Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-04-20

| the man who tells US to-nlght tnat II we tEust
those who have never yet betrayed us, II we 90
not follow his teachings, desert our old friends
and leaders, God help us. God help us, fellow
republicans, God help u.s. If we are not yet sufi-
GENTLY grown to manhood and the estate or man,
to be able to understand that nothing but motives
which have little to do with the prosperity OF the
republican party animate the breast Of him who
utters such teachings here tonight
Party fealty Oh! have sometimes felt that
was the yeriest slave on the face of the earth.
have sometimes felt as if physical letters we're
upon me, because was brought up atmy fathers
knee and teachers side to love those principles
which have worn untii. they seem TO be letters
and great bands of principle that bound me for
ever to the republican party. III. have ever
erred in the matter Of party duty, 1t Is that
feared and shrunk, from the effects OF long usage
and devotion to party, from asserting my manhood
even above the dictates Of any earthly party Yet
wear these fetters, as my other repu bhcan3iends
who have long been in the party, do wear them
still, because we love them because neither In
1868, nor 1870, nor 1872, nor 1874, nor 1875, was
there earthly inducement great enough TO lead us
to step one foot beyond the limits of the great
circle that holds and protects the republican mil
lions of South Carolina and the United States.
There stand, and / might quote Luthers great
words and say, Here stand. Icannot do. 9th
erwise'' than stand with those who are within
the great circle of the republican party. ZAP
plause.] So.
I scorn, put the foot of my utter scorn and
contempt, upon any charge from mortal lips tiiatI
|
party, or that wish or thought has ever been
found in this heart or gone forth from these lips,
that does not breathe peace and harmony and
fidelity and honor and perpetuity forever TO the
principles and the organization Of the republican
party. [Applause.] ,i,.
AS to nv administration. wish that in what
may have to say may be clothed In the beauti.
full garments Of modesty and humility. Ifeel
repu blicans trust I have some Of that spirit
which says "he that will be greatest among You
let him be the servant OF all. ;" wish sincerely
to speak with becoming modesty Of what must,
| for the sake Of brevity, call my administration.
Let me 90 back to the last campaign. After Q
long struggle stood at last ON the very spot
where you now sit, the recipient or the suffages
of convention similar to this for the highestof-
| flee in the State. ctEs ~
cannot help calling to mind fora single mo-
ment as stepped down from that Platform that
night to be the standard bearer Of the republican
party, the feeling that upon my comparatively
had ever before taken up: remember well that
was met upon the step by the gentleman whom
I now have in my eye-the gentleman from
Charleston, present comPPtroller,ge9essl Of the
gratulate you personally, but extend you moth
Ing more. cannot make myself the champion
of any man who is surrounded by such men, as
those to whom now point. &C. @. Bowen and
pone poss it is an open secret fsoarepabicas
ing with the gentleman from Charleston. And he
was put forward with that sharp tongue and that
reckfessness of statement which would spoil the
profoundest argument In the world. He has been
put forward by the band that now stacking my
party fealty. Well, my friends, took up the
surroundings
iMr. Patterson-we took you up isapeaal.
