Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-10-16
THE HAMPTON MOVEMENT.
What tho Moulders OF Public Opinion Say and
Think About the Matter.

lHoluS VlluI LIS u'.'o DublucSS Ill
terests do not permit him to make the
race for the Senate, he withdraws and
urges'the others candidates to do the
same, so that Gen. Wado Hampton
may receive the unanimous vote for
the United States Senate. The
movement is queer because:
4. Mr.. Jones did not see the pro-
prioty of the suggestion until ho
found it was not convenient for him
to run.
2. The suggestion presupposes that
the half dozen men who have de-
clared themselves candidates have
right to select a Senator of the
United States from South Carolina.
3. 1t would permit Mr.. Jones, and
the other candidates, to say not only
the kind of man, but the kind of
Democracy, South Carolina wants
and that is the real point at issue in
the State.
The Observer has always believed
that the method of Gen. Hampton's
dismissal from the public service was
little short of an outrage, and if the
general should be a candidate for re-
election we might champion his
cause-we certainly would if his
opinions on public questions should
commend themselves to our judg-
mcnt, and if in addition it should
appear to us that he is physically
vigorous enough to discharge the
duties of Senator. 1t must be re-
mcmbercd that Gen. Hampton is an
old man. His term of office would
not begin before 1908, and at that
time he would be, if we mistake not,
S5 years of age, and before the term
expires, 81.
There is a very commcndablc SEN
timcnt involved in the plan proposed,
but this is the day Of practical poll
tics, and common sense should pre-
vail
The attempt is making in certain
quarters to commend the candidates
who adopt Mr.. Jones's idea and to
condemn any who may not. There
is no sense in that. Suppose all shall
adopt it-thcn handful of men
would say who is to be the Senator
from this State, and the people would
have no voice in the matter 1t must
be left to them to say. If they shall
say Hampton is the man they want,
then the wrong of 1890 will be
wiped out-not otherwise. New
berry Observer.
An Absurd Proposition.
The proposition Of Col. Jones for
all the candidates for the Senate to
withdraw in favor of Gen. Hampton
strikes us rs absurd and one that is
purely sentimental and without a
single element of practicability about
it. 1t is not practical politics, and
its only use will be to let Col. Jones
out of the race gracefully. Every
body knows Gen. Hampton and he
holds place in the hearts of the
people that but few of her sons has
ever held or ever vii! hold But the
old general is now feeble old man,
past the four score mark and the
infirmities of age are pressing heavily
upon him and he could not possibly
fill seat in the Senate and it would
mean that the State would practi-
cally be without one Senator in
Washington during the term, if he
should be elected. But could he be
elected =? We have some doubts
And we do not think he could be
elected without opposition. This is
the day of young men, and even if
all the candidates who have declared
themselves should withdraw that
does not keep out other aspiring and
ambitious young men who want to
enjoy political honors and cmolu-
mcnts.
That Gen. Hampton is the great
est living Carolinian goes without
saying, but man who has passed
the four score mark is beyond the
age of public usefulness. He has
been unable for some time to appear
in public and has excused himself
from attendance upon the reunions
of his old comrades because of the
infirmities OF old age, and it is almost
q cruelty to attempt to drag him now
from the retirement Of his old age,
and we have no idea that he will
sanction such thing. lie would
break down before the campaign was
half over and if he did not and was
elected he could not endure the la
bors and fatigucs of session Of the
Senate. We think it is a great faux
pas that Col. Jones has stumbled
upon and it is a great pity it has
been done. But we have this to say
that if by any possibility all the
present candidates should get out of
the way, of which we do not think
there is the least probability, and
Gen. Hampton should stand for
election, which is extremely improba-
blc, we shall he for him first, last and
all the timc.-Andcrson Daily Mail.
w. ". Wcsson GhOlsonyillc Va