The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-10-06
Congressional campaign-Stolbrand

full" that Gen. Stolbrand, Republican
candidate for Congress from the Third
District. was to speak at the Court
House Saturday. The news was spread
among the negroes in a way peculiar
to the RAIDS, by a sort Of underground
teleg .aph. The Democrats knew nc
thing of the anticipated meeting till
Saturday morning. There was pref
ty large crowd Of eolored people in
town, but on account Of the delay to the
down train, upon which Gen. Stolbrand
came, many had lei. before the speak
ing began. The meeting was held in
front of the Court House. The speaker
was introduced by Henry Kennedy, the
County Chairman. He spoke for about
an hour, but failed to awake any enthu-
siasm. He said that in the coming con-
test every Republican is expected to Go
his duty and vote for Garfield and Ar
thur. The Republicans cheered for
Garfield, and the Democrats answered
back with hurrahs for Hancock. The
cheering continued for some time, and
most of the RAIDS present wanted to ad-
journ to the Hoge School House; but
Stolbrand said, mo; III speak right
here; I have served my country in
peace and war. and I'm not afraid of
the devil" He said the sick and weak
Republicans are dead and a regenera-
ted Republican party holds mp its head
rs high as any party under the stars Of
Heaven. If the principles Of the Re-
publican party are not carried out the
country will suffer in finances and in
business. The Democrats condemn the
Republicans for what occurred a few
years ago; but those days are gone, and
the Republican party is regenerated.
There was time when the Southern
States were arrayed against the North.
After that was ended all honest men
accepted the situation. The Democrats
do not want to put the negroes back
into slavery, hut if they get control of
the general government they will put
them in Il condition worse than the
slavery which they have escaped, and
the 18th and 18th amendments will be
disrcgarded. All men have the right
to cast their ballots as they choose; this
is what the Republicans are contending
for, and we will have it because the
Constitution of the United States and Of
South Carolina guarantee it. The
tilnidity that at times has shown itself
iu.the Republican party is gone. We
understand our rights and are deter
mined to have them. We find fault
with the Democratic party because they
have not cai fied out what they prom
ised. Their public schools is a nullity.
The government is so carried on that
we do not get our rights. Their mem
bers in Congress advocate the rights of
money and capital, and not the rights
of the people. The Democratic party
got into power in 1876. not because it
was stronger, but because there were
certain wrong-doers among the Repub-
licans. We arraign the Democratic
party for not furnishing those wrong
doers. You cannot say in 1886 that the
Republican patty consists Of thieves.
In all human institutions bad men
sometimes get into power. Speaking
Of Garfield, he said: We find him first
in Ohio about Is years of age driving a
mule on the towpath; later President
of College; then State Senator; then
in the army; then in Congress; elected
last January to the .. S. Senate, and
nominated at the Chicago Convention
for the Presidency. There has never
been man, Democrat or Republican,
with equal qualifications, experience
and ability. Some one asked. How
about the Credit Mobilier? and he said
Garfield was free from blame. He
spoke of Hampton's Staunton speech,
and reported him as saying "the issue
now is the same that Jackson and Lee
fought for"
After Gen. Stolbrand had concluded,
George Johnstone, Esq, asked permis-
sion of the Chairman to reply, which
was & s.anted. Some of the Republican
politicians tried to lead the crowd of
colored men away, but it didn't work !;
they stayed and listened to his speech.
Mr.. Johnstone was frequently interrur
ted by questions from the Republicans.
as Gen. Stolbrand had been by the
Democrats-both speakers took the iD-
terruptions good naturedly. Mr.. John
stone began his speech by saying that
the people ought TO hear both sides of
political questions. The Democratic
party relies for its support and success
upon the underlying principles of that
party. I am here as South Carolin-
ian, to address you as South Carolinians.
This country belongs to US, white and
black. and not to him who heralded his
approach by the boom of cannon and
by the bombardment of a defenceless
city occupied by helpless women and
children. (This referred to the firing
upon Columbia by Stolbrand while
commanding Sherman's Artillery He
He showed up Garfeld's completely
in the Credit Mobilier scheme, the
DeGolyer Pavement contract. the Lou
isiana Returning Board in 1876, and the
IS to 7'' Commission. He pressed upon
the colored men their inconsistency in
wanting Grant for President because Of
his record as a Federal General, and
then refusing to vote for Hancock who
was only second to Grant in command
and his equal in the services rendered