| I Mr.. Chamberlain-Well, If you toSk me upI
field. "a,
n I was nominated, Let me 90 back to the mo-
ment when was standing where you now Bit
and what was my language, applauded 70 the
echo, as shall not be sppauded tonight, BY man,
woman and child. said first, last and all the
fine that the steps Of the republican party must
setter sov@ You that banner in
Inv hand. grasped it with an arm thougha all too
weak, and bore it in the conflict where one side
was headed by the gentleman from Charieston,
steps. bore it at last to victory. Under the
limagic and glorious banner Of political reform, we
went to victory. [Applause.] When that victory
was won stood again on the threshold ofmy ad'
ministration, where you now sit, and spoke
again the words that met the approval OF the uni
ted republican party of South Carolina. 1t was
pledged in honor, pledged in character,, pledged
| in Language, deep sacred and irrevocable, 70 hE
ZIP the republican party above the eaiumnies or
the campaign of 1870, or the caumnies Of the CAM
paign Of 1874, led by the gentleman from Charles
ton. [Applause.] - ~ al. sfi i.g'
the spur from that time on. wish was as brave
| as julius Cesar The gentleman from Edgeneid
says am. l know that am child compared
with him. There have been moments IN my ad-
ministraton that but for the support OF one VINO
isdearer to me than this hearts blood, the wife OF
| my BOSOM I should have faltered. would lay
down my life sooner than tarnisIi the character
which would nuge the dear wife q fhaaaEen s m
must come here to night, force my weary steps 10
| come here, take up this new cross OF cruclhSlan,
| to hear myself assailed and taunted oy one VINO
covers with the gloss of praise the dagger that ne
would plunge to my heart. Here may say to-
| night that have lacked wisdom, oh how often.
have done things that have seemed to others TO
| be done in wantonness OF power toward tnem.
| know that in kinder moments, In kinder phases
of bis life before he led astray in his calmer
| and better moments, the gentleman from Edge
field has said to me: chamberlain, youare right.
I am with you. Iwish you would bea little more
communicative to your friends" and have &C
cepted it as the timely advice of u friend! That
have sometimes failed to talk over matters with
my friends as fully as might, admit: could
wish thattny nature was different III this respect.
But say tonight, with the utmost sincerity OF
my heart, that fla lighted window could be placed
| in this bosom, and you could see the purposes
and desires toward the republican party, which
have entertained in this long and painful struggle,
you would know there was not q moment when
kind word or look from any good citizen would
| not have strengthened this arm and warmed TINS
| heart, and made me gladder and better man
than have been. [Applause.]
But, going beyond this paltry matter, les i me
analyze the attack on my administration. When
it is said that the reform Of my adminstratlon Y
all a sham reform, come to that point now TO
which referred when had the gentleman rom
Edgefeld in my eye-when I said he was so omar.
acterstically guilty OF recklessness OF sIassmsn
He says $27, 900 have been saved from the contin-
gent fund, and challenges me to show any otner
reform. am not here to claim the credit for any
a1,ooo
have tried to do my. work. It Is not my glory
or my fame, but it Is the fame, Of the repuhiean
party of South Carolina. appeal indiyid 20
those around me, to every gentleman mere, wne6a.
or the administration in South Carolina snce ~
has not, in the eyes Of the whole world, lifted
South Carolina above nine-tenths of her Old re-
proach. "Twenty-seven thousand dollars con-
tingent fund saved" That is the basis OF the ar
gument. Why, look with me for one moment
refer to it with the utmost kindness toward those
who differed with me. The legislature that ad-
journed in the spring Of 1875 levied tax bill ONO
less than fourteen mills. The Governor deciined
to sign it, differing Of course with the tienerai AS
sembly. The result was that the Genera Assem-
bly, reconsdered its action at the regular session
ofIS75.76, and reduced the tax three whole mills,
including the entire tax Of what Is known as tne
little and big bonanzas. Do you know how mnch
it saves the people Of South Carolina? Not the
paltry sum of twenty-seven thousand dollars
contingent fund, but three hundred and seventy.
five thousand dollars ofthe hard earned money OF
the people. "Big bonanza and sslittle bonanza
wonder at the temerity Of the gentleman from
Edgefeld when he spoke Of the '1ittle bonansa'
and "big bonanza" I felt, when, I heard chose
words, that if the gentleman from EdgeheIa mao
been seeking with his spear to find an entrance
between the joints of fthe harness he would have
used that spear, and instead Of striking me he
would have plunged itinto the hearts ofthose who
passed the act The little and big bonanzast as
the gentleman knows, were NO bantlings OF mine:
Where is my friend from Bsrnwell (Mr. Beshe)
who spent days and nights pleading with me 70
oil tho b;o honoyza hill fo through in GUCh