The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-12

That the Philadelphia Press should be
unable to conceive how any man on earth,
being offered an office, could decline it
man in need-goes without
saying; is a simple matter-of-course; of
the nature of the Pennsylvania bottling
and trademark; and, therefore, the COM
ments of that thick thin organ upon
some recent utterances of Gen. Wade
Hampton will surprise no zone who can
3D. from bulls foot" The
Press ascribes the refusal of the grim old
warrior to be bribed to sectional preiu-
dice" Seeing all things through the
green goggles of political interest and
party feeling, it can imagine no other or
higher motive This is the jaundiced way
the Press puts it:
lone or two points in the utter
ances of Gen. Wade Hampton, of
South Carolina, recently reported, de-
serve attention. 1t is said to have been
intimated Ito Gen. Hampton that he
could have the Columbia postmaster
ship without any political conditions
being attached to the office, the ap-
pointment, it is understood, being at
the disposal of Senator McLaurin. AS
Gen. Hampton is old and in straitened
financial circumstances it was prob
ably thought that such an offer would
be acceptable. 1t was promptly de-
clined, however with the remark: L
would not only not accept a position
from such source, but / would not
even consider it. The conclusion to
be drawn from the circumstance and
the language Gen. Hampton used is
that he is not in sympathy with the
effort Senator McLaurin is making to
liberalize the politics of South Caro-
lima, and that he prefers the old,
bigoted methods to any new depart
ure. This is to be regretted, but it
is not unexpected. If any one imag
ined that Southern prejudices which
are the growth of generations could
he dissipated at once, and that the
white Democracy could be split in
twain by, some Federal appointment,
the reply of GEN. Hampton will unde-
ceiVe them. Said the General The
people of South Carolina should know
by this time that i am not for sale,
and that never shall be-" a.lsC
The fine figure of this venerable sol
der and gentleman, all things that were
his in youth gone from his age save dig
nifty and integrity, drawing his tattered
cloak about him and putting away an OBJ
vious and shameless bride with honest
scorn, makes no appeal to this heartless
cynic and rabid partisan, who cannot
even truthfully relate the facts. We
quote the Press again:
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
again and again, shas been that it was
no use to attempt to build up Re-
publican party in the South until
respectable white men were appoint
ed to office But as soon as it is in
timated that white man can have
an office from a Republican Admin
istration Gen. Hampton 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 McLaurin, or Bigotry to
progress. Gen. Hampton has been held
in higher respect than most Southern
Democratic leaders, but his latest ut
terances will not tend to reaffrm that
opinion Gen. Hampton might have
helped to pave the way for a more
liberal political era in the South.
He has refused, but he cannot stop
the movement, however earnestly he
may strive to that end. 1t has been
started, and the utterances of leading
Southern newspapers show that it has
already gained a support that assures
its permanence.
Is it true then that in South Carolina
a man must perforce follow either Till
man, with his pitchfork, or McLaurin
with his basket of chips? May there be
no progress" in the South without tur-
pitude? Must the white men of the South
so-called, become Republicans, before
they can be exempt from the misrepresen.
tation of Republican newspapers? Is there
no such things as honest difference o
opinion touching public affairs to be per
mitted in the Carolinas, or elsewhere
south of the old mythical Mason ant
Dixon's line? Is the Inscription of ignor
ance and prejudice to be attached TO eV
erything in that quarter which is no
marked down upon the political bargain
counter with the imprint, ''McLaurln?
If a man be a Protectionist, who be
lieves in High Tariff, or no Tariff, ac
cording to the bidding of the manufactur
ers. If he be an Opportunist, who take
the President for his guide in the matte
of the disposition of the outlying terrific
ries come to US as consequence of tn
Spanish war If with respect to the distri
button of the Federal patronage he be
trencherman who accepts the Presiden
for his paymaster. If in the Senate h
follows the lead of Senator Hanna even t
the length of supporting a ship-subsid
CRIME AND TRIAL OF THE INDIANS.