The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-07
HAMPTON's PRAISES SUNG.
South CarOlinians Do Honor tn States.
man and Warrior-Senator Smith
Pays Tribute.

New York. March 2s.-Praises OF
wade Hampton. one of the Palmet-
10 States most honored and Illus
trious sons, were sung at the Wal
dorf-Astoria tonight.
The occasion, which was a notable
one' was the annual celebration by
the South Carolina Society of New
York of the birthday of Hampton
the principal speaker was United
States Senator E. d. Smith, OF South
Carolina. and his subject was South
Carolina, South Carolinians and
Hampton. the Type"
Senator Smith bestowed the high
est praise upon the part which
Hampton had played In the history
OF South Carolina, in peace and war
Speaking of him as a warrior, he de-
clared that in the immortal cavalry
charges that characterized the arm Of
the Southern service, the flag Of the
Hampton Legion hoated where
death and glory held their highest
Carnival.
His life and fortune" said SEN
ator Smith, "were freely offered and
on thousand battlefields he atteste.'
unfiinchingly a patriots conception
Of patriots duty"
The speaker declared that the
same high vision which had charac-
terized Hampton on the field OF bat
tie Characterized him also whei the
tattered remnants Of the Confederate
army came home." and all through
the dark days of reconstruction"
1T was after this period that a
grateful people, declared Senator
Smith, recognizing the fact that he
who could risk his life for their sake.
maintain himself and his high ideals
on the field Of battle. held his own
passions In check in the face Of in
cxpressible provocation during the
days Of reconstruction; who could
counsel moderation when ignorance
and knavery were daily insulting ev-
cry decent sensibility-the man who
could and did carry them safely
through this crisis In the history of
the State should be placed as
Governor Of the State he had 80
royalty redeemed.
"Thus In 1876, an epoch in the his
tory of South Carolina as moment
Gus to her people as that other '76 was
to the new born republic Of America,
Hampton was proclaimed Governor.
And as Washington became the ex-
preston Of the forces that led to the
liberation Of the American people, 81
Wade Hampton became the reincar-
nation Of that spirit that led to the
triumph Of right and decency in Car
0lina."
The speaker declared that in the
United States Senate. to which
Hampton was elected later, he serv-
ed with the same simple and
straightforward manliness and up
rightness that had characterized him
In the most trying crisis Of his life."
Senator Smith asserted that the
political frenzy" which defeated him
for reelection brought forth no Bit
ter expression from him, and that he
took up "the burden Of private life
and bore 1t manfully to the end"
dying with the expression on his lips.
"All my people. black and white,
God bless them ALL"
The Senator from South Carolina
declared that the statesmen whom
the Palmetto State has given to the
nation "have been conspicuous in
their powerful Interpretation of the
righteous adjustment of law, that her
poets have sung with a note pure and
| clear: that her soldiers have drawn
their swords only in defense of the
right and sheathed them without dis
honor only when the cause for which
they fought was achieved or lost
through overwhelming numbers, and
that no age or time has produced a
more courageous womanhood."