The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-29
WADE HAMPTON'S LETTER.
His Poor Opinion Of White People
Who Don't Like Him-HiS GOOd
OniniOn of Negroes.

Spartan burg, May 2i.--The Herald will prln
the following tomorrow:
Washington. d. G.. May 2f.-TO the Editor
Of the Spartanburg Herald:
My Dear Sir: In The Columbia State, re
ceived yesterday, | saw your kind and fiat
tering call made on me To come TO the aid o
our State. Today ] zee another communica
ton from one of our colored citizens in lht
same line as yours. Let me say, before pro
ceeding further, that | appreciate these EVIL
dences Of the confidence still reposed In mt
by some of my iellOw-citizenS, and / nope
they will never have cause TO change thell
opinions.
/ need hardly say that there is no persona
sacrifice | would not willingly make 10 pre-
serve the honor or TO promote the welfare o
South Carolina. All my efforts in the pas
for these ends give the best guarantee OF my
sincerity now, but with every desire TO work
for our State, see no way IN wnich couIo
give substantial aid. When last ATTEMPTED
TO plead for peace and restoration of the
fraternal relations which since 10 hau gov
erued all of our citizens, South Carolina au
dlence refused to hear me, and drove me from
the stage. have taken no part IN puollc a l.
fairs in the State since then; not because my
interests in them was abated, but because
had been rudey notified that my voice had
no longer any weight in the cOunsels OF the
State. 1 have therefore, kept silent, offering
d advice. uttering 20 complaint or reproach
have tried 10 serve the State when called on
TO do So but when my fellow citizens declal ed
that could do so no longer, l accepted this
am still citizen of South Carolina, proud oi
her honorable record in the past, Jealous ol
her honor. and deeply mortified at the condi-
ton she now occupies and the estimation IN
which she is held throughout the Union.
II Is not my purpose to discuss how this de-
porabe condition has been brought about,
for do not intend 10 indulge 10 recriInina.
ton nor in reproacb, my only desire being 10
see our people reunited and the State placed
where she stood proudly of yore. ] am in
full sympathy with all you say as 10 our pres
ent condition, but II seems to me that can
only aid by my vote 10 bring about Deller
state of affairs, and have even been refused
the privilege of voting because happened
not TO have complied with all the require.
ments of the dominant party TO show that
was Democrat. If my advice can have any
weight in the State, ii would be for all Con-
servatives, the only true national Democratic
representatives in the State, 10 refuse 10 go
into any primary or any so.caued compro-
mise; to nominate In every county @ tas a1iest
who will strive to make good Constltu.
tion, referring it to the people for ratification
or rejection. and in all cases TO set their iaceS
resolutely against all fraud In our elections.
have no fear of negro domin ation-a cry
used only 10 arouse race prejudices ana 10 put
the coming convention under control OF the
Ring which now dominates our state. The
negroes have acted OF late with rare modera-
ton and liberality, and if we meet them in
the same spirit they have shown, they will
aid in selecting good representatives for the
convention. |, for one, am Wiling 10 trust
them, and they ask only the rights guaran-
teed to them by the Constitution of the Unit
ed States and that Of our own State Cor.
ruption wins not more than honesty and
advocate perfect honesty, for defeat on that
line is better than victory by fraud.
have never refused when called on by the
people of my State TO serve them. My ability
To serve them now may be past, but the wish
to do so will expire only with my life.
The effort made by the Forty is in the right
line and is credtable to its originators, but II
seems TO me 10 be impracticable; for none OF
them have authority 10 pledge any one save
themselves. We can work in conjunction
with them and hope that the work may be
successful. but If any Conservatives 20 into
the convention by a primary they will walk
into the trap cunnlngy prepared for them
and will thus be responsible, In part, Tor any
Constitution framed by the Ring.
Thanking you and my colored friend fol
the kind lines In which both speak OF me,
am very truly yours. wade Hampton.