The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-29
Hear Hampton!
Wisdom in the Words of the
War-Tried Patriot
SpARrAxBuRG, May 24-The Herald

W ASHISGToN, u. y, May At.-1o
the Editor Of the Spartan uburg Her.
al1:
My Dear Sir: In the Columbia State
received yesterday, saw your kind
and lattering call made on me to come
TO the aid Of our State. To-day l see
another communication from one OF our
colored citizcus 10 the same line as
yours. Let me say, before proceeding
further, that I appreciate these evil
dences of the confidence still reposed
in me by some Of my (ellow-citzeDs,
and | hope they will never have cause
to change their opinions.
need hardly say that there is no
personal sacrifice | would not willingly
make to preserve the honor or to pro-
mote the welfare of South Carolina
All my efforts in the past for these ends
give the best guarantee of ny sincerity
now, but with every desire to work for
our State. see no way in which |
could give substantial aid. When | last
attempted to plead for peace and re-
storation of the fraternal relations
which since ''1G' had governed all of
our citizens, South Carolina audience
! refused to hear me, and drove me
from the stage. I have taken no part
in public affairs 10 the State since then;
not because my interests in them was
abated, but because had been rudely
notified that my voice had no longer
any weight in the counsels Of the
State. have therefore, kept silent, Of
feriog no advice. uttering 20 CON-
plant or reproach have tried to
serve the State when called on to 90 so.
but when my fellow citizens declared
that could do so DO longer, | accept
ed this verdict without one word Of pro.
test. But am still citizen Of South
Carolina, proud of her honorable re-
cord 10 the past, jealous Of her honor,
and deeply mortified at the condition
she now occupies aud the estimation
I in which she is held throughout the
Union.
It is not my purpose to discuss how
this deplorable condition has been
brought about, for do not intend to
Indulge ir recriminatiou nor in re-
proach, my only desire being to see
our people reunited and the State
placed where she stood proudly Of
yore. I am in full sympathy with all
YOU say as to our present condition,
but it seems to me that | can only
aid by my vote to bring about bet
ter state of affairs, and have even
been refused the privilege of voting
because / happened not to have CON-
piled with all the requirements of the
dominant party to show that | was
Democrat. If my advice can have any
weight in the State, it would be for
all Conservatives, the only true pa-
tional Democratic representatives 10
toe State, to refuse to go lnto any pri-
mary or any so-called compromise TO
nominate in every county the abIes;
and best mcn-Conseryatiyes and Re-
formers-aho will strive to make
good Constitution, referriog it to the
people for ratification or rejection. and
in all cases 10 set their faces resoIutely
against all fraud in our elections.
have 60 fear of negro domination-
a cry used only to arouse race preju-
dices aud 20 put tue 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 iu selecting good
representatives for the convention. |.
for one. am willing to trust them, and
they ask only the rights guaranteed
TO ;hem by the Constitution of the
Uni:ed States and that OF GUT own
State Corruption wins cot m"re
than houes'y, aud advocAtc perfrc'
honesty. for defeat on that lne Is bet
ter than victory hy i'sui.
haze cever refused when called on
oy sac people oi uay State 70 seres
them Ny ability to serve them no"
may be past, but the wish to co SO Will
expire only with my life.
The effort made by the Forty is IN
The right liue and is creditabe to It's
originators, but it seems to me to be
i'm practicable, for none of them have
authority to pledge any one save
themselves. We can work in copjunc-
tion with them and I hope that the
work may be successful, but if any
Conservatives 60 into the convention
by primary they will walk into the
trap cuuniugly prepared for them and
will thus be responsible, 10 part, for
any Constitution framed by the Ring.
Thanking you and my colored friend
for the kind lines iu which both speak
Of me, am, very truly yours.
WADE HAMPTON.