The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-29
MeLAURIN and HAMPTON.
What Watterson Thinks Of the
Columbia Postof1ce incident.
Louisville Courier Journal.

! LOUSY l1lc COUIildl.
That the Philadelphia Press should
be unable to conceive how any man
on earth, being offered an Office, could
| decline it-particularly man in need
goes without saying: is simple mat
ter of course: of the nature of the
Pennsylvania bottling and trademark
and therefore, the comments of that
| thick -and-thin organ upon some recent
utterances of Gen. Wade Hampton will
surprise no one who can distinguish
"B'' from bulls foot" The Press
ascribes the refusal of the grim old war
rior to be bribed to sectional preju-
dice.'' Seeing all things through
the green goggles of political inter
est and party feeling, it can imagine
no other or higher motive. This is
Ethe jaundiced way the Press puts it:
Zone or two points in the utterance
of Gen. Wade Hampton, of South Car
olina, recently reported, deserve satten-
tion. It. is said to. have been init.
mated to Gen. Hampton that he could
have the Columbia postmastership
without any political conditions being
attached to the Office, the appoint
ment, it is understood, being at the
disposal of Senator. McLanrin. AS
Gen. Hampton is old and in straiten-
ed financial circumstances it was
probably thought; that such an offer
would be acceptable It was prompt
ly decliEed, however with the remark
81 would not only not accept a posi-
tion from such source, but | would
not even consider-it. - The ~conclus-
ion to be, drawn from the circumstances
and the language Gen. Hampton used
is that he is not. in sympathy with the
effort Senator McLaurin is making
to hberalize the politics of South Car
olina and that he prefers the old, bigt
oted methods to any new: departure.
This is to be regretted, but it is no
unexpected. If any one imagined that
Southern prejudices which are the
growth Of generations could be dis
sipated at once. and that the white
democracy could be split in twain by
some Federal appointment, the reply OF
Gen. Hampton will undeceiye them.
Said the General: The people OF
South Carolina should know by this
time that I am not for sale, and that
I never sshall,be.
The fine figure of this venerable sol
der and gentleman, all things that
were his in youth gone from his age
save dignity. and integrity, drawing
his tattered cloak. about him and
putting away an obvious. and shame
less bribe with honest scorn, makes
no appeal to- this heartless cynic
and rabid partisan, who cannot even
tru uthful1y relate the facts. We quote
the Press again - :. -, -.
'@Ss But at the same time. that Gen.
Hampton makes clear his own posi-
ton he also reveals, the Inconsistency
of the leading southern white Demo
Gratis. Their assertion; reiterated time
and again. has beentthat it was no
use to attempt to build up a Republi-
can party in the 1seuth untik respect
able Whitemen were appointed to office.
But as, soon as it is <itimated that a
white man can have an office from a
republican administration Gen. Hamp-
ton denounces it as an attempt to
buy Democrats and spurns the offer
with contempt. He plainly prefers
the manners and methods of Senator
.Tillman to those Of Senator McLau-
rim. Hampton has been heldein, high
er respect than most southern Demo
cratic leaders but his latest utter
.ances will not tend to reaffirm that
opinion. Gen Hampton might have
helped to pave thew way for a more ID
eral political era in the south. He
baS refnsed. but he cannot stop the
movement, however earnestly he may
strive to that end. It has been started
and the utterances of. leading southern
newspapers how that. it has already
gained a support that assures It's per-
manence.
is it true then that, in South Caro-
lima a man must perforce follow either
Tillman, with his. pitchfork, or Nc
Laurin, with his basket Of chips? May
there be no progress in the south
without turpitude?? Must the white
men of the south, so=called, become
Republicans before they can be exempt
from the Misrepresentation of Repub-
lican newspapers? Is there no such
thing as honest difference Of opinion
touching public affairs to be permit
ted in the Carolinas or elsewhere south
of the old mystical Mason and Dix
on's line? Is the ascription Of ignor-
ance and prejudice to be attached to
everything in that quarter which is s
not marked down upon the political
bargain counter with the imprint
McLaurin?''
If man be Protectionist. who
believes in high tariff, or no tariff.
according to the bidding of the man
ufacturers. If he be an opportunist,
who takes the President for his GUIDE
in the matter Of the disposition of the
outlving territories come to us as a
consequence OF the Spanish war: II
with respect to the distribution OF the
Federal patronage he be trencher-
man who accepts the president Tor
his paymaster. If in the Senate ne
follows the lead of Senator Hanna even
to the length of supporting a ship
subsidy notoriously designed to pay
off Senator Hanna's campaign obllga-
tions. If there be such a man be is
Republican, and let him be rated
as such. nor dishonhorep therefor.