Year: 1879

CONGRESSMAN AIKEN, OF SOUTH CAROLINA,


DENIES THAT IT HAS ANY STRENGTH IN HIS


sTATE-A SOUTHERN VICE PRESIDENT uNDE-


sIRABLE.


Congressman Aiken, of South Carolina, arrived in
this city on Saturday evening from session of the
grangers held during the past week at Canandagua.
in this State, and is at present stopping
at the Astor House. His son. q youth of
eighteen. accompanies him. Yesterday morning
they went to hear DR.. Talmage preach.
and spent the afternoon in riding on the "L" roads
and visit to Central Park. Last night HERALD
reporter called upon Mr.. Aiken to learn his views
to the extent Of the Southern "boom" for Grant in
South Carolina. He said it was two weeks since he
left South Carolina and he thought his ideas upon
direct questions little DID, but he sure
of the attitude of his State toward Grant.
Gas for the Southern boom for Grant for President
and Wade Hampton for Vice President" the Con-
gressman said. 81 don't believe it has reached the
alarming proportions credited to 1t. The idea OF
such ticket is nonsensical in the highest degree to
q Southern man. If there is any man in my State
that would support General Gran. have yet to
know him."


docs this feeling arise from his part in the sup
preston of the rebellion?" the reporter inquired


"Why, no. The feeling comes from his pos sition
in the latter years Of his term as President. I
don't believe that Grant is any worse man than
many Others 1t is his associates that the Southern
people dislike and that did us much harm during
his term of Office. With the ushering OF Grant into
office we would probably have bayonet rule, and
Robeson. Babcock and all the other fellows mis-
rule"


NO IMPROVEMENT TO BE HOPED FOR.


"But would not Grant do better now that the
Southern States have showed for four years that
they know how to rule themselvesY


"What can we expect of the man that said once.
Let us have peace, and then followed that harmo-





to rule with their bayonets As for the lat
ter part of the ticket will that don't believe
that Southerners wish to man from their
tion on the Presidential ticket. and it they did
would dread the results of the accomplishment OF
'Why so? Do you anticipate any trouble to arise
from that desre?"


"simply that it would ruin the entire country.
My knowledge of the Northern people is that they
would rather reduce the whole number of States
under bayonet rule than allow q Southern man
to get place on 'es srsd h as s,oe Tho h
eralty of thought and feeling now existing
toward southerners in the North. He is one of the
leaders among the Northern people. and just such
speeches he made at Toledo tend to increase
tional feeling between the North and south. be-
Iieve that the talk about the choice of Wade Hamp
ton as a candidate for vice-President is all bun
combe."


"How would Tilden be supportedy'


"There would be very little en- husiasm for Tilden
and have not heard prominent man in my State
advocate his nomination. If lie be the choice OF the
democracy he need not expect very warm support
in my State. The Southern people believe him to
have been elected President once, but he did not
claim the office. Anyway. Southerners don't like
martyrs, they have been martyred themselves for
many years. and don't like the position any too
WELL"


..If General Hancock were the candidate of the
democracy, how would he be treated by the South?
81 believe Hancock would arouse enthusiasm in
the South but he could not ganthe Northern vote.
Tho South will support any candidate that
il put forward by the Democratic Convention; but
what south Carolina desires is good, honest State
government. The trouble just at present between
the North and the South is that there is too much
sectional feeling. This has to be dispelled before
the South will be fairly treated by the North.
the people and too little warmth expressed In his
advocacy when he comes up for Office. We do diff
ferently down south. We believe our brave soldiers
did the lighting aud We believe they ought to have
the Offices"