The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-07-08
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
Grand Political PoW-WOw at Cal
houn's Mills-Judge Cooke upon
the Stump-Legislators to
the Rescue.

Editor Press and Banner:
1t may be some amusement, if not in
terst, to your readers to hear report OF
the great meeting at Calhoun's Mills OH
Saturday last. 1t had been announced
that Governor Moses, General Elliott,
and Judge Cooke would be present on
the occasion. OF course such state
nrent would gather large crowd any
where, and at any time. But only Judge
Cooke appeared. I now regret that 1
did not take full notes of the proceed
ings.
It was in the order Of exercises to
have the Declaration of Independence
read; but not one copy of that great
chart of American liberty could be
found in the vicinity. After some ex-
elanatory or Introductory remarks by
The big shoemaker of Mt. Carmel
whose name I have forgotten-Charles
Logan, the officer of the day, introduced
B. w. Reynolds, of Wisconsin, as the
first speaker. Mr.. Reynolds delighted
his audience for about half an hour with
pleasant reminescenses of the past, and
bright prospects for the future.
The next speaker was His Honor,
Judge T. H. Cooke. After some refer
ence to "the day we celebrate" and the
history of the natien, the Judge launch
ed out into the political situation, show
ing the necessity for reform, and pointing
out the most feasible plan for attaining
the end desired. Upon the whole, the
speech was well received, and in keep
Ing with the reputation of the distin-
guished Judge.
Representative Wideman was next
called upon to address the meeting. He
spent much Of his time iii combating
the position taken by Judge Cooke, that
d dishonest official was more dangerous
than an ignorant one. He and other
SPEAKERS labored to show that ignorance
: lad been a greater curse to the party
and country than dishonesty-that most
of the evils complained of could be-
traced to ignorance, either directly OF
: indirectly.
Representative Tolbert was the next
speaker. He asssiled the Judge point
edly and powerfully. He charged the
Judge with an intention and effort to
control the political affairs of the Coun-
ty, and warned him against such Il
course, not only as fruitless, but unbe.
coming his position. He was very severe
upon several other political Judges in
the State. Mr.. Tolbert also charged the
Judge with advising the people to throw
off all the old officers, because it would
be almost impossible to separate the
sheep from the goats. On this point
Mr.. Tolbert was really eloquent, and
challenged Judge Cooke or any Other
man to convict him with any official
fraud or corruption. He stood ready,
and would please to answer any ques-
rion from ybody-Defnocrat or Radi-
cal.
Representative Cain next addressed
the meeting, and endeavored to defeno
himself against the charges of His
Honor. here and elsewhere. He thought,
it unbecoming the Judge to denOuncc
the Legislature as q set of thieves and
robbers, when he had SO leng and assid-
uously electioneered with that body fol
the position he uow llolNs. He should
have refused to accept all office from such
Z, set of scoundrcls. Mr.. Cain advised
tire candidates to be sure that they wer,
competent to fill the positions to which
they aspired.
1t was not my go,'d fortune to hear
NNy of the other speakers. Messrs.
Ellison, Presley, Gutfin, and perhaps
others, made speeches. The Judge re-
peatcdly Interrupted the several speakers
10 deny or explain the positions attrib-
uted to him but almost invariably his
denials were contraGicteV, and his ex-
plantations declared unsatisfactory.
But, Mr.. Editor, to report all that was
said aud done on the occasion would fill
two such papers as yours. think there
was only one attempt at fight during
the day, aud that was made hy Virgil
Madden,
MORE ANON.