Year: 1879


has attended their course, the South
Caro- ina Democrats are about making
rev d ,partnre, that the social and
political condition OF their State may be
more nearly what it was beiore the war.
True, they cannot any more make chat
tsls of their former slaves who have
tasted the fruits of ofliberty, bitter though
they found them, but by taking advan-
ta3e OF tho position they have gained,
already it is but short step to reach
the former condition Of the State with
only the name of slavery changed to
that Of serfdom. Against this back
ward tide Wade Hampton loaded down
with broken promises of reform, pro
lection and impartiality in the admins
tration of fjustice, has feebly stood, but
the time has now come when he must
suceumb and 60 with the tide Of popa'
lar opinion in his State or submit to be
buried beneath it. He no longer Yields
undisputed sway in the Democratic
councils Of his State, nor is he any
more idolzed az its redeemer with none
to call in question the propriety OF such
man worship. The last mortal offence
which Hampton gave to the hot blooded
Bourbons of his State was at the Abbe-
vile fair,a few days ago, where he was
rash enough to suggest that to an i'm
poverished and discrsdited State, ma
terial development is of the first i'm
portance; and he actually proceeded to
contend that if the State is to regain its
good name and realize the prosperity of
which it is susceptible, it must retain
its colored laborers and make them
happy. The rash man not content
with this. really insisted that the plan
ters should pay their laborers higher
wages and otherwise treat them better.
We hardly needed the testimony Of the
despatch to believe that these remarks
"were very poorly received by the
people" who expressed their displeas-
ure in manner that could not be easily
misunderstood. This is nothing strange,
and we should have been surprised to
have heard South Carolins audience
express itself differently This mild
and just doctrine even taught by Wade
Hampton was too repugnant to South
Carolina Bourbonism to be tolerated
The indignation agaipst Hampton Is
said to be so great that it may involve
the resignation OF his seat in the Senate
in order that he may go homo and be-
come candidate for Governor against
the Bourbon wing Of the Democracy Of
bis State.


The Bourbon element under such
leaders as Gary noted in the shot gun
annals of the State, and Of Senator
Butler, the leader Of the forces that
butchered the innocent negroes Of Ham
burg and Rllenton, are ready 70 contest
the field with Hampton and are already ,
in open hostility to him. Events st Ab
beville, looked at in conjunction with
Democratic controversies in progress in
other parts Of the State, seem to prove
that the quarrel between what are GALL
sd the moderate Democrats and tho
Bourbons, approaches a stage when one
side must yield or when one must open
ly take the field against the other. That
Bourbonism will surrender uncondi-
tionally, no one familiar with its record
in South Carolina can suppose and
Wade Hampton's past bringing and
submission to Bourbon bshest prsoludes
implicit confidence in his conrage now.
The statement that he may leave the
Senate in certain contingencies to 70.
establish his influence in State Affairs,
points to a war upon Bourbonism rath-
or than obedience to its dictation. In
this event Democratic divisions in South
Carolina may possibly result in move
ment against Bou, 5onism that will
command the respect of all fsir-minded
men. II the mal-oontents against
Hampton can make successful asht
With the slightest chance OF success
the circumstances will form An unhat
tsring commentary on South CArslins
and its white population. Meanwhile.
- the evidences Of the intestine disor
ders of the Democracy multiply, 1t ii
easier to comprehend the anomliss O
the political condition which render I
Grant movement at.the South possibl,
and portend an ultimate breakup o
the Democratic party in that section


When the Louisville "Courier Journal
inds itself constrained TO confess, "thA
there is a break in the Southern line
caused by the unftness for Leadership
Of an ambitious body of politicians" tn


reality of the opposition to Bourbon
supremacy has ceased to be a dispute


question. The widening Of the bresl


makes possible almost any change l.


the political situation, but what tn


end will be is hard yet to predict wit