The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-08-08
TIE RADICAL CONTENTION,

N
Speech by Major Woodward.
The Radical convention met in tho
court house on Monday, the 5th inst.
Joe Thompson the county chairman
presided. The personnel Of the
convention was composed of the
same old familiar faces that have
been seen in similar gatherings
since r construction There were q
number of lookers-on, mlny Of tlam
Democrats. Tha business Of the con-
vention was to elect threo delegates
to so to Columbia to tao State con-
vention. The chairman told the con
vention that the delegates must 20
at their own expense, and this some.
what dampcnod tho ardor Of num-
bor of aspiring though impecunious
statesmen. It was resolved that the
rules of the "IIower House of the
General Assembly" bo adopted to
govern this convention, whcreupon
a delegate rose and demanded that
the county chairman explain what
these rules were. This gavo rise to
lengthy wrnngle in which much
tlme was consumed. Ike Miller,
in the course Of his remarks, said
tlat he saw Major Woodward, WHO
WIS going to be Democratic candi-
d.te for tho Legislature, sitting
there laughing ut the convention,
and thinking it was of no use for
the RepnbliGans to run ticket, rs
they would get beat But they
would run anyhow, though they
knowed they were going to get beat.
Bat the Republicans had five to ono
III the county, and if they could get
tho votes counted after they put
them in, they woald whip the fight.
Attor Miller got through, Major
Woodward, by permission, addressed
the convention, in capital and
most opportune speech. He said
Mr.. Chairman, inasmuch as 1 seem
to have formed the chief topic of
my friends speech, ] will say q few
words to you. He is mistaken
when he said 1 WIS laughing ut your
convention. I must say 1t is tho
most orderly meeting l have ever
seen you have, and L congratulate
you on it. [ was laughing, not at
you, but ut him individually. In
regard to " fair count, I think my
friend thero [ALiller] is tho last man
to say anything about that. He
was III charge Il number of years,
and yon all know his orders were to
vote carly and just as often as you
could ; and if the Democrats do run
the government eight or ten years
now, it will be only turn about. In
regard tc my being q candidutc, [
am not one for any Office. Now. as
Il friend Of your raco-and if YOU
have friend claim to be that man
as ono who always dealt Justly
with you, 1 want to give you some
advice. L ask you not TO send any
delegates to Columbia. You can do
no good by it. and will only iniuro
yourselves. Let me tell you that
Governor Hampton and tho Demo-
cratic Stale ticket haye been re-
nominated, and they will be elected.
They wero elcctel in 1876 when all
the forces now on their side were
arraycd against them, and in making
opposition to them you arc merely
butting your head against n stone
wall. Why should you oppose
them l? In 1879 the Democratic
party rallied, not through hostility
TO the colorcd race, but for the
sake Of civilization and to save your
selves and themselves from the
ontragcs inaictei by men who false
ly claimed to represent you. They
made pledges Of good government,
and every pledge has been redeemed.
Governor Hampton has kept his
word, and has acted in fairness and
Justice to all citizens of South Caro-
lima. Under his administration you
are better off than ever before.
The taxes have been reduced one
half. your schools ore in moro
prosperous condition than ever
before, you are safer under Demo-
cratic than under Radical admin
istration. Wny then will you be
led into raising hopeless issue,