believe TO be
true. He had perfect right TO remain out o.
the State. And no man had right to intrude
on him while he was Senator at the capital ol
the nation. He had perfect right to remain
In seclusion.
But friendship must be cultivated to be
maintained. New friends and acquaintance
must be made In order to keep abreast of the
times.
II these things are not done, the best loved
statesman and the greatest leader must lose
his prestige.
Practically Hampton is to-day stranger in
South Carolina.
While all the old citizens love and revere
the history Of his past services yet his pres.
ent ignorance of the true condition OF al
fairs in South Carolina leads him into error
by which he runs counter TO the public senu-
ment which he would control, and In doing
so he arrays himself against the wishes ana
interests Of those whom he loves SO well.
An Independent today seems TO US no BET
ter than an Independent of 1876, or 1878, OF
1880. Everybody in South Carolina then ap-
pauded Wade Hampton when he said that
an independent is worse than Radical"
And yet Wade Hampton in 1895 says that he
hopes that "Richland and every county will
choose Straightout Democrats"
If General Hampton knew the actual affairs
of this State he would make no such declara-
tion. The fact is that the great mass of the
people are true and loyal TO the Democratic
party. If the greatly beloved Hampton oi
1876, whose word was law then, were to come
10 Abbeville Court House in 1895 we do no,
believe that he could find enough Independ-
ent Democrats in all this county 10 form one
club.
In saying this we do not mean to say that
all the Ants have Joined the Tillman ranks
Tillman still has strong opposition, but we
believe that his opponents are coed Demo
Gratis, and even If they were not SO, they
have too much sense TO commit political sui
eide by turning their backs on the party thai
will and must rule South Carolina for years
To come. ".' .''.' .:
If Wade Hampton knew that he was urging
his friends to act in manner which'weuld be
q bar to their preferment in the future, he
would cut off his right hand before he would
pen the telegraphic message above quoted.
But he Is blind with hate, and can not look
calmly and dispassionately at the real condl-
lion of: South Carolina. He believes the
friends who followed him In &c have disgraced
the State. While he is giving bad advice he
does 80 oonscientiously. 'While'he seemingly
wants "Straightont Democrats to bolt the
party, and while he seems to think we'll oil
the negro, as compared to the Tillmanite, yet
he is advising his friends to commit political
suicide. He is advising. them 10 a course
which will inure 70 the injury, and act as
bar, TO their future usefulness TO the State. e